A sewage backup is a terrible thing to experience and can be very hazardous to both your home and your health. After all, it’s usually full of harmful bacteria. If you run into a sewage backup in your basement, you should seek a professional crew’s help to clean it up. In the meantime, here are a few tips on what to do while you’re waiting for the sewage backup clean-up crew to arrive.

Get Out of the Flooded Area

Sewage is hazardous. The last thing you want is to be near this stuff, so keep yourself and your loved ones away from it until the pros arrive. Make sure none of your pets get near it or try to drink it, either.

Turn Off Any Electrical Power in That Area

You don’t want wires or appliances in contact with water. If your main circuit breaker is in the basement, only go to it if you can do so safely. If not, don’t attempt it.

Protect Yourself 

Protective clothing like a face mask, eyeglasses, gloves, or rubber boots will help you if you need to trek through the sewage.

Shut Off the Main Water Line 

This will help stop the sewage from doing any more damage than it already has. You’re better off stopping it if you can to keep any damage to a minimum.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Unfortunately, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t usually cover this. If you’ve purchased extra endorsements for drains and sewers, you should be covered.

Contact Your Sewer Department or Municipal Authority  

This step is only necessary if you’re connected to a public sewer.

Don’t Use Your Water Supply System Until the Problem is Fixed

Don’t flush the toilet, drain the sink, or drain the bathtub. Doing any of these will only add to the problem and cause more damage.

Open the Windows or Doors

This will help ventilate the area and let fresh air get in. Furthermore, this helps make the situation more bearable and less hazardous.

Add Chlorine Bleach to the Water

While this one is far from a fix for the flood of sewage in your basement, adding chlorine bleach will help disinfect everything.

Did Your Home Experience a Sewage Backup? Call California Steam Clean for Help 

If your home recently experienced a sewage backup, you need to contact the professionals at California Steam Clean. Sewage is incredibly dangerous to your health. Because of this, you need to call professionals as soon as possible after the backup occurs. The sooner you call a crew to remove it from the premises, the better. You can schedule a consultation with one of our sewage backup clean-up technicians by calling (707) 755-6961.