Why You Might Want to Install a Backwater Valve

Flooding in your home is a traumatic experience. Not only is flooding messy and costly to clean up, but it can be emotionally draining for everyone involved. Fortunately, you can protect your family from rainwater and sewage backing up into your home by installing a backwater valve to your sewer line.

At B&W Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Drains, our plumbers are expertly trained to make all types of plumbing repairs and installations, including the addition of a backwater valve to prevent sewage, rainwater and chemicals from backing up into your home’s shower drains, toilets and laundry drains. For all of your plumbing needs, contact B&W today.

What is a Backwater Valve?

During heavy rainfalls, city sewer lines can become overwhelmed with water, which can cause water or sewage to back up into your home. Your home’s sewer line is responsible for directing water away from your property. However, during these heavy rains, city or municipality sewer lines can become overloaded, causing flooding in your home. Tree roots, grease-filled or clogged drains and collapsed sewer lines can also cause backflow.

Backwater valves, also referred to as backflow valves or sewer backups, are a plumbing device that can be installed directly on your home’s sewer line pipe. The valve contains a small flap. If backwater begins flowing, the flap will close and prevent the water or sewage from entering your home.

Does Your Home Have a Backwater Valve?

Some municipalities require a sewer backflow valve during new construction of homes. Valves can be retrofitted into your current sewer system line, as well. If you’re not sure if your home has a backwater valve, check your basement. In most homes, valves are installed in a pit under the basement floor, directly on the sewer line. If you have one, you’ll notice a cover that can be easily removed for maintenance and repairs.

Benefits of Backwater Valves

Over the years, the plumbers at B&W have serviced many flooded homes in the Indianapolis area that were the result of backflow. Many of these floods could have been prevented with the installation of a backwater valve. Some of the benefits of installing one might include:

  • They’re required by your local government
  • Preventing water and sewage from flooding your home
  • Receiving rebates from municipalities for installing one
  • Receiving discounts from insurance companies
  • Saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars on potential flood repairs
  • Preventing an interruption to your home’s plumbing services

Backwater Valve Maintenance

To protect your home and family from potential flooding and sewage backup, contact a professional plumber once a year to have the backflow valve inspected to ensure it’s operating properly. During the inspection, the plumber will:

  • Check that the valve is operating properly
  • Clean the backflow valve’s components
  • Remove any debris or dirt that has built up that can clog the system
  • Inspect any moving parts
  • Check the floats on both sides of the flap

Contact B&W for All of Your Home’s Plumbing Needs

B&W is a full-service, family-owned company that has earned the business of hundreds of Indianapolis and Central Indiana homeowners over the years. We offer fast response times and unmatched customer service. For all of your home’s plumbing needs – including installation, repair or maintenance of backwater valves – contact B&W today.