Occasionally, a blockage in a sewer main or sewer service results in backup of sanitary sewage into a home. If you have experienced a sewer backup, and have some questions, the following information should provide you with a starting point.
Indicators of an obstruction in a sewer line:
- Water does not drain out of floor drains below ground level.
- Water comes up in floor drains, showers, or toilets.
- Toilets, showers, or floor drains below ground level drain very slowly.
Clean Up
For large clean ups, you should call a cleaning service. Your insurance carrier might have suggestions on which service to use for water damage restoration or house cleaning services.
During clean up, protect yourself from contamination:
- Wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves, and protective garments.
- Wash your hands thoroughly when the job is done.
- Those persons whose resistance to infection is compromised are considered to be at greater risks, and should not attempt this type of clean up.
Chemical Disinfection:
- The process of disinfection is important to ensure the elimination of the pathogens (disease causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that are present in raw sewage.
- Thorough cleaning must take place before disinfection to insure the effectiveness.
Type of Disinfectant Suggested Strength:
- Household Bleach (usually 1 oz. to 1 gal. water)
- Phenolic (Lysol and other brand name disinfectant products) 0.5 to 5 percent
- Remember to follow manufacturer’s label instruction and use in areas with adequate ventilation.
Here are some helpful suggestions:
- Use outside air to dry your home.
- Open windows and doors and use an exhaust fan to remove moist air from the house.
- If available, use a room dehumidifier. Empty it often.
- If your basement is completely flooded, begin pumping the water in stages—about one-third per day. Make sure that the level of the floodwaters is below the level of the basement floor. If so, do not pump the basement all at once because the saturated soil could cause the basement walls to collapse.
- Open, clean, disinfect, and thoroughly dry cavities in walls, floors, and ceilings.
- Allow walls to dry from the inside out.
- Remove moisture and debris from all surfaces and dry surface materials within 24 to 48 hours.
- Release any water or mud that has been trapped in walls, ceilings, or floor cavities.
- Remove all interior wall finishing materials and insulation.
- Throw out any wet insulation.
- Throw out moist plaster, wallboard, and paneling.
- If any materials are still wet or moist after 24 to 48 hours, you should assume they have mold growing on them.
Record Keeping
- Take pictures of damages for your records.
- Keep all receipts for all work done.
- Write a description of the extent of damage done.
- Record date and time of occurrence and which sewer areas overflowed—floor drain, lower level toilet, laundry tub, etc.
Insurance
Often, sump/sewer back-up coverage can be added to your homeowner’s insurance. Not all policies have this coverage. Wisconsin residents, be sure check with knowledgebroker, Dan Wolfgram.
