Within minutes summer storms can cause major damage to your home.
Wind, rain and hail can cause costly damage in mere minutes. Summer storms can cause heavy rains which are a major cause of sewer back up. All residential policies have exclusions regarding sewer back up and it is not covered unless it is specifically added to your policy. Some companies will not even provide this coverage.
Sewer back up results when the volume of water and sewage flowing into the sewer system exceeds its capacity. Other causes of sewer back up include blocked sewer connections caused by tree roots, collapsed sewer pipes or improper use of the sewer system. There are a number of things you can do to help prevent sewer back up in your home. These include:
- Keep sewer caps on all basement sewer outlets (floor drain, washer stack, sump hole, etc) during rainstorms;
- Have an automatic sewer backwater valve installed by a professional contractor;
- Install an automatic sump pump and discharge drainage onto your lawn or driveway;
- Extend all rainwater downspouts away from the foundation of your home;
- Ensure the flow of surface water is directed away from the foundation of your home; and
- Avoid using water during heavy downpours.