A home sewage line is an often-over-looked aspect of one’s home, but that doesn’t make it any less of a concern. While physical damage to the line is uncommon, a back-up isn’t, and these are rarely covered by your insurance! Since back-ups are often caused by the owner (and a lot of physical damage is preventable), you’ll likely end up paying out of pocket for the damages- which can be a lot if the back-up floods your home and damages everything!
Insurance: Good for Little
There are only a few things your homeowner’s insurance will cover and those are mostly environmental:
Falling objects, volcano eruptions, and vehicles/aircrafts.
Riots and vandalism.
Hail, windstorm, explosions, lighting, and fire.
Unfortunately, those problems are very unlikely and the more likely causes for a sewage problem are not covered by your insurance:
Poor Upkeep
Faulty construction
Preventable/Negligent Error
What You Can Do!
A helpful thing you can do as a homeowner is get a Sewage BackUp Endorsement which provides extra coverage for a small annual increase, but your best bet is to prevent a problem from happening in the first place by:
Dispose grease and paper products properly (like paper towels, diapers, and feminine products).
Maintain your sewer lateral (this is the pipeline between your house and the city’s main sewer line).
A long-term option is to replace existing pipes with plastic, because tree roots can’t penetrate them and cause leaks.
Locate your sewer line BEFORE something happens- just in case!
Know how to identify symptoms like: slow drains in sinks and bathtubs, gross smells, and mold inside the house are common signs that a larger problem is imminent.
If you do run into a back-up, here’s what you should do:
Act quickly! Turn off the water immediately; the longer you take, the more time the problem has to cause damage.
Save yourself time and money by setting up a video inspection; this relatively inexpensive service allows the professionals to locate the exact nature of the problem and how to fix it effectively.
Once the problem has been identified, it’s time to fix the broken pipe! Fortunately, if you’ve done a video inspection, then that fee will likely roll into the price of the repair.
Don’t forget to hire clean-up specialists. (This leak has the potential to cause more damage with mold, so attend to it immediately!)
All in all, what you as a Sonoma County homeowner need to know is: how to prevent a sewage backup, how to identify an imminent problem, where your sewer line is in case of an emergency, where the water shut-off valve is, and who to call when a pipe bursts. Remember, act fast!
No matter where you live in Sonoma County, a house flood can be a legitimate concern (especially in the Russian River neighborhoods) for costly repairs, loss of sentimental items, and possible relocation of your family. Flood insurance is an invaluable resource to have, but what else can you do about a flood? It’s best to prepare for a flood, so you can limit the amount of damage done; take steps to prevent a flood; and know what to do to recover from unavoidable flood damage.
Prepare for a Flood
In the event of an environmental flood warning, you’ll have extra time to take precautions, so you should move your valuable things (like furniture and personal documents somewhere safe).
Pack an emergency kit: this kit should contain copies of your personal documents (in the event of total destruction of your home), flashlights with extra batteries, everyday medicine, and hopefully a cellphone (and extra chargers/batteries).
Also, ensure your electrical sockets are at least a foot above the estimated flood level.
Preventing a Flood
If possible, consider raising your home on piers or stilts. (This is easiest to do when you’re building your own home.) Also consider foundation vents which allow water to move through your home instead of around it.
Apply sealants, then separate any mulch from the siding of your house, grade your lawn away from your home, and point downspouts away from your house. Water pooling around your home is a recipe for flood disaster.
Purchase a sump pump (with a battery backup), this will allow you to pump out any water that may enter your home.
Recovering from a Flood
When nature decides to irreparably flood your home, then be sure to evacuate as soon as you can; it’s better to lose a house than a life.
Upon returning to you home, take precautions to avoid injury, like: observing structural damage that may cause a collapse, turn off the electricity, wear waders and gloves, and avoid eating any food that could have been contaminated.
Before making any repairs or removing water, take as many pictures as possible to document all the damage done; this ensures maximum coverage from your insurance.
Contact your insurance and inform them of the damage. They’ll tell you when it’s okay for you to begin removing water and wet contents which could develop mold. (Consider a flood restoration service professional.)
Once everything is as dry as can be, don’t forget to secure your property from further damage and document that protection for insurance purposes, then call water restoration experts to ensure an effect recovery.
The Aftermath
Preparing for a flood (or any emergency) is vital to confident living, while you should always take precautions when you can because your home is an invaluable asset that you and your family can’t afford to lost. But sometimes life happens, and when it does, you should know how to respond optimally; that requires a knowledge of what to do and who to call when you need help.
An issue commonly faced by homeowners and renters is water damage from a leaking or broken pipe, and since plumbing takes place behind the scenes, it can be confusing for someone to deal with it if they have no prior knowledge. Fortunately, it’s not very difficult to spot the symptoms of a faulty pipe, but the damage could all come at once. If you see water damage on the walls or ceiling or notice the odor of sewage in your home, then it’s likely you have a broken (or soon to be broken pipe) and you should contact a professional immediately.
In the case of a water emergency, you’ll want to shut off the main-valve as soon as you notice a burst pipe, this will prevent any further damage. There should be two main-valves (if not more) located at your water-meter; once you’ve located these, you should turn them both off until you understand the location of the damaged pipe and the nature of the leak. (If you don’t know where your water-meter is, you should locate it before an issue like this occurs if possible.)
Once the potential of further damage has ceased, you should proceed to secure any valuable items and documents from harm’s way; if there is a pool of water, you should shut-off your electricity to avoid electrocution until you’re certain there is no risk, then find a method to drain the water out of your house (most easily with a water pump). Remove any rugs or items which may have gotten wet and vacuum the water out to prevent mold from growing (you may need to hire a carpet-cleaner).
When the urgent water damage has been dealt with, it’s time to hire a water damage specialist near you to repair the damage and clean any mold which has potentially grown in your home. What needs to be done is: cut out the drywall around the affected area, precisely locate the broken pipe, remove the pipe, clean the pipe (inside and out), solder on a copper repair-sleeve, ensure the leak has been repaired, then patch the wall. You can also skip cleaning the pipe and mounting a repair-sleeve by simply replacing the pipe.
In the case of a broken sewage pipe (accompanied by a disgusting odor), attempt to secure the leak by blocking both sides with a rag and duct-tape, then call a professional immediately (these leaks can release harmful chemicals into your home).
Repairing a broken pipe in your wall can be tricky and, if done improperly, can cause further damage to your home. Your best course of action is to personally deal with any urgent threats of water damage and call a professional plumber immediately. For additional help in the north bay, contact us for a qualified plumber.
A flood or a storm is an unstoppable force of nature. Not so with many other sources of water damage. While you can’t avoid a natural disaster, you may be able to prevent water leaks that can lead to extensive damage. Here are five ways to keep the water where it belongs and away from where it doesn’t.
Have your roof inspected yearly
Don’t panic. You probably won’t need roof repairs every year. Yet, without a roof inspection, you might not know when you do need repairs. A yearly roof inspection is the best way to ensure that you discover missing shingles, damaged flashing, and other roof problems and correct them before they can cause water damage.
Clean your gutters
When rain comes, it has to go somewhere. As it slides off your roof, your gutters are designed to direct it away from your home’s roof, foundation, and walls. If not, the water can get into places you don’t want it to be. You need to keep the gutters cleaned out, so the water can run away freely.
Keep your sump pump in good repair
A sump pump can help prevent water damage in a basement, but only if it’s working properly. If your sump pump has an alarm to warn you when it loses power, change the battery regularly. Have a plumber check your sump pump once a year. Repair or replace it promptly if your plumber suggests it.
Watch your water bill
Your water bill can be a vital clue about the health of your plumbing. Keep track of the amount of water you’re using every month. If your water usage spikes suddenly, you may have a leaky pipe, a leaky toilet, or a dripping faucet you need to have repaired. Pay closest attention to the gallons used column on your water bill.
Replace old appliance connections
Washers and dishwashers can often go years without any maintenance. It’s easy to just set them up and forget about them. But, as the water connections age, they can rust or crack, causing slow leaks and the potential for major gushers. Change the hoses about every three to five years to prevent water leaks.
Dealing with water damage in Sonoma County? Contact us for 24/7 emergency support.
