If sewage enters your basement, stop all water use in the home, keep everyone upstairs, stay away from any wet electrical equipment, and call your insurance company. Have the drain line cleared before you start cleaning, or the next flush may bring the water right back.
Close the Door and Turn Off the Taps
Treat the basement as off-limits for now. Close the door to keep kids and pets out. Then make sure nobody upstairs is running water, flushing, or doing laundry, since all of it drains toward the same blockage. If you live in a two-family house or a building, let the other residents know.
Electrical and Gas Equipment
Basements often hold the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, and electrical panel. If sewage is near any of them, do not go down there. Turn off power to the basement only if you can reach the breaker from a dry spot. If you smell gas, leave the home and call the gas utility from outside.
Insurance Comes Early
Call your insurer before cleanup begins. Ask whether sewer and drain backup coverage is part of your policy, since it is often a separate add-on. Take photos and videos of the water level, the drain, and damaged items, and keep a written list.
Cleaning Safely Afterward
Once the line is open:
- Wear boots, gloves, and eye protection
- Remove standing water and solids
- Throw away soaked carpet, cardboard, and fabrics
- Wash and disinfect hard surfaces, then dry everything
Drywall and insulation that soaked up sewage usually need to be removed. For large backups, a professional cleanup company is the safer choice.
To keep it from happening again, the blockage can be found and the sewer line reopened. After cleanup, an inspection of the washer hookups and other basement fixtures can confirm nothing else was harmed. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.