What Should You Do After Sewer Backups? 4 Next Steps

Sewer backups can be a risk to your health as well as costing a lot of money. How do you get rid of them quickly and easily? Learn here.

There are countless things that can go wrong in your home. However, few are as unpleasant and disruptive as sewer backups. A sewer backup is when the sewage and drainage system of your home becomes blocked. This is something that is fairly common in all types of homes and can be caused by a wide multitude of factors.

While knowing how to prevent a sewer leak or backup is important, it is equally crucial to know what to do when a sewer backup does occur. For this, we have got you covered. Read on to find out exactly what to do when you are dealing with a sewage backup in your home or place of business. 

1. Do Not Use Your Water Or Plumbing

There are many types of sewer backups that could be affecting your home. Whatever the cause, it is important that you do not use your home water or your plumbing at all until you understand the scope and scale of the problem.

Using the water in your home could be unsanitary and incredibly dangerous. What’s more, using your plumbing system could exacerbate the damage and make it much more difficult and expensive to fix. 

2. Assess the Scale of the Problem

The next step is to try and figure out the exact size and scale of the problem. A sewage leak looks different from a sewer backup. What’s more, you might just be dealing with a singular blockage in an isolated part of your sewage system, such as the kitchen sink.

If this is the case, you might be able to resolve the problem yourself. However, if you are dealing with a full-scale sewage backup, you will need to call in the experts. See if you can identify the scale of the problem, but only if it is safe to do so. 

3. Do Not Use Harsh Chemicals to Unclog

Many sewage backup problems can usually be resolve with household unclogging products. However, it is essential that you refrain from using chemicals that can cause further damage to your pipes and make future blockages more likely.

Never use strong acids to unblock your drains. Always use enzyme-based unblockers that are clearly identified as such on the label. This will prevent you from accidentally making the problem worse. 

4. Call the Experts in Sewer Backups

If the sewer backup is more serious than initially thought, you will need to call in the experts. Knowing how to stop a sewer backup and prevent it from happening again often requires expert assistance.

What’s more, an expert will be able to act fast to prevent the problem from becoming complicated and more expensive. Experienced companies such as ServPlus will be able to send trained sewage experts to quickly resolve the problem, saving you time, money, and stress. 

More Tips for a Healthier Home 

Now that you know exactly how to react when sewer backups occur, it is time to learn more. For more essential tips on how to keep your home in healthy working order, we have got you covered. Make sure to check out our regularly updated Household guides to learn more.

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