If sewage backs up in your home, stop using water right away, keep everyone away from the affected area, avoid any wet electrical equipment, and take photos before cleaning. Then call to have the line cleared. Cleaning up while the line is still blocked usually means the backup returns.
The First Ten Minutes
Shut off the dishwasher and washing machine, and tell everyone at home not to flush or run faucets. Close the door to the affected room to keep children and pets out. If the backup is in a basement with a furnace, water heater, or electrical panel, do not go down there if the water is near them.
Why the Water Keeps Coming
A backup means the line is blocked somewhere between your fixtures and the street. Every drop of water used upstairs flows down to that blockage and then rises through the lowest opening. Until the line is opened, the problem cannot get better on its own.
Protecting Your Health
Sewage can carry bacteria and viruses that cause stomach illness and skin infections. Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves if you must go near it. Wash your hands and clothes well afterward, and keep food and clean laundry away from the area.
For insurance, take photos and videos of the water, the drain it came from, and damaged belongings. Call your insurance company early, since coverage for sewer backups is often a separate part of a policy. Keep receipts for any cleanup supplies.
Cleanup After the Line Is Clear
Remove standing water and waste, throw away soaked porous items, scrub and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry the space thoroughly. Larger backups may call for a professional cleanup crew.
After a plumber clears the blockage, the cleanup can begin safely. Afterward, making sure no other plumbing was harmed is worth a quick check. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.