April Showers Bring…Backed Up Sewers?!

Spring is almost here again and the one thing we can count on is that water will fall from the sky!  Chicago has averaged close to 37 inches of rain per year over the last 30 years with approximately 2/3 of it coming in the spring and summer months, and these figures are trending upwards.

chicago-rainfall

More rain means more problems for the already inundated system of Chicago sewers. With every major storm, it seems, some municipal storm and sanitary sewers become filled to capacity and pressurized, and too often the path of least resistance leads the sewer water directly into someone’s basement.

What can homeowners do?  For starters, you should have your main sewer line cleaned and video-inspected to ensure that it is structurally sound and unobstructed.  April showers may bring May flowers, but they also cause tree roots to grow faster which can wreak havoc inside of a sewer pipe.  Having the sewer rodded can prevent backups caused by tree roots before they even happen.

A clean sewer, however, will not stop a backup from a pressurized city sewer.  The only measure against flooding from city sewers is the installation of a flood control system, or the conversion of the sewer to an overhead system.

The Scottish Plumber offers several different options for flood control.  Call us today for a sewer rodding and video inspection service (starting at $99 with an outside access), and ask for a free estimate for a flood control system.  We can find an option that fits both your needs and your budget, and lets you keep your mind on the flowers when the spring showers come.