Backwater valves are usually located in the floor of your basement . If you know where to find your sump pump, the backwater valve is probably nearby. There may be a rectangular panel on top, but often the compartment itself is clear so that you can see inside relatively easily and the round cap can be removed.
Do I need a backflow preventer on my sewer line?
The main benefit of a backwater preventer is that it stops unwanted backflow from a municipal drainage system or city sewer into your home. ... Without a properly installed sewer backflow preventer, wastewater can enter your home through the sink, tub, floor drain, and toilets.
What is a sewer backflow valve?
A floor drain style Backflow Valve is designed to allow sewage to flow in only one direction – from your floor drain to the Sanitary Sewer. Should the Sanitary Sewer become flooded, a properly installed and maintained Backflow Valve should prevent sewage from backing up through your floor drain.
How does a sewer backflow valve work?
How do backwater valves work? A backwater valve allows water from your toilets, sinks, and bathtubs to flow out of your home and into the main sewer system . If water begins to flow backwards, from the city’s pipes and into yours, the flap on the backwater valve will close and stop the water from entering your home.
What causes sewer backflow?
What Causes sewer Backflows? Sewer backflow occurs as a result of backpressure. Sudden reduction in water pressure of the potable water line gives rise to sewer backflow. When water pressure is decreased from the system at one point, water tends to go backward into other nearby points of that system.
How much does it cost to install a sewer backup valve?
Cost to Install or Replace a Backflow Preventer
On average, backflow preventer installation costs about $300. Most homeowners pay between $135 and $1,000 depending on the size and type of the system. The device itself ranges from $35 to $600, while professional labor costs between $100 and $400.
How much does it cost to install a backflow valve?
Installation of a backflow preventer can cost $300. Depending on the size of the system and how much it costs, most homeowners pay between $135 and $1,000 . The device costs between $35 and $600, while labor costs between $100 and $400.
Is a backwater valve the same as a backflow preventer?
There is a big difference between backwater valves and backflow preventers: ... A backwater valve prevents raw sewage from backing up into your home through your toilets, showers, etc.
Where do you put a sewer backflow valve?
The valve is installed in the sewer line ahead of any fixtures . In the event of sewage being forced back into the home during a flood event, a flapper valve is closed within the valve to prevent the sewage from entering the home.
How do you stop sewer backflow?
The simplest, least-expensive way to prevent backflow is with a flap valve installed on the single sewer line ; it allows water from the home to flow to the sewer system but closes when water flows backward toward the house.
Can a backwater valve failure?
How do backwater valves most often fail? ... Some homes experience damage from sanitary and/or storm sewer backup even though they have a backwater valve in place. In particular, if a backwater valve is not properly maintained, sanitary waste and/or storm water can back up into a home during an extreme rainfall event .
What is a sewer line check valve?
More simple types of valves are called flap or check valves. They open to allow sewage to flow out , but then close to prevent the sewage from flowing in the reverse direction. They operate automatically, but they do not work quite as well as the gate valve to prevent sewage backflow.
Can you get sick from sewage flooding?
Respiratory infections are uncommon, because fecal microorganisms rarely become airborne when everything is wet, and these bacteria and viruses generally die off after things dry out. If you experience any GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) after exposure to sewage, contact your doctor.
What happens if backflow occurs?
A backflow problem can lead to contamination of clean water . ... Unfortunately, backflow issues can still occur. When clean water is contaminated with wastewater as the result of a backflow it can pose a health risk.
How much does it cost to unclog a main sewer line?
The national average cost to unclog a main sewer line is between $350 and $650 , with most people paying around $475 to clean a mid-sized clog by hydro jetting the main sewer pipe between a house and municipal main line.
