A Sewage Backup in the House Is More Than a Clogged Drain
A sewage backup in a house is an unpleasant incident. It can put the health of the people living there at risk and lead to significant material losses. As a rule, such incidents happen on the lowest level of a building, where the fixtures sit closest to the line that carries waste out of the house. To keep the consequences small, you need to know how to act in this situation.
Sewage is not ordinary flood water. Under the IICRC S500 standard used in restoration work, it is Category 3 water, which means grossly contaminated. The EPA also advises bringing in a professional when the damage came from sewage. Below is what to do first, what usually has to go, and how to keep it from happening again.
Signs It Is the Sewer
Signs it is the sewer and not one clogged drain: several drains are slow at the same time, a toilet gurgles when a sink drains, and water comes up in the lowest drain in the house, such as a shower or a floor drain. If you see this, stop using water and call a plumber.
Sewer Backup in the House: What to Do First
Stop using water
Do not flush toilets, run the washer or dishwasher, or let water go down any sink or tub. Every gallon that goes into a blocked line has only one way to go, and that is back into the house.
Call for help
The very first action in the case of a sewer backup is to call for help. This can be a licensed plumber or a company that specializes in handling emergencies like this one. The cause has to be removed first, otherwise any cleanup will just be repeated.
Keep people and pets out
Is it safe to stay in a house with sewage backup? Not in the affected rooms. Keep children, adults who are not doing the cleanup, and pets out of the area until it has been cleaned and disinfected.
Gloves, boots, mask
Sewage water is extremely dangerous to health because it contains a huge number of bacteria and microorganisms. Do not touch it with bare hands. Before any work, put on rubber gloves, rubber boots and a protective mask.
Sewage Backup Cleanup
If you want to clean up the contamination yourself before the pros arrive, or after the line has already been cleared, you need to know how to do it properly.
First of all, the sewage has to be removed from the surfaces, using a pump or absorbent pads and old towels that are bagged and thrown away. It is important to work in protective gloves and a mask. The remaining sewage water should be taken up with a mop or a damp rag, and then the surface is rinsed with water and treated with a disinfectant.
All surfaces, including floors, walls and plumbing fixtures, should be washed with hot water and soap or detergent. Only after that does disinfection make sense.
What Has to Go and What Can Be Disinfected
Porous items that came into contact with the contaminated water (carpets, upholstered furniture, textiles) usually have to be thrown out. With sewage, porous things soak it up deep inside, and in practice most of them cannot be cleaned.
What usually has to go
- Carpet and carpet pad that got soaked
- Upholstered furniture
- Mattresses
- Food that was touched by the water, along with anything in open or damaged packaging
What can usually be disinfected
- Hard, non-porous surfaces: tile, sealed floors, countertops
- Plumbing fixtures: toilets, tubs, sinks
- Hard items that can be washed and treated
When a lot of belongings are involved, they are often taken out of the house before cleanup starts. For how that is done, see packout services for damaged belongings, and a practical list of what to move out first after flooding. Deciding what stays and what goes is covered in decluttering a home after disaster cleanup.
How to Disinfect After Sewage
After the contamination has been removed, the rooms need to be disinfected against bacteria. Specialized products or simple solutions with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide can be used. Treat the whole surface of the room.
- Chlorine-based products are effective at killing bacteria and viruses.
- Alcohol solutions (70% ethanol, isopropyl alcohol) are suitable for treating small items and surfaces.
- Hydrogen peroxide antiseptics are gentler and do not leave a sharp odor.
- Ozone treatment is a job for professionals, done with no people or pets inside. Industrial ozone generators help destroy harmful microorganisms in the air and disinfect surfaces.
A few more rules apply. Never mix different cleaning products. After treatment, the rooms should be aired out well. Wear gloves, a mask and protective clothing the whole time.
Can You Get Sick From Sewage Backup?
Yes. The reason disinfection after a sewer backup has to be done quickly and properly is to stop the spread of bacteria, viruses and odors. Sewage backup health risks come from contact with the contaminated water and with surfaces it touched. If signs of poisoning or infection appear after contact with contaminated surfaces, see a doctor.
Materials that stayed wet behind walls and under floors are a separate problem, and they may need mold remediation for affected rooms later.
Sewer Backup: City Responsibility or Yours?
In San Diego, the line from the house to the city sewer main is called the sewer lateral, and the property owner maintains it. A licensed plumber clears the lateral and checks it with a camera. If the plumber finds a break past the property line, the plumber reports it to the City. The details are in the City of San Diego Public Utilities plumbing guidance. Other cities and communities in the county have their own rules, so check with your local sewer provider. For homes in Spring Valley, see our Spring Valley service area page.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sewer Backup?
It depends on the policy. Check whether yours includes sewer backup coverage; do not assume it does. Take photos of the damage first, before anything is thrown out or cleaned, and keep the receipts for the cleanup and repairs.
How to Prevent Sewage Backup in a House
To avoid more problems with the sewer, try not to put food scraps down the toilet and do not throw foreign objects into it. If you or a child accidentally drop something in, get it out as soon as possible. Blockages happen more often in old, rusty pipes, because debris builds up easily on their surface. To avoid trouble, ask a plumber about replacing old pipes.
- Do not pour grease or cooking oil down the drain.
- Do not flush wipes, even the ones sold as flushable.
- Tree roots get into the sewer lateral, so have a plumber check it if backups keep coming back.
- Ask a plumber about a backwater valve, which keeps sewage from flowing back into the house.
When to Call Professionals
It is important to remember that cleaning up after a sewer backup is a serious job, and it should be done by professionals. If you are facing this problem, do not hesitate to call a company that handles emergency cleanup. For details, see water damage restoration across San Diego County, water damage restoration in Spring Valley, or read more about our restoration team.