Minute by minute
A backup usually happens because water is still being sent into a line that cannot carry it away. The first job is to stop adding water.
- Right away
- Tell everyone in the house to stop flushing, showering, running the dishwasher and doing laundry. Turn off an irrigation system if it shares a drain.
- First 5 minutes
- If a supply pipe or fixture is also leaking, close the main water shutoff, usually where the line enters the house or at the meter box near the street.
- First 15 minutes
- Move rugs, furniture and stored items out of the path of the water. Open windows for ventilation. Keep electrical cords and devices away from wet floors.
- First 30 minutes
- Locate the outdoor sewer cleanout. Note whether it is overflowing. Do not loosen the cap while the line is full, because it can release under pressure.
- First hour
- Photograph every affected room, the fixtures that backed up and the cleanout. Write down the time it started and what was running when it did.
Why the lowest drain overflows
Sewage comes out at whichever opening is lowest relative to the blockage. In a single-story slab home that is often a shower pan or a ground-floor toilet. That is also why the backup can seem to come from a fixture nobody was using: the water is from somewhere else in the house, pushed back up the line.
Once water use stops, the level usually settles slowly as it seeps past the blockage. That does not mean the line has cleared. The next load of laundry or round of showers can bring it right back.
Cleanup: when to do it yourself and when not to
Usually manageable with care
- A small amount on tile, vinyl or a shower pan
- No contact with drywall, carpet or wood flooring
- You have gloves, eye protection and a household disinfectant
- Nobody in the house is at higher health risk
Better handled by professionals
- Sewage soaked into carpet, pad or baseboards
- Water reached drywall or under cabinets
- Large area or standing water
- Odor persists after surface cleaning
What to have ready when a plumber arrives
- The location of the cleanout, or a note that you could not find one
- A list of which fixtures backed up and in what order
- Whether the line has been cleared before, and when
- Any past camera footage or reports for the lateral
- Photos taken before cleanup started, for your insurer
Questions to ask before the line is cleared
- Where will you access the line, and will you need to remove a toilet?
- Will you run a camera after clearing so we know why it backed up?
- If you recommend a repair, can I have the video and the location of the defect in writing?
- Is the work covered by your CSLB license, and what is the number?
Common questions
Can I keep using one bathroom while I wait?
It is best not to. Any water sent into a blocked lateral has to go somewhere, and the lowest fixture will take it.
Will homeowners insurance pay for sewage cleanup?
It depends on the policy. Some cover backup damage only with a specific endorsement. Call your insurer early and keep photos and receipts.
Should I call the city?
If sewage is coming out of a public manhole or the problem seems to be in the street, contact the city of La Habra. A backup inside the house usually starts in the private lateral.
General information for La Habra, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.