During a sewer backup, avoid running any water, touching sewage with bare skin, pouring chemicals down the drains, walking through water near electrical equipment, and starting cleanup before the line is cleared. These mistakes can make the backup worse or put your health at risk.
Do Not Keep Using Water
It may seem harmless to wash your hands or flush once more, but every bit of water has to go somewhere. If the line is blocked, it comes right back up through the lowest drain. Ask everyone in the household to stop using water until the problem is fixed.
Do Not Handle Sewage Unprotected
Raw sewage can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites. If you must enter the area, wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves, and old clothes you can wash or throw away. Keep children and pets out entirely, and wash your hands well afterward.
Do Not Pour in Drain Chemicals
Chemical drain cleaners rarely clear a main line blockage. Instead, they sit in the backed-up water, which makes the cleanup more dangerous. They can also burn skin and harm the plumber working on the line.
Also stay clear if water has reached outlets, cords, a furnace, or a water heater, stay away. Only shut off power at the breaker if you can reach it from a dry area. Otherwise, wait for help.
Do Not Clean Too Early
Cleaning before the blockage is cleared often means doing it twice. Wait until the line is open, then remove waste, throw away soaked porous items, and disinfect every surface. Also, do not wait to call your insurance company, since many policies have specific rules for sewer backups.
When you are ready to fix the cause, a plumber can locate the blockage and open the line. Once the line is clear and the area is clean, general plumbing upkeep can lower the odds of a repeat. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.