Signs it’s a sewer backup
- Dirty water coming up in the lowest drains, usually a tub, shower or floor drain.
- Toilets gurgling or bubbling when other fixtures drain.
- Several drains slow or backing up at once.
- A sewage smell inside or outside the house.
Step 1: Stop using water
Every flush, shower or load of laundry adds to the backup, and the water has nowhere to go but up the lowest drain. Stop using water everywhere in the house until the line is cleared.
Step 2: Keep people and pets away
Sewage carries bacteria. Keep children and pets out of the area, wear gloves and boots if you must go near it, and don’t touch your face. Turn off power to the area if water is near outlets and you can safely reach the panel.
Step 3: Check whether it’s just your home
If neighbors are having the same problem, the city sewer main may be blocked. In the City of Los Angeles, call 311 to report it. If it’s only your home, the problem is almost always in your own sewer line between the house and the street.
Step 4: Call a plumber
A plumber will clear the line through a clean-out, usually with a cable or hydro jetting, then run a camera to see what caused it. Roots, grease and broken or sagging pipe are the usual suspects.
Cleaning up
For anything beyond a small spill, a water damage restoration company is the safest choice. Take photos before cleanup and check your homeowners policy, since sewer backup coverage is often a separate add-on.
Tip: Throw away porous items that sewage has soaked, like rugs and cardboard. Hard surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected.
Preventing the next one
- Keep grease, wipes and paper towels out of drains and toilets.
- If roots caused it, schedule regular cleanings or repair the damaged joints.
- Ask about a backwater valve, which helps stop sewage from flowing back into your home.
- Have older clay or cast-iron lines camera-inspected before they fail.