What to Do about a Sewer Backup

Published Date: August 21st, 2015 | Category: Plumbing Tips

It is every homeowner’s worst nightmare: the smell and sight of raw sewage seeping back up into your home. It is definitely a stressful time when you are dealing with a sewer backup, and you might not know what to do at first. All Ways Drains can help with you are experiencing sewer backup in your Roseville home, but in the meantime, here is what you can do while you wait for us to arrive.

First things first: check your toilets sinks and waste pipes and if you spot any blockages, try to clear them out with a plunger or a snake. Do not reach in with your bare hands, as this is unsafe and unsanitary. If you are not sure how to clean out the blockages, wait for us to arrive and we can take care of it for you.

You should alert your city, township or municipality as soon as possible after you notice a sewer backup problem. The correct agency to alert depends on where you live, but most towns have an emergency number that you can dial to report these types of issues.

Your town can look at the sewer system from their end of things to determine if the sewer backup is caused by an issue with the pipes that they maintain. If it’s not, then it is probably a problem with your lines. You will need to call in a professional company for assistance with this issue.

Finally, you might be wondering how you can clean up the mess after the sewer backup has been fixed. You can attempt to clean it up on your own, depending on how extensive the mess is and how comfortable you feel doing the work. Make sure you wear gloves and other protective gear. Use water and bleach to clean up the mess, and make sure you use fans to thoroughly dry the affected areas as well.

There are also professional restoration companies that you can hire to tackle the sewer backup mess for you instead. The cost varies based on the company and how extensive the damage is. But sometimes it is best to leave this type of clean up to the professionals since you are dealing with raw sewage.

If you are experiencing a problem with sewer backup in your Roseville home, call All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422 or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.