The most common problem found in basements is flooding. Flooded basements create a humid environment that termites love to thrive in. This is a seasonal problem encountered in the suburbs of Ipswich that the Redbank plains pest control administrators contend with. Flooded basements may be from sewer backup or storm water. For the Sewer backup:
1. It may be caused by two sewer pipes being connected together. The downspouts and foot drains are sometimes connected to the sanitary sewer so that during a heavy storm, the water ends up flowing into it and causing it to back up into the house.
2. It can also be caused by blocked service lines from grease, plant material, and broken pipes.
Ways to handle this include:
1. The floor drain plug – Plug the opening where it occurs. Commercial plugs can be bought and put in the drain under the grate. The bolts on the end pieces of the metal are tightened, making the gasket expand to seal the pipe.
- When a plug is left in the flood drain, it may cause a wet basement if the spillage is unable to drain away.
- Floor drains do not get rid of backup spewing out of the next available lower opening like the bath tub or the toilet in the basement.
2. Stand pipe it is an alternative to the floor drain plug. It resembles a donut that has a metal end pieces with a gasket in the middle which is then placed in the floor drain. It works by retaining water in the pipe when there is a backup. It is only effective as long as the overflow does not flow over the top of the pipe, which is normally 3 feet.
3. Overhead sewer It is like a stand pipe sans the problems. Under the basement floor, a sump is installed so that it intercepts the sewage from the basement. Then, an ejector pump within the sump pumps it up above the flood level where it drains through gravity to the sewer line.
The ejector pump requires electricity to function and it has to be maintained regularly. It requires a qualified plumber to install.
4. Backup valve – It stops water within the sewer pipes. A new system that provides counter weights keep the valve open always so that debris does not clog it. It is fully automated and works even when there is surface flooding. They need maintenance and only a licensed plumber and a building permit are needed to undertake this kind of work.