Sewer Backup in Nashville, TN: Causes & Fixes

Why is sewage backing up into my Nashville home?Sewer backups in Nashville usually come from root-filled clay laterals in older neighborhoods, older laterals serving new infill homes, or combined sewers in the urban core that surcharge during heavy rain. Flash floods can also overwhelm drainage and push water into basements and crawl spaces. Identifying whether backups happen in dry weather or only during storms is the first step to the right fix.

Act now

A sewage backup is an emergency: it spreads quickly, contaminates everything it touches and gets worse every time a fixture is used.

Call (866) 417-0220

Why it happens in Nashville

Root-filled clay laterals

Mature trees enter older laterals and trap waste.

Combined sewer surcharge

Heavy rain fills combined sewers in the core and backs water into low drains.

Old laterals under new homes

Infill homes tied to decades-old laterals inherit their defects.

Flash flooding

Intense storms overwhelm drainage around homes and low fixtures.

Grease from heavy use

Short-term rentals and large households put more grease and wipes into older laterals, which catch on roots and cracks.

Signs to watch for

Dirty water rising in a basement floor drain
Sewage in a tub or shower when a toilet is flushed
Several drains gurgling or slow at once
Water coming out of the main cleanout
Sewer odor in the lowest level of the home

Emergency, or can it wait?

Call right away if…

Sewage in living space
Backup affecting all drains
Backup during a storm that keeps rising

Usually OK to schedule if…

A single slow drain with no sewage
Occasional gurgling with normal flow

What Nashville homeowners can check first

Does it happen in dry weather or only in storms?
Is the outdoor cleanout full?
Was the lateral replaced when the house was built?
Is there a backwater valve?
Note whether the lowest drain in the house backs up first

Unfinished basement with exposed pipes — Stock photo: Oleksandr Chernobai / Unsplash

How our plumbers fix it

Open the cleanout to locate whether the blockage is inside or outside the house.
Clear the main line with a cable machine or jetter.
Run a sewer camera to find roots, breaks or sags.
Check for a missing or failed backwater valve if backups follow storms.

Sewer Backup in Nashville: questions

What should I do during a Nashville sewer backup?

Stop using water, keep people and pets away from sewage and call a plumber. Report public sewer issues to Metro Water Services.

Can a backwater valve help in Nashville?

In areas prone to storm surcharge, a properly installed backwater valve blocks reverse flow from the public sewer.

Does homeowners insurance cover sewer backups in Tennessee?

Usually only with a sewer backup endorsement; flood damage needs separate flood insurance.

How do I prevent root backups?

Lining or replacing root-damaged sections stops roots from re-entering; routine cutting is only temporary.

Next steps

Main Sewer Line CleaningThe main sewer line carries all of a home's wastewater to the city sewer or septic tank.Sewer Line Repair in NashvilleSewer line repair fixes damage to the building sewer or lateral, the pipe that carries wastewater from a house to the public sewer main or septic system.Sewer Camera InspectionA sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera on a flexible push rod through the sewer lateral to record its condition.Hydro JettingHydro jetting cleans drain and sewer lines with water at high pressure, delivered through a hose with a nozzle that has rear-facing jets.Emergency PlumbingEmergency plumbing is urgent repair work for a problem that is actively causing water damage, a sanitation hazard, a gas risk or a total loss of water or drainage in a home.

National guide: Sewer Backup · Plumbing in Nashville