Modernization of wastewater pipes

Hello forum,

we have completely renovated a house from 1958. Now in August we had heavy rain in the Taunus and despite backwater valves water got into the basement. Now the question arises whether there is an obligation to also update the connection of the house to the sewer to the latest standards when renovating the house. Which authority provides information about this? Regards Florian

Where did the water come from? Possibly the flap is defective? The drainage does not need to be modernized.

Why should you renew them if everything else is fine?

The backwater valve should also be cleaned and maintained from time to time, otherwise in an emergency there will be water in the basement, and then it is sewage slurry

Everything worked! There was heavy rain and no water came from the sewer. Now our insurance refuses to pay for this elemental damage, even though we are insured against backwater and elemental damage. It is a disgrace!

That is not good for you, to be stuck with the costs on top of the trouble. In anticipation of the next heavy rain, you should find and fix the cause of the water ingress. Candidates are basement windows and doors, downspouts, gutters, water from slopes or terrace/path, etc. If the downspouts are connected to the sewer, this can also be too tight and rainwater backs up and comes out of the shower/sink/toilet.