 fartnesscomputersoc dot comPremium
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside | Sewer flooding Yesterday, we got the most rain in over 130 years. My basement flooded because the county's sewer system was overwhelmed. I called the county who maintains the sewer system and they came out today. They said there is no clog in my line to the street, and that their sewers aren't clogged either. They said yesterday all the rain caused it to back up and flood many basements around here. They said if there were any damages, they would pay. How about fixing your system instead!?
They recommended, on my own dime, installing a backflow preventer.
Opinions or ideas?
At least if tree roots were clogging my drain like two years ago, they only charge $25 to snake it. Better than me going to Home Depot and doing the dirty, or spending $200 for someone to come here. Either way, it doesn't matter today, since there are no tree root issues. |
|
 leiboldPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-09
Sunnyvale, CA
kudos:6
 ·SONIC.NET
| said by fartness:They recommended, on my own dime, installing a backflow preventer. If it happened once, chances are it will happen again. I would install the backflow preventer. It is normal that the homeowner has to pay for it and as is often the case, retrofit can be significantly more expensive then installing it at the time the house is build.
--
Got some spare cpu cycles ? Join Team Helix or Team Starfire! |
|
robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to fartness
I'm surprised that they offered to pay for the flood damage. Here they would not.
If you don't want your basement to flood from the county sewer system, then yes I would recommend that you install one. |
|
fartnesscomputersoc dot comPremium
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside | reply to fartness
Approximate cost of one so I know I'm not getting taken?
Where does it get installed?
What do I ask plumbing companies for? Exactly that, a backflow preventer? |
|
nonymousPremium
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ Reviews:
 ·Callcentric
| reply to robbin
said by robbin:I'm surprised that they offered to pay for the flood damage. Here they would not.
If you don't want your basement to flood from the county sewer system, then yes I would recommend that you install one.
Around here they most likely wouldn't offer either tell you to go after your flood insurance if you have any. Now if it was their mistake somehow maybe. Still wouldn't count on it without a fight. But rain/ flooding they would laugh at you if you asked them to pay. |
|
leiboldPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-09
Sunnyvale, CA
kudos:6 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
| reply to fartness
said by fartness:What do I ask plumbing companies for? Exactly that, a backflow preventer? you need to be specific and ask for a sewer backflow preventer, other kinds of backflow preventers exist for example for the incoming water line.
»www.sewersmart.org/devices.html
--
Got some spare cpu cycles ? Join Team Helix or Team Starfire! |
|
fartnesscomputersoc dot comPremium
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside | reply to nonymous
said by nonymous:said by robbin:I'm surprised that they offered to pay for the flood damage. Here they would not.
If you don't want your basement to flood from the county sewer system, then yes I would recommend that you install one.
Around here they most likely wouldn't offer either tell you to go after your flood insurance if you have any. Now if it was their mistake somehow maybe. Still wouldn't count on it without a fight. But rain/ flooding they would laugh at you if you asked them to pay. It's their fault that their sewer system can't handle the water. Happens maybe once per year. |
|
robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | said by fartness:It's their fault that their sewer system can't handle the water. Happens maybe once per year.
I thought you were referring to the sanitary sewer. Is your basement connected into the storm water system?
said by fartness:Yesterday, we got the most rain in over 130 years. My basement flooded because the county's sewer system was overwhelmed. I called the county who maintains the sewer system and they came out today. They said there is no clog in my line to the street, and that their sewers aren't clogged either.
|
|
fartnesscomputersoc dot comPremium
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside | I have a main line from my house (starts in my basement) and it goes to the street.
When it rains in the street (rain water run-off?) and into the grates on the side of the road, it goes into the same "place" as when I flush the toilet and it leaves my property. I always thought it's the sewer. Here, they're both shared. |
|
 CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to fartness
So you want them to design for - your words:
"Yesterday, we got the most rain in over 130 years. "
Good luck with that - will not happen in ANY municipality. Emphasis mine.
--
Brian
"It drops into your stomach like a Abrams's tank.... driven by Rosanne Barr..." A. Bourdain |
|
| reply to fartness
Most communities have ordinances that require BFP to be installed by the property owner and absolve the town/city of liability for overflow.
--
»the53.tumblr.com/ |
|
Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T Midwest
·voip.ms
| reply to fartness
Be advised that backwater valves are not always easy to install because of the strict vertical offset requirements. They are also best located somewhere easy to reach because they should be checked regularly to make sure debris is not jamming the valve open, which would prevent it closing in a "sewer surcharge" event.
The only foolproof method is to put an overhead sewer in your basement, so any overflow would go out of the nearest upstream manhole. This of course means you need an ejector to pump any sewage from fixtures in your basement.
How much do you want to spend? 
»cleancheck.rectorseal.com/menu.htm
»www.jrsmith.com/assets/documents···0216.pdf
»www.parksplumbingandsewer.com/Fl···rolVault
»www.floodexperts.com/
--
USNG:
16TDN2870
Find your USNG coordinates:
USNGWeb |
|
| reply to fartness
said by fartness:They recommended, on my own dime, installing a backflow preventer.
Opinions or ideas?
»www.backwatervalve.com/
Get the fullport one.
Make sure that it meets plumbing code in your area - and note that it can be purchased in ABS or PVC models. Local code will dictate which is acceptable. Always use the correct solvents & glue (preferably bought new) when installing one of these. You DON'T want the glue joints to fail due to old or wrong type of glue. |
|
fartnesscomputersoc dot comPremium
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside | reply to fartness
If the backflow preventer is doing its job due to excess rainwater, I am guessing no water will be able to get out of the house, right?
said by CylonRed:So you want them to design for - your words:
"Yesterday, we got the most rain in over 130 years. "
Good luck with that - will not happen in ANY municipality. Emphasis mine.
Happens once per year, at least. Never any record breaking rainfalls, just a decent amount of rain. |
|
 JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Kelowna, BC
kudos:2 | Who cares even if it does? It prevents wading in sewage (if that's what is backing up), and damage to your home.
Edit to add, if it's rain, it's a storm sewer and not sanitary.
--
Better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. |
|
|
|
 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to fartness
Here, the sanitary sewer system and storm water systems are separate for that very reason, but I've heard of places where they are connected together. Here it's a code violation to run any kind of water run off into the sanitary system (For example, you ran guttering downspouts into a pipe which you connected to your main sewer line.... violation)
Also, I'm surprised they offered to pay as well when it was an act of nature. There are different types of backflow preventers, some better then others. It also doesn't hurt to have a emergency sump pump to activate to pump water directly out of the basement if it is in danger of flooding.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
|
|
CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to fartness
Except it is not what you said..... Do what is necessary to prevent it. |
|
 Archer0T8aka UnrealArcher
join:2005-01-21
East York, ON | reply to Juggernaut
said by Juggernaut:Edit to add, if it's rain, it's a storm sewer and not sanitary.
Not necessarily; a lot of places still have a single combined sewer that handles both sanitary and storm flows. Typically older areas, but they're still around. |
|
leiboldPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-09
Sunnyvale, CA
kudos:6 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
| reply to ArgMeMatey
said by ArgMeMatey:Be advised that backwater valves are not always easy to install because of the strict vertical offset requirements. This is correct (hence my comment regarding retrofit vs. new construction) but depends on the type of backflow preventer.
Some simple backflow preventers (inline, gravity or float valve) do require such a vertical offset. They block water coming in from the city sewer but as long as the pressure of your waste water is higher still allow your waste water to drain. They are great for new construction and simple tends to mean reliable.
Other models of backflow preventers are installed in place of the regular sewer cleanout and require little or no vertical offset (they are specifically designed as inexpensive retrofit). These models will flood excess sewage out into the open and are likely to be prohibited in some (perhaps many) places.
There are also inline backflow preventers with check valves that can be installed at any point of the sewer line by replacing a section of the existing sewer line. Those too are designed so that no extra vertical offset is required but are sometimes blamed for causing clogs.
Just make sure that the backflow preventer is installed correctly which means not just the flow direction but also the up and down orientation (especially important with gravity based or float valves).
--
Got some spare cpu cycles ? Join Team Helix or Team Starfire! |
|
 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | reply to Archer0T8
said by Archer0T8:said by Juggernaut:Edit to add, if it's rain, it's a storm sewer and not sanitary.
Not necessarily; a lot of places still have a single combined sewer that handles both sanitary and storm flows. Typically older areas, but they're still around. The majority of American cities have "combined sewer". Can you imagine the cost to run separate piping for storm water now? |
|
