Do not attempt to stop the flow of sewer backup through the floor drain or any other sewer drain. Any added obstruction could cause serious damage to your household drainage system and possibly a catastrophic rupture of the household sewer drainage system.
Because of the unsanitary nature of a sewer backup in the home, it is essential that all affected areas where the backup occurred be cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible. Generally, small household items that are affected or exposed to the sewage should be discarded. It is important to make a list of discarded items, and if possible, provide photographs for insurance purposes.
All affected appliances should be inspected prior to putting them back into operation. Many private companies can handle the cleanup for you. Ideally, you should arrange for a professional, sanitized cleanup of your affected property. Check area listings for “Fire and Water Damage Restoration." Some companies will also inspect and repair major appliances (furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers). If a private company is contracted to do cleaning and/or restoration, keep all receipts for insurance purposes.
If you choose to clean up your property yourself, here is a list of recommendations:
- Potential health and safety hazards must be identified and eliminated prior to implementing cleaning or restoration procedures. Before entering the affected area, assess the potential for electrical shock hazards and gas leaks.
- The cleanup and drying of the basement should be done expediently to minimize mold and other problems.
- Wear protective clothing such as rubber boots, gloves and eye protection during cleanup and removal. To remove gloves turn them inside out, without touching the contaminated exterior. Dispose of them properly.
- Treat all water-soaked surfaces, furnishings and items as contaminated until properly cleaned and sanitized.
- Do not use any electrical equipment while standing in water.
- Wet-vacuum to remove spillage.
- Operate wet vacuums only when plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter or ground fault equipped outlet.
- Remove and discard upholstered furniture and porous wood furniture stained by sewage.
- Discard or properly wash and disinfect toys, clothing and other contaminated objects.
- Sanitize and clean hardwood furniture, then thoroughly wipe, dry and apply and oil-based wood polish.
- Ventilate the affected area with floor fans and a dehumidifier, if available, to properly dry the area. If it has not been directly contacted by water, activate the building’s heating, ventilation and doors when conditions are favorable.
- Clean appliances and/or ductwork. If electric motors, wiring or insulation have been saturated, have a qualified service technician remove the motor, dry it, and inspect for damage before plugging it back in and turning it on.
- Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded water damage may result
- If your basement walls are finished with drywall, all the areas contacted by water must be removed and disposed of within 24 hours. Once these items get wet, they retain moisture long enough to grow mold. Removing the wallboard also allows air to circulate around the wood studs so that they dry completely and will not need to be replaced.
- Sanitize and repair, or remove and discard paneling, wallboard or wall coverings.
- Unplug all electrical appliances, small electrical devices on wet floor covering or other wet areas and turn off the circuit breakers supplying the electricity to affected areas.
- Turn off the gas (or other fuel source) to your furnace or heater and hot water heater.
- Avoid flushing toilets or using other water connected to appliances or fixtures. The discharge from these items may back up into the basement.
- After the waters have receded, flush out and disinfect plumbing fixtures before resuming normal use.
- Do not track sewage from the basement into living areas of the house.
- Keep children and animals out of the affected area.
- Take before-and-after photos.
- If a dishwasher, washing machine, shower, bathtub, toilet or other water fixture is operating, shut it off immediately. Avoid flushing toilets or using other water connected to appliances or fixtures. The discharge from these items may back up into the basement.
- Move any uncontaminated items away from the affected areas.
Treatment of rugs, carpeting and drapery
For smaller, loose rugs, and wall-to-wall carpet installed on racks, in-plant cleaning is the best option. The germicidal and cleaning treatment must be thorough. Both the carpet and the floor surface have to be completely cleaned and decontaminated. Germicides used for this have to be effective even against the bacteria of the E-coli family, which is present in contaminated sewage. For wall-to-wall carpets that are glued down, cleaning on-site may not be completely effective and in-plant cleaning may not be practical. Contaminated padding is best discarded and should not be reused. Steam clean or dispose of drapes.