[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Nell57

So.... in the future, if someone is working on my sewer line, is there any precautions I can take?
Cover the toilets with something? Toilet lid down?
What should I ask my agent about on my insurance policy...and what are they actually covering?
There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this thread... I appreciate all of your viewpoints.,

I asked them before it happened if there was any chance of this happening and they said no. Had they said yes I would have wrapped the bowls with cellophane to keep it from coming out.

[vintageogauge]

Update, I called TV customer service and they said they do hire contractors to clean sewers that it would be Sumter county. I called Sumter county and you guessed it, they know nothing about it. This was an expensive undertaking for someone so it's hard to believe that two agencies do not know who hired them.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Nell57

So.... in the future, if someone is working on my sewer line, is there any precautions I can take?
Cover the toilets with something? Toilet lid down?
What should I ask my agent about on my insurance policy...and what are they actually covering?
There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this thread... I appreciate all of your viewpoints.,

I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent a sewer backup issue. But, most homeowners insurance policies will offer optional sewer backup coverage. I always buy it because a sewer backup occurrence can cause at lot of damage to your house.

[Paporter]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

A few weeks ago TV hired a company to clean out or test the sanitary sewer drains on the street. A worker walked through our yard and I asked him if water was going to blow out of our toilet (this happened to me in the past) he said definitely not, I thanked him and explained my past experience. Well, you can guess what happened, I went in the house an hour or so later and toilet trap water was all over the floors and walls of the bathrooms. I let him know in no uncertain terms that I was not pleased as I now have two bathrooms to clean and disinfect and a bunch of bacteria laden wet rugs to get cleaned. I called TV and they called the company who stopped over and offered to mop up the floors with their truck mop as it would only be water out of the toilet trap which I did not accept, I told them that if it came out of the toilet it has bacteria no matter what part it came out of and that I would do it myself but I could not clean the rugs as they would be too heavy for our washer. He told me to get them cleaned, send him a receipt, and he would re-imburse me. I did exactly that and here is what happened next. I received an e-mail stating that he would stop over for documentation, I already sent him the paid itemized receipt so I asked what else he needed. A week later I get a call from a lady at the company stating that she was going to stop over with a release of liability for any and all future claims of damage that I had to sign and she would notarize in exchange for a $85.00 gift card, she also stated that if I didn't accept the card I would have to give her my social and sign off on more papers to get my money back (it was $51.00 to clean 6 heavy rugs) I advised that I did not want the gift card and that I was not signing a release nor would I give her my social, etc. She said she would send a personal check that day, it's been two weeks and nothing.

My questions is since they wanted me to sign a release should I get in touch with TV and tell them I want my back flow device tested and also have the line scoped to look for damage? I don't know how far to go on this and even who to contact but there must be a good possibility of damage if they wanted that release signed and notarized. Look forward to some advice. Thank you.

Contact your CDD supervisor for assistance. He/She should be able point you in the right direction or intervene on your behalf. Another option to contact Crimes Against Seniors, who will help you.

[Paporter]

Contact your CDD supervisor for help or Crimes Against Seniors, both know who to contact.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

I didn't say I wanted to take them to court, that was a reply to my post, I've never been to court and don't feel like starting now. See my last sentence, my question is should I tell The Villages that I want the line and back flow device tested? And/or who should I call?

it certainly can't hurt. i'd have already been on the line with someone if this happened to us. even if a team of people came in & cleaned it, i'd still go over it with a gallon of bleach, just for my own sanity, lol. how terrible for you, ughh. next time dont take their word for it, if you see them out there just assume it could/would happen again.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

I asked them before it happened if there was any chance of this happening and they said no. Had they said yes I would have wrapped the bowls with cellophane to keep it from coming out.

maybe put a towel in there before the plastic wrap. it sounds gross, but u can always run it through the wash on hot with clorox, or just save it for the next time you might need it for the same purpose.

[Villagesgal]

The Villages should be able to tell you who takes care of their sewage and maintenance of in ground pipes in your area. It was the City of Wildwood, try calling their Utility dept, they may have done it or sent out a contractor. You are getting the run around because no one wants to take responsibility for potential damage/mold to your home. All your indoor plumbing is attached to the cleanout which then flows into the sewer including all sinks. A real sewage backup will come up your toilets, showers, bathtubs and all indoor sinks. Gross, but true, just look at the building plans of your home, or ask your plumber. Call the Utility billing dept for the Villages if that's who you pay your sewage billing to, they will know who sent that crew out, keep asking for a supervisor till you get the information you need. If they keep saying they don't know, then suggest to them they are forcing you to seek legal assistance, which you don't want to do, but see no other way in getting the information you need. Write down all names of people you speak with and their job titles.
Trust me, the Villages knows who is responsible for their infrastructure, their water and their sewage treatment in all areas of the Villages. Good luck.

[davem4616]

I'm thinking that you have a health risk...I'd toss the rugs and call a company like SERVPRO and have them come in to totally clean the bathroom

if you can recover the cost on your insurance or from the company that caused it great....if not ask yourself, how much is your health and piece of mind worth

[Pfavreau]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

A few weeks ago TV hired a company to clean out or test the sanitary sewer drains on the street. A worker walked through our yard and I asked him if water was going to blow out of our toilet (this happened to me in the past) he said definitely not, I thanked him and explained my past experience. Well, you can guess what happened, I went in the house an hour or so later and toilet trap water was all over the floors and walls of the bathrooms. I let him know in no uncertain terms that I was not pleased as I now have two bathrooms to clean and disinfect and a bunch of bacteria laden wet rugs to get cleaned. I called TV and they called the company who stopped over and offered to mop up the floors with their truck mop as it would only be water out of the toilet trap which I did not accept, I told them that if it came out of the toilet it has bacteria no matter what part it came out of and that I would do it myself but I could not clean the rugs as they would be too heavy for our washer. He told me to get them cleaned, send him a receipt, and he would re-imburse me. I did exactly that and here is what happened next. I received an e-mail stating that he would stop over for documentation, I already sent him the paid itemized receipt so I asked what else he needed. A week later I get a call from a lady at the company stating that she was going to stop over with a release of liability for any and all future claims of damage that I had to sign and she would notarize in exchange for a $85.00 gift card, she also stated that if I didn't accept the card I would have to give her my social and sign off on more papers to get my money back (it was $51.00 to clean 6 heavy rugs) I advised that I did not want the gift card and that I was not signing a release nor would I give her my social, etc. She said she would send a personal check that day, it's been two weeks and nothing.

My questions is since they wanted me to sign a release should I get in touch with TV and tell them I want my back flow device tested and also have the line scoped to look for damage? I don't know how far to go on this and even who to contact but there must be a good possibility of damage if they wanted that release signed and notarized. Look forward to some advice. Thank you.

There are no outside traps. Only inside the house. There are no backflow devices either.

[RonI46]

Up north when they put a sewer pipe in from the street to the house there is a one way valve installed where the hook up is made which prevents back up from the sewer from occurring.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Paporter

Contact your CDD supervisor for help or Crimes Against Seniors, both know who to contact.

Good advise

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent a sewer backup issue. But, most homeowners insurance policies will offer optional sewer backup coverage. I always buy it because a sewer backup occurrence can cause at lot of damage to your house.

Yes, you can have a check valve installed.

Parks' Plumbing Offers Patented Flood Control Solutions

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Yes, you can have a check valve installed.

Parks' Plumbing Offers Patented Flood Control Solutions

Yes, you can install one of those devices, but I wouldn't do it. It could easity cause a sewer clog and maintenance issue. In The Villages, as long as the nearest sanitary sewer manhole cover in the street is lower than the floor level of your house, a major systemic sewer backup will fill up the manhole and pop off the cover before it floods your house. The best thing to do is to make sure your homeowners policy includes an endorsement for water backup coverage.

[Marshaw]

Where are you in TV. What about neighbors homes that are empty snow birds?