Real Estate - David Campbell, Realtor - Coldwell Banker Heritage

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Sewer Line Backflow Peventer

Sewer Line Backflow Peventer

What is a backflow preventer? As a Realtor helping people buy and sell homes in the Dayton area, I’ve seen my fair share of unexpected surprises in homes, and one issue that often takes homeowners off guard is sewer backflow. This is when the sewer system reverses flow and comes back into the plumbing of the home. There’s a device that can stop this, and it’s not very expensive. $25.00 to $50.00. It’s called a backflow preventer. What types are there? There are 2 basic types. A gate valve and a float. They both are simplistic devices. The gate valve is nothing more than a one way flapper door. The door lets water flow out, but shuts when water tries to reverse flow like what happens when the sewer backs up. The gate style is for new construction to be installed in the floor prior to pouring the concrete. Float style uses a ball that allows water to pass as it goes down the drain and in the event of a backup at the street, the ball ‘floats’ upward and blocks the flow of water from making it to the interior of the home. This one is easier to install in an existing home. Remove your current floor drain cover and fit it inside the drain. Do all homes have them? Older homes generally won’t have these devices but they are great insurance. If you are in a new or newer home you may have noticed what looks like a 4 inch plastic disk on the floor, flush with the concrete floor. Hmmm, wonder what that is? That’s the maintenance cover to the valve so you check and maintain it. Whether you’re buying a new home or safeguarding your current one, understanding how a sewer backflow preventer works could save you from one of the messiest (and most expensive) plumbing problems you’ll ever face.
Damaged Sewer Pipe? Reline It!

Damaged Sewer Pipe? Reline It!

Maybe you’ve heard of repairing a sewer line with a ‘sewer sleeve’ or a ‘sewer liner’ or ‘trenchless line repair’. They refer to the same thing. Let’s say your Realtor recommended a sewer scope inspection for an older home you wrote an offer on. The inspection showed a broken clay tile. The traditional fix is to bring in a backhoe, dig a massive hole in the yard to replace the tile. There is an easier way. Think of the sleeve as a kind of long firehose being pulled through the line. It’s made of a felt-like material infused with resin. Once it’s in the line, air pressure is used to blow it up like a balloon tight against the walls of the sewer pipe. The resin dries to be rock hard and now the pipe is relined without digging! It’s very thin so the diameter of the pipe is not compromised. It’s seamless and smooth so it will actually flow better than the original. The entire sewer line can be relined or spot repairs are possible. They last from 20 to 50 years. The system seals out roots that so commonly penetrate between the clay liners. It also repairs leaks that can ultimately eat away at the supporting ground and cause a ‘belly’ in the line that results in sewer backups. As a local Dayton area Realtor I’ve run across many issues like this in older homes and this can be the less expensive fix in many cases. Reach out if I can be of assistance.
Wall Leaning? Wall Anchor the Answer?

Wall Leaning? Wall Anchor the Answer?

Is your basement wall bowing over 2 inches? Wall anchors may be the answer. Wall anchors are simple in design with just 3 main parts - 2 steel plates connected by one metal shaft. One plate is buried in the yard and the other plate sits against the bowing wall. The metal shaft connects the two plates and the shaft is tightened to apply force to the wall. The installer knows the proper torque to apply to the shaft to hold the wall in tension against movement. The outside plate is generally about 10 feet out in the yard. The plates (anchors) are placed about 5 feet apart. If you have a wall that is 24 feet long you’ll need 4 anchors. They cost about 1000.00 each. They are not designed specifically to straighten a wall, although they may help, but more to stabilize the wall to keep it from moving further. So, if you’ve made an offer on your dream home only to find a leaning wall during your inspection, don’t lose hope. Wall anchors may be just the ticket to repair. I see wall anchor systems in the Dayton, Ohio area from time to time when showing homes and know that they can work when installed as designed. If you have further questions about structural options please reach out - I have a variety of resources to pull from.

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