Dealing with a backed-up sewer is not a pleasant task.
There will most likely be a nasty stench
and it could be hazardous to your health.
So here is what you need to do
if you have a water backup in your home.
Once you realize that there's a water backup,
check all your sinks, toilets and wastewater pipes
to determine if there are any blockages.
And if you can, try and clear the blockage.
If it doesn't seem safe or you can't get it to budge,
it's best to call a plumber
and try not to use your sinks or toilets until this blockage is cleared.
If the water ends up backing into your tub or your basement,
there could be a blockage in the main sewer line.
But before you go check the basement,
never enter that area when there's standing water present,
until the power is shut off.
Serious electrocutions can be the result
when electricity and water are mixed.
If you have to shut off the power yourself and can do so safely,
take these five precautions.
Wear rubber boots, safety glasses and a face mask.
Be sure you aren't coming into contact with anything metallic
that could conduct electricity.
Make sure to wear rubber gloves or use a wooden stick
to shut off the electricity.
And you can even open some windows in the flooded area
to allow fresh air into the room and for the fumes to escape.
Lastly, you can also add a bit of bleach to the standing water
to provide some disinfection.
So the next best step to take is
to document all the damages by taking photos.
If you have insurance, it may cover a water backup
and you'll want to be able to illustrate the initial impact and resulting damage through photos.
So this will ultimately help you in the claims process
so you can get things repaired and fixed as soon as possible.
And don't forget to call your insurance agent to report the problem.
So once the blockage has been cleared
or the pipes have been repaired by a professional,
the water should recede and allow for cleanup.
Most people will choose to leave this part up to professionals.
I personally know I would, but you can definitely tackle it yourself.
So when dealing with untreated sewage,
It's wise to wear protection over your mouth, nose and eyes.
A surgical mask and safety glasses will work.
As you clean, you can start from the top and work your way down,
and you can even hose off all your furniture and walls to remove any residual dirt.
And make sure to wash all surfaces, including floors
with warm or hot water, and use a proper disinfectant and detergent.
You can sanitize all these surfaces
by mixing four parts water with one part chlorine bleach,
and a small amount of non-ammonia dishwashing liquid to clean all surfaces.
Note here, never use ammonia with chlorine bleach.
The mixture produces toxic fumes.
So after cleaning every surface imaginable,
you're going to want to wash the clothes you're wearing,
and shower or bathe to prevent any harm to your body.
Items that shouldn't be kept include
carpet pads, carpets, cardboard boxes, books, mattresses,
laminate flooring and even unpainted drywall.
Clothing and toys should also be discarded,
unless they're cleaned and disinfected immediately.
So really, any material that has a porous surface
that could easily absorb liquids like sewage water
will want to be tossed out for health and safety reasons.
Semi-porous materials can generally be salvaged if you treat them immediately.
These include cabinets, vinyl upholstery, wall coverings and even painted drywall.
As for materials that can't really absorb liquids in sewage,
such as non-porous materials,
these materials can almost always be saved
depending on how long they've been soaked in the raw sewage.
If the sewage is present for a while,
there's a greater chance that there could be black mold,
which is an even worse health concern.
If you can, take care of these materials and clean them
within a few hours of the damage,
or they won't be salvageable.
This list of materials includes items like tile, concrete, Formica and linoleum.
Prevention can save you the headache of
ever having to deal with a water or sewer backup.
And one of the best prevention methods is
to install a backup valve or a sewer backup valve.
This is installed on your sewer line,
and is designed to prevent sewage flow from ever entering your house, to begin with.
And if you're looking for a home insurance quote
that can cover water or sewer backup damage,
visit squareone.ca, and get a quote in under five minutes.
Thanks for watching, everyone.