I got my basement flooded 2 months ago due to heavy rain and snow melt down, I am convinced after checking all other possibilities that water came from main sewage and it was a back fire or overflow, and it was clean storm water. Now I am thinking to put back-water valve but wandering to know the pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages, specially the cons/disadvantage of back-water valve?

So it was totally clean water, no sweage? Where did it enter your home?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

So it was totally clean water, no sweage?? Where did it enter your home?

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Actually it happened when snow meltdown because of rain and turned into flooding and water came out from underneath toilet seat(between toilet and floor) it was neat and clean water no smell at all . I am in the house since 4 years and it was my first experience so I cleaned up by suction pump, it was around 3 inches water.
Then around 4 weeks later, I called City (as I could not locate my clear out at first place)and they checked my sewage line and it was all clear. Actually flooding happens 5am in the morning so I could not check if my washrooms/kitchen is backedup or not (honestly I did not knew what to check at that time since I was totally new to this all)

Actually a a sewer check valve,( see image) could be installed just downstream from the house cleanout that would prevent this from happening. Good luck, Tom

Hi all:

Please answer Ballenger's questions... O.K?

In my area there are still a lot of streets where the rainwater systems connect into the sewer system and they will occasionally be overwhelmed and flood homes. In these cases, we install back water valves like you are asking about Fida...

They are pretty cool... very few CONS. One major con is that occasionally the flapper valve can get stuck and cause the sewer to back up, but that is primarily after the homeowners flushed things down the drain like paper towels, feminine napkins and other stuff like that. These can even cause issues for drain lines without back water valves so not sure how much of a con this even is.

The only other con is getting it installed into the line and again.. this isn't really a con if it prevents water/sewer from ever backing up again.

Obvious PRO is that it keeps water/sewage from backing into home. Another pro is that it usually provides an easily accessible cleanout should the main drain itself ever clog up at the house (need to remove flapper to do this).

Finally, you need to contact your local sewer department and ask them if the sewer and the storm water are combined in your area. If they are connected I would install the back water valve... 'cause if they are connected that storm water is going to have some sewage components to it... and that can be very yucky and unhealthy. In fact, if they confirm all is combined I'd bleach the area that flooded... just to be safe!

Let us know if you want to discuss more...

MARK

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Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Hi all:

Please answer Ballenger's questions...O.K?

In my area there are still a lot of streets where the rainwater systems connect into the sewer system and they will occasionally be overwhelmed and flood homes. In these cases, we install back water valves like you are asking about Fida...

They are pretty cool...very few CONS. One major con is that occasionally the flapper valve can get stuck and cause the sewer to back up, but that is primarily after the homeowners flushed things down the drain like paper towels, feminine napkins and other stuff like that. These can even cause issues for drain lines without back water valves so not sure how much of a con this even is.

The only other con is getting it installed into the line and again..this isn't really a con if it prevents water/sewer from ever backing up again.

Obvious PRO is that it keeps water/sewage from backing into home. Another pro is that it usually provides an easily accessible cleanout should the main drain itself ever clog up at the house (need to remove flapper to do this).

Finally, you need to contact your local sewer department and ask them if the sewer and the storm water are combined in your area. If they are connected I would install the back water valve....'cause if they are connected that storm water is going to have some sewage components to it...and that can be very yucky and unhealthy. In fact, if they confirm all is combined I'd bleach the area that flooded...just to be safe!!

Let us know if you want to discuss more...

MARK

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Thanks Bellenger, I have really appreciated your detailed answer and it's a big help.. I would definitely go with this valve.
Yes, its confirmed that rain/flood water connects to sewer system line and that is causing it

Fida92: If it was clean water that flooded your bathroom than you may have ground water issue, not sewer. Water was coming up between closet ring and concrete. Not an usual occurrence...

Moreover, I do not recommend check valve on sewer pipe as it only hides the problem - but certainly it will not solve the true cause of the problem.

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Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

Fida92: If it was clean water that flooded your bathroom than you may have ground water issue, not sewer. Water was coming up between closet ring and concrete. Not an usual occurrence...

Moreover, I do not recommend check valve on sewer pipe as it only hides the problem - but certainly it will not solve the true cause of the problem.

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Hi Milo,

Thanks for your answer It could give me a new direction. When you say Ground water issue, then what could be the source of that water as I checked all around my house and Couldn't see any area/spot to get the water from outside the house. However you have made a good point as one of my side wall get little wet during heavy rain but water does not come out from there. Lets say if the water is coming from side should it not be dirty ?
When sewer line get flooded most of the water could be clean specially top layer.. I don't know though just guessing . When City people did Camera inspection, month later and sewer line was clean. Water came out from toilet pipe b/w toilet and floor during flood, that day lots of houses in the City got flooded after a huge snow meltdown.
I am really looking forward your input to sort it out further... really appreciated

Fida92: Sewer and Storm drain are Two completely different drainage systems. Therefore, overflowing Storm drain is probably not going to show in your sewer. Yes, some rain water enters sewers during rains but not remotely enough to overflow into your house.

Next time you have such a problem, go outside and open Clean Out. You will be able to see if the sewer is full or not.

Ground water leaks happen quite often, at least in my area. We sometimes lift old tub and see stream of water running under the P-trap. When ground gets saturated, like with heavy rains, water table raises and may enter you house through cracks and opening around pipes, bolts, conduits, etc. This is especially true in hoses with basements. Ground water is clean because it is filtrated through ground.

Hi Milo.

In most areas of the country the sewers and the storm water systems are still connected together. Each state is working on changing that and all new roads/construction require the installation of separate systems, but most are still connected together.

I'm also pretty sure that FIDA92 confirmed that the sewer and storm water system are connected together... so very likely that the storm water system overwhelmed the sewer system and water backed up and out between the toilet seal and the floor... not between the concrete floor and the toilet. In other words, I don't think it is ground water, but storm water system according to the description given.

If this is in fact stormwater backing up the sewer pipes from the street then there is no better answer than to install the back water valve. As you said, it can be confirmed at the main cleanout during the next back up.

If it is underground water then a SUMP PUMP installed below the floor may help if underground isn't hard clay!

Anyway... waiting for FRIDA92 to return to discuss more...


MARK

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Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Hi Milo.

In most areas of the country the sewers and the storm water systems are still connected together. Each state is working on changing that and all new roads/construction require the installation of separate systems, but most are still connected together.

I'm also pretty sure that FIDA92 confirmed that the sewer and storm water system are connected together...so very likely that the storm water system overwhelmed the sewer system and water backed up and out between the toilet seal and the floor...not between the concrete floor and the toilet. In other words, I don't think it is ground water, but storm water system according to the description given.

If this is in fact stormwater backing up the sewer pipes from the street then there is no better answer than to install the back water valve. As you said, it can be confirmed at the main cleanout during the next back up.

If it is underground water then a SUMP PUMP installed below the floor may help if underground isn't hard clay!

Anyway...waiting for FRIDA92 to return to discuss more...


MARK

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Its confirmed that sewer and storm water runs through the same pipe line in my area, now I guess I have to wait until next heavy rain to check the clean out to ensure the source of water...

It's a good idea to wait... hate too see you install this valve unnecessarily... ;)