3 Reasons the Sewer Keeps Backing Up in Salt Creek Township, IN

You may know that Salt Creek Township was named after the salt springs that helped make this area the center of a salt manufacturing industry. However, while the early settlers used the salt from the Salt Creek banks for this purpose, did you know that you primarily depend on this creek for water? That’s where your water supply comes from, but it could also be the reason for your sewer backing up.  

Our Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair team has seen our water become the cause of countless sewer issues. Below, we’ll explain this and other sewer backup culprits. Then, you can reach out to our trusted plumbers in Salt Creek Township, IN, for much-needed solutions.  

Sediments and Other Objects Leading to Blockages

Our water supply comes from Salt Creek and Monroe Watershed, which houses Crooked Creek and Salt Creek’s three forks (North, Middle, and South). These sources grab minerals like calcium and magnesium, especially from nearby rocks, organic carbon, and salt deposits. When we receive this water from our municipal water supply, the water deposits these sediments into our supply, discharge, and sewer lines. 

In the sewer line, an advanced buildup can occur from constant sediment accumulation over time. The particles latch onto the inner pipe walls, narrowing the passageway. Eventually, it clogs, causing wastewater to reverse flow and leading to your sewer backing up into your discharge lines and plumbing fixtures. 

Adding water softeners can help, but these natural sediments aren’t the only factors that cause blockages. The following may demand plunging, snaking, or hydro-jetting in Salt Creek Township:

• Tree roots growing into the pipes
• Burrowing pests and their nests 
• Grease, oil, and fat buildup originating from your kitchen sink
• Baby wipes, diapers, and other unflushable products
• And more!

Salt Creek Township’s Heavy Rainfall Causing Sewer Flooding 

If the hard water supply doesn’t harm your sewer lines, the hard rainfall might. The average rainfall across the United States measures roughly 30 inches annually. While the midwest region should receive the same amount, Salt Creek Township, Indiana, undergoes about eight inches more annually and has a history of flooding. 

Unfortunately, heavy rainfall like this can overflow your sewer line since an unusually large amount of water enters the system. The excessive water can exceed the pipe’s capacity limit, and the water has nowhere else to go, leading to your sewer backing up into your home. 

If this rarely happens and hasn’t led to any water damage in your house, the problem should relieve itself once the rain stops. However, if this happens frequently, jeopardizing your rooms and safety, an expert technician can install a backflow valve to deter this action. A sump pump can also help remove existing water that’s starting to pool at your home’s lowest elevation. 

Broken Salt Creek Township Pipes Developing Holes

However, your Salt Creek Township pipes could be the issue themselves. In some cases, your pipes may have reached the end of their lifespan and are deteriorating. In other cases, the following may cause your pipes to snap, crack, or develop holes:

• Shifting soil that reduces ground support and causes pipes to collapse
• Corrosion in metal pipes that weakens pipe walls 
• Improper installations or repairs that have caused weak fittings and sealings
• Pipes freezing and bursting in the winter
• And more!

Whatever the reason behind a busted pipe, it could also be the cause of your sewer backing up. 

That’s because wastewater exiting the pipe through holes reduces the line’s flow capacity. In turn, tree roots and debris can enter the hole, but the lower water volume slows the water flow rate, imitating a clog. The water will then flow backward, and you’ll need a Salt Creek Township professional for a line inspection and patchwork. 

Signs You Have a Sewer Backup 

Now that you know what causes these issues in sewer mainlines, how can you pinpoint when they happen in yours? In many cases, you’ll note a foul smell resembling sewage odors, which could prove dangerous because toxic sewer gases could be involved. However, other signs include:

• Gurgling from air pockets in your discharge line
• Slow drains causing water to pool in your fixtures 
• Water reentering from your drain lines
• Wet patches around your yard or home