If sewage backs up into your home, stop using water everywhere in the house, keep people and pets away from the affected area, avoid any wet electrical equipment, and photograph the damage. Then have the drain line cleared before starting cleanup, so the backup does not return halfway through.
A Quick Checklist
- Turn off the washer and dishwasher and ask everyone not to flush
- Close the door to the affected room
- Stay out if water is near outlets, the furnace, or the electrical panel
- Take photos and video before moving anything
- Call for help clearing the line
Why Cleaning Has to Wait
Wastewater rises because the line is blocked somewhere between your fixtures and the street. Until that blockage is removed, any water used in the home will push back up through the lowest drain. Cleaning first often means cleaning twice.
Health Precautions
Sewage can carry bacteria and viruses. If you must go near it, wear waterproof gloves and boots, and wash your hands and clothes thoroughly afterward. Keep children, older relatives, and pets away. Do not let toys, food, or clean laundry come into contact with the water.
For insurance purposes, call your insurance company early and ask whether sewer backup coverage is part of your policy, since it is often separate. Keep photos, a list of damaged items, and receipts for supplies. If you think the city sewer caused the problem, you can report it through 311.
The Cleanup
After the line is open, remove standing water and waste, throw away soaked porous items, scrub hard surfaces with detergent, then disinfect and dry everything. Drywall and insulation that absorbed sewage usually need to be replaced.
To find out why it happened, the drain can be reopened and inspected by a plumber. Afterward, confirming the rest of your plumbing came through fine can confirm nothing else was affected. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.