Rainy-Season Sewer Backups
Short answer: heavy rain soaks the ground and seeps into cracked sewer laterals, overloading them. Roots make it worse. A camera inspection and repairs, plus a cleanout and sometimes a backwater valve, protect the house.
Request a plumberWhy rain matters
Groundwater enters broken pipes.
Roots
Roots grow toward wet cracks.
First signs
Slow drains and gurgling during storms.
Cleanouts
Make sure the cleanout cap is accessible.
Backwater valves
They stop sewage from flowing back into low drains.
Gutters
Send roof water away from the house.
After a backup
Stop water use and call a plumber.
Cleanup
Disinfect thoroughly; discard soaked porous items.
Camera inspection
Find the cause once things dry out.
Insurance
Ask about sewer backup coverage; it's often a separate rider.
Storms off the bay
Winter storms that roll in off Monterey Bay can drop a lot of rain in a short time, and older laterals in low-lying neighborhoods feel it first.
Trees on the street
Street trees planted decades ago have roots that now reach under sidewalks and into private laterals, so many backups start at the front of the lot.
Next
See sewer line repair.
More plumbing guides
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