To save yourself from a major headache down the road, here are some helpful tips for avoiding water backups:
- Never pour cooking oil or grease down your drains; it can solidify and cause clogs.
- Only flush bathroom tissue down the toilet (i.e. don't flush paper towels, disposable wipes, feminine products, etc).
- Consider replacing your water line with plastic pipe to prevent tree roots from entering it. Old clay tile pipes can easily crack, providing an easy entry for tree roots.
- Consult a sump pump professional, typically a plumber, to check your sump pump regularly and look for any pre-existing drainage system issues.
- Install a backwater prevention valve to prevent sewer backups; in fact, most new homes are built with this already installed.
- Buy a battery backup or water powered sump pump to keep your sump pump running when the power goes out; you don't want to chance having your basement flooded.