Sewage coming up in the basement is stressful, and it’s also a health issue. This is what we’d tell a friend to do in the first few minutes, before anyone gets to the cleanup.
First, stop adding water
No flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher, no showers. Every gallon that goes down the drain has nowhere to go and ends up on your floor.
Keep people and pets away
Sewage water can carry bacteria and other things you don’t want on your skin. Kids and animals should stay out of the area. If you have to walk through it, wear waterproof boots and gloves and wash up well afterward.
Watch the electricity
If water is near outlets, appliances or a panel, don’t wade in to shut things off. Only turn off power if you can reach the panel while standing on dry ground. If you can’t, stay out and tell the plumber and, if needed, your utility.
Call someone who can clear the line
Cleanup doesn’t work until the blockage is gone, or you’ll just be mopping up the next round. A technician will check whether the problem is in the main line, a branch line, or a pump. Most blocked lines open with sewer rodding, and a camera shows if roots or a broken pipe are behind it. Our emergency line is (773) 588-1200 and it’s answered around the clock.
Once the water is going down again
Take photos of the damage before you move anything, and call your insurance company to ask what your policy covers. Policies differ a lot on sewer backups, so don’t assume. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces. Porous things that soaked up sewage, like cardboard and some fabrics, usually have to be thrown out. For a big backup, a cleanup company is worth hiring. If someone at home is pregnant, elderly, very young or sick, be extra cautious and consider staying elsewhere until it’s cleaned.
Asking the right questions
When the plumber is done, ask where the blockage was and what caused it. Ask to see camera footage if they ran one. Ask whether it’s likely to happen again and what you can do about it. Sometimes the answer is regular sewer cleaning. Sometimes it’s a pump repair. For houses that back up in every big storm, an overhead sewer conversion changes how the basement plumbing connects to the sewer, and may be worth a conversation.