Tag Archives: flood control system

Jul '23

Protecting Your Home: An In-Depth Look at Basement Water Problems and the Importance of Sewage Ejector Pumps

Basements often serve as valuable living space or storage areas in our homes, providing us with a versatile and functional extension of our living areas. However, they are also susceptible to various water-related issues, posing a threat to our property and health. To combat these problems, it is crucial to understand the causes of basement water issues and the significance of sewage ejector pumps in safeguarding our homes.

Understanding Basement Water Problems

Basement water problems can arise due to an array of factors, ranging from external sources to internal plumbing issues. Common causes include:

Heavy rainfall or melting snow leading to water seepage through foundation walls or flooring.

Improper grading around the house, causing water to pool near the foundation.

Faulty gutters or downspouts that fail to direct water away from the house.

Burst or leaking pipes, resulting in indoor flooding.

Natural groundwater accumulation due to a high water table.

These water problems not only pose a risk to the structural integrity of your home but can also promote the growth of mold, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms. Therefore, it is essential to address these issues promptly to prevent further damage and ensure a safe living environment.

The Role of Sewage Ejector Pumps

One vital line of defense against basement water problems is the installation of a sewage ejector pump. While often overlooked, these pumps play a crucial role in efficiently removing wastewater from your home and preventing sewage backups.

Sewage ejector pumps are specifically designed to handle solid waste and wastewater from places below the main sewage line or at a lower elevation. They are typically found in basements, where bathrooms, laundry rooms, or other plumbing fixtures are located below the level of the local sewer lines.

These pumps are equipped with sealed basins or holding tanks where the wastewater collects. Once the liquid reaches a certain level, the pump activates and propels the waste through a discharge pipe, directing it towards a municipal sewer system or a septic tank.

Sewage ejector pumps are essential in preventing these backups by expelling wastewater effectively, reducing the risk of sewage overflow.

The Importance of Sewage Ejector Pumps

1. Preventing Sewage Backups:

A sewage backup in your basement can be a catastrophic event, leading to extensive property damage and health hazards. Sewage ejector pumps are essential in preventing these backups by expelling wastewater effectively, reducing the risk of sewage overflow.

2. Protecting Your Property:

Basement water problems and subsequent flooding can cause severe damage to your home’s foundation, walls, flooring, and personal belongings. By installing a sewage ejector pump, you can minimize the risk of water-related destruction and preserve the structural integrity of your property.

3. Ensuring Health and Hygiene:

Wastewater contains numerous bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that pose a significant health risk to you and your family. Sewage ejector pumps prevent the accumulation of wastewater, reducing the potential for harmful microorganisms to thrive in your basement, and maintaining a sanitary living environment.

Choosing the Right Sewage Ejector Pump

When considering the installation of a sewage ejector pump, it is crucial to select the appropriate pump for your specific needs. Factors to consider include:

The size and capacity of the pump, ensuring it can handle the anticipated wastewater volume.

The quality and durability of the materials used, promoting long-term reliability.

The pump’s power and efficiency, determining its ability to effectively handle solid waste.

The availability of backup power systems in case of electricity outages.

The level of noise produced by the pump during operation.

Speaking with a professional plumber nearby or a knowledgeable expert can provide invaluable guidance in selecting the most suitable sewage ejector pump for your specific requirements.

Maintaining Your Sewage Ejector Pump

To ensure the optimal functioning of your sewage ejector pump and avoid potential issues, regular maintenance is crucial:

Inspect the pump and the basin regularly for any signs of damage or deterioration.

Clean the basin to remove any dirt or debris that may hinder the pump’s operation.

Test the pump periodically to ensure it activates when the water level reaches the appropriate level.

Consider professional servicing at regular intervals to detect and address any potential problems.

Adhering to a maintenance routine will not only extend the lifespan of your sewage ejector pump but also provide peace of mind, knowing that your home is protected from basement flooding problems.

In Conclusion

Basement water problems can have dire consequences for both the structural integrity of your home and the health of its occupants. By understanding the causes of these issues and recognizing the importance of sewage ejector pumps, you can take the necessary steps to protect your home.

Sewage ejector pumps play a vital role in preventing basement water problems, such as sewage backups, by efficiently expelling wastewater from your home. Additionally, these pumps help preserve your property, maintain a healthy living environment, and safeguard against potential damage caused by flooding.

When considering the installation of a sewage ejector pump, it is crucial to select the appropriate pump for your specific needs and adhere to a regular maintenance routine to ensure its optimal performance. By doing so, you can effectively mitigate basement water problems and enjoy the full benefits of a safe and protected home.

Jul '22

8 Tips to Help Prevent Home Flooding During the Rainy Season

One of the most beautiful things about living on this planet is the regularity with which seasons come and go. Every single year for as long as humans can remember, the rainy season comes. Following in the wake of those rains are a lot of good things and, sometimes, a few bad things.

The rains create the environment we need for our food to sprout and also feed the underground rivers where we get our water. But the same rain that turns nature into a lush paradise can ruin homes. The rainy season is synonymous with flooding, not only in fields but also in homes.

The rains will certainly come and go, but you want to be sure that after the rainy season is gone, your home will be as it was before the rains came. You wouldn’t want floodwater getting into your house and leaving you with mountains of bills to pay or even endangering your family’s life.

That blessing of rain from the skies can also become a curse of floodwater inside your home unless you take the right steps, warns Sun-Pro Realty & Management. Don’t forget that the stress and expenses of fixing water damage are nothing compared to the small steps you can take to prevent flooding in your home.

That bears repeating; flood prevention is many times more inexpensive than the cost of restoring your home after it has been hit by a flood. How can you keep your home from being flooded this rainy season? Here are tips you can follow to keep your property safe when it rains.

8 tips to help you prevent flooding in your home

Improve drainage by grading the area around your home

Water naturally flows from high ground to low. If the ground near the foundation of your home is lower than the surrounding areas, you will have flooding in the basement. Take note of the direction that water flows when it is on your property and areas where floodwater accumulates around the home.

Make sure the ground around the base of the house slopes down to the street. Add dirt and sod to make the ground higher, if necessary.

Inspect and clean downspouts and gutters

Downspouts collect rainwater from the gutters around your roof and discharge it into a part of the property where it won’t flow back into your home. But downspouts and gutters will only play their role if they are not clogged with debris or damaged.

Make a habit of inspecting and cleaning your gutters and downspouts regularly, particularly if there are lots of trees around your home.

Test your sump pump on a schedule

The sump pump is supposed to automatically remove floodwater that finds its way into your basement. This system is designed to work without your direct involvement, but sump pumps can fail.

You may not realize that your sump pump has stopped working until your home is unexpectedly flooded. You can avoid this by doing scheduled tests of the sump pump and installing a backup system.

Keep storm drains free of debris

Any debris you let scatter around your yard can find its way into the storm drain when it rains. Blocked drains on your property or the street will predispose your home to floods.

All storm drains on your property are your responsibility to clean and maintain. You should also inform the city department responsible for cleaning the city’s drains if a storm drain on the street is posing problems.

Clean clogged drains after heavy rains

Even if you keep your yard free of debris, your drains can still get clogged with debris transported from the areas surrounding your home. After heavy rains, you should check your drains to make sure they are not clogged with debris. This is a lot of trouble to go through but it is a lot less than what you will have to endure if your home gets flooded.

Install a backflow prevention device

A backflow prevention device ensures that if during heavy rains, your home’s sewer systems are overwhelmed, water does not back up into your home. If there is no backflow device installed in your drains, you can end up with a lot of unpleasant material inside your house. A backflow device will save you the distress and cost of dealing with this kind of situation.

Protect your home with sandbags

If the home is in an area with a high risk of floods, you can reduce your home’s exposure to floodwaters by placing sandbags in those areas where the risk is highest. Sandbags are an effective way to redirect the flow of water and keep it from going where you don’t want it to. When using sandbags, pay close attention to the slope of the ground to avoid trapping the water, instead of redirecting it.

Install flood detection systems

Lastly, flood detection systems reduce your burden by taking over the work of keeping an eye on every part of your home for signs of flooding. Flood detection systems have become very advanced, and you can integrate them into your home security system or install them as a standalone system.

Jan '22

How to Install a Flood Control System

A flood control system is a failsafe system that protects your home from sewer backups. It is often installed as a replacement for the standard backwater valve flood control system after that system fails. The way a flood control system is built gives it the ability to withstand conditions that would typically result in the failure of a standard backwater valve flood control system.

The regular backwater valve flood control system installed in most homes consists of:

An in-line check valve opens to allow sewage flow from the house to the city sewer line. This valve closes when there is a storm and pressure builds in the city sewer system. The closed valve keeps sewage that is from the stormwater from flowing backward into the house.
A pumping system consisting of an ejector basin and pump. When the in-line valve is closed, sewage can still flow from the house into the city sewer system because of the pumping system. Sewage from the home is diverted into the ejector basin and then pumped over and beyond the in-line check valve, to be pushed into the city sewer.

But sometimes this entire system can fail. This happens when there is so much pressure built up against the in-line check valve that it fails. Sewage under pressure from stormwater can blow off the lid on the in-line check valve and dislodge the check valve. Once this happens, sewage is free to flow unimpeded into the home.

What is a flood control system?

The flood control system is also referred to as a double-guard system because it consists of two check valves positioned in series. Also, instead of PVC, it has cast iron housing and brass check valves, with a lid that is bolted in place rather than screwed down. This system offers a more reliable way to protect your home from sewer backups during a storm.

Because the flood control system is made of cast iron and brass, it can withstand more pressure than a PVC system so, the likelihood of system failure is almost zero. Additionally, the presence of two check valves means if the first valve fails, the second one can still protect your home. Thirdly, the possibility of the check valve lid blowing off is nil because the lid is bolted down, instead of being screwed down.

How to install a flood control system

To install a flood control system, you have to remove the entire backwater valve flood control system in your home (except for the pumping system, ejector basin, and pump) and replace it with the flood control system. Note that this is not a project you should try to do yourself, it should be left to a flood control specialist or professional plumber.

Here are the steps for doing that:

Step #1

Excavate the area around the existing backwater-valve flood control system so you can go in and take out the entire system. This requires some demolition work to remove the circular blocks that make up the sides of the pit. The floor of the pit must also be removed to expose the pipes installed underneath.

Step #2

Move the incoming water line out of the way to keep it from getting damaged. Now remove the failed PVC system from the pit after you have loosened the flexible rubber couplings that hold it in place. This is the part of the system you want to replace.

Step #3

After this, install the new cast-iron twin-check-valve system and secure the connections at each end with flexible rubber couplings.

Step #4

Once the valve is securely in place, pour bags of ready-mix concrete around the valve with emphasis on both ends of the valve. Pay particular attention to the front connection and make sure it has enough concrete. This is the most important joint since it is the part that will take the direct pressure of the city sewer system.

Step #5

After this is done, pour a layer of gravel aggregate over the entire assembly and spread it over the concrete. This will help to strengthen the base around your newly installed system. Add water to the aggregate until it is soaked.

Step #6

Next, cover everything with a thick layer of sand to create the bottom of the pit. Once this step is done you are now ready to start laying the curved blocks that will form the circular walls of the pit. Keep laying the blocks until the walls is up to the surrounding grade and then top it off with an access cover.

Why do you need a flood control system?

If the region where you live is prone to natural floods, a flood control system can save you from anxiety, plus the cost of fixing flood-inflicted damage to your home, says Avalon Property Management. You may also need a flood control system to serve as a backup in case of sump pump failure. Regardless of where you live, a flood control system can add a second layer of protection to shield your home from flooding.