Right away
- 1
Stop all water use
No flushing, no showers, no dishwasher or washing machine. Every gallon you send down has nowhere to go but up.
- 2
Keep people and pets away
Sewage carries bacteria. Keep children and pets out of the affected area.
- 3
Watch for electrical risks
If water is near outlets, appliances or a furnace, don't wade in. Turn off power at the breaker only if you can reach it safely from a dry spot.
- 4
Call a plumber
Say that sewage is coming up and which drain it's coming from. That tells them to bring main line equipment.
While you wait
- Move rugs, boxes and furniture away from the drain if it's safe to do so
- Open windows for ventilation
- Find the main cleanout if you know where it is, and clear a path to it
- Photograph the water and any damage for insurance
- Note when it started and what was running at the time
What not to do
- Don't use chemical drain cleaners; they won't clear a main line and make the water hazardous to work in
- Don't keep plunging the toilet; it can push sewage out of other drains
- Don't run a wet-vac over sewage without gloves and eye protection
- Don't use fans that blow contaminated air through the house until the area is cleaned
Is it your line or the city's?
A sewer backup can come from your own lateral, the pipe between your house and the main, or from the public main itself. If your neighbors are also backing up, or water is rising in several homes on the street, the main is the likely cause, and the city or sanitation district should be your first call. If it's only your house, the problem is almost always in your lateral or the drain inside the house.
Some homes have a cleanout outside that you can open carefully. If water is standing in the cleanout pipe, the blockage is downstream, between the cleanout and the street. If the cleanout is dry while the house is backing up, the clog is between the house and the cleanout.
When the plumber arrives
The plumber will open the main cleanout or pull a toilet, run a large cable toward the main and clear the blockage. Once the line flows, they'll run water to confirm and often run a camera to see what caused it: roots, wipes, grease, a broken pipe or a sag. Ask for the video and a short explanation; it tells you whether this was a one-time event or the start of a pattern.
Cleaning up afterward
Small backups on hard floors can be cleaned with hot water and a disinfectant, wearing gloves and eye protection. Throw away porous items like cardboard, rugs and carpet pad that sewage soaked into. For larger backups, especially into finished basements with carpet and drywall, a water damage restoration company can dry and sanitize properly and help prevent mold.
Check your homeowners policy. Many policies exclude sewer backup unless a specific endorsement was added. If you have it, call your insurer before discarding damaged items.
Preventing the next one
- Keep wipes, paper towels and hygiene products out of toilets
- Keep grease out of kitchen drains
- If roots caused it, schedule cutting before the next spring
- Consider a backwater valve if your home sits low relative to the main
- Add a cleanout if your home doesn't have one