Sewage backs up into homes when the sewer line is blocked, broken, or overwhelmed. Grease and wipes, tree roots, damaged pipes, and city sewers that fill during heavy rain are the most common causes.
Blockages Inside the Line
The building sewer carries all wastewater from the home to the street. Over time, grease, food scraps, wipes, and paper towels can collect inside it. Once it closes, wastewater has nowhere to go and rises out of the lowest drains, often in a basement or ground floor.
Roots and Damaged Pipe
Roots grow toward moisture. They can slip into older sewer pipes through tiny cracks or loose joints and keep growing until they form a net that catches waste. Pipes can also crack, collapse, or sag with age, leaving low spots where solids settle. In New York City, the sewer line between the building and the city sewer is generally the property owner’s responsibility.
Storms and Overloaded Sewers
Much of the city’s sewer system carries rainwater and wastewater in the same pipes. During heavy storms, those pipes can fill faster than they drain. Water can then be pushed back toward buildings, especially those with drains below street level.
Shared Lines in Larger Buildings
In co-op and apartment buildings, many units drain into the same stack and building sewer. A blockage there can send water back up in the lowest units first. If you live on a low floor and see water rising in a drain, tell the super right away.
- Several slow drains at once
- Gurgling from toilets or sinks
- Sewer smells near a floor drain
- Water appearing in the lowest drain
If you notice these signs, a plumber can check the pipe with a camera and clear it before sewage enters your home. A backwater valve may also be worth discussing for future protection.
For help, call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840. If you are not sure the signs point to the sewer, a broader check of your drains can sort it out.