What Should You Do About a Sewage Backup?
Stop using every drain, keep people and pets out of the wet area and photograph the damage. Then call a plumber to clear the blockage, and call Sewage Backup Removal Pros at (888) 578-6508, 24/7, for the pump-out and tear-out. Do not mop it, and do not run a shop vacuum.
Stop the Water and Protect Your Health
Every flush, shower and load of laundry sends more water toward a blocked pipe. That water has nowhere to go but back up through the lowest drain. Tell everyone in the house to stop using water until a plumber says the pipe is clear.
Sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Keep children, pets and anyone with a weak immune system out of the wet area. If you must step in, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves, and wash your hands well afterward.
Open a window in a room that did not flood if the weather allows. Do not run fans in the wet area, since they push germs through the air and do not dry sewage.
- No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher
- Children and pets stay out of the wet area
- Rubber boots and gloves for anyone who must enter
- Hands washed with soap after any contact
Sewage Backup Services That Fit This Question
-
Basement Sewage Backup Removal
The basement catches the sewage first. Crews pump it out, pull soaked carpet and drywall, then sanitize.
-
Floor Drain Sewage Backup Removal
Sewage from a floor drain flows across the concrete. Crews extract it, scrub the slab and sanitize the drain.
-
Main Sewer Line Backup Removal
A blocked main sends sewage up several drains. Crews extract each wet room and sanitize the whole area.
Protect the House Systems
If the furnace, air handler or ductwork sits in the wet area, turn the system off so it does not move contaminated air through the house. The heating trade can check the equipment before it runs again.
Stay away from outlets, cords and appliances that sewage touched. Cut power at the panel only if the panel is dry and you can reach it without stepping in water. If the panel is wet, leave it alone and call an electrician.
Lift small items that sit near the edge of the wet area, but only if you can do it without stepping in sewage. Heavy furniture and electronics can stay put for the crew to sort.
- Furnace and air conditioner off if ducts are in the wet area
- No touching wet outlets, cords or appliances
- Panel switched off only from dry ground
- Small dry items lifted from the edge of the mess
Document Before Anything Moves
Take photos of the sewage, the drain it came from and every item it touched. Photograph wide shots of each room, then close-ups of damaged carpet, furniture, drywall and belongings. Dated pictures carry weight with an insurance adjuster.
Write down when you first noticed the backup and what you saw. Note which drains were slow or gurgling beforehand, because that detail helps the plumber find the cause.
Report the loss to your insurer right away. Many standard policies leave out sewer and drain backup unless an endorsement was added, so coverage depends on the policy, and your own insurer is the one to ask.
- Wide and close-up photos of every affected room
- A short note on when the backup started
- A list of ruined belongings with rough values
- A prompt call to the insurer
Make the Two Calls
A plumber clears the blockage and fixes the pipe. Call one right away, and ask for emergency service if sewage is still rising. Removal cannot get ahead of a pipe that keeps pushing sewage in.
Then call Sewage Backup Removal Pros at (888) 578-6508. A local crew pumps out the sewage, cuts out and hauls away the carpet, pad and drywall it soaked, sanitizes what stays and dries the structure. Calls run 24/7, so night and weekend backups get the same urgent treatment.
Do not wait for the plumber to finish before calling for removal. Sewage keeps soaking in while the pipe work goes on, and mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials.
- Plumber first for the blockage
- Removal crew right after for the pump-out and tear-out
- City sewer department if neighbors are backed up too
- Landlord or property manager first if you rent
Floor drain backing up? Call for removal (888) 578-6508
More Sewage Backup Questions
What Should You Do About a Sewage Backup: More Answers
Can I pour bleach down the drain to help?
No. Bleach and chemical drain openers do not clear a blockage in a sewer pipe, and they can harm pipes and anyone who works on them later. Leave the clearing to a plumber.
Should I try to mop up before the crew comes?
Skip it. Mopping spreads germs across the floor and leaves sewage in grout, subfloors and walls. Stay out and let a crew in protective gear do the work.
What if I cannot reach a plumber right away?
Keep water off and call the removal crew anyway. If neighbors are also backed up, the blockage may be in the city main, and the city sewer department should hear about it.
Do I need to move all my belongings out?
No. Move only what you can lift without stepping in sewage. The crew sorts what can be cleaned from what must go and photographs both.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get sewage backup removal started, 24/7.