The first hour, in order

Every gallon that goes down a drain while the line is blocked has to come out somewhere, usually at the lowest fixture in the house.

  1. Stop all water use.Tell everyone in the house: no flushing, no showers, no dishwasher or washing machine. Turn off an irrigation system if it shares the line through a drain.
  2. Close the main if needed.If someone keeps forgetting, or a fixture is running on its own, close the main water shutoff so nothing new enters the drains.
  3. Check the cleanout.Look for the capped sewer cleanout near the foundation or front property line. If water is standing in it or seeping from the cap, the blockage is downstream of that point.
  4. Look up and down the street.If neighbors have the same problem, or sewage is coming out of a manhole, the public main may be blocked. Report it to the City of Placentia.
  5. Document and ventilate.Photograph standing water, stained flooring and damaged items before cleanup, then open windows and run fans.
  6. Call a licensed plumber.Ask for the line to be cleared and, once flow is restored, for a camera inspection so the cause is known.

Is it your lateral or the city main?

Where the water shows up tells you a lot about where the blockage is.

  • IfOnly one sink or toilet is slow and other drains run normallyThenIt is probably a local clog in that fixture's branch, not the sewer lateral.
  • IfThe lowest tub or shower fills when a toilet is flushedThenThe main building drain or lateral is blocked somewhere between the house and the street.
  • IfThe outdoor cleanout is full of water to the capThenThe blockage is between the cleanout and the city connection, in the lateral.
  • IfNeighbors are backing up too, or a street manhole is overflowingThenThe public main may be blocked. Report it to the city before paying for private work.

Why the lowest drain overflows first

Drain lines work by gravity. When the lateral is blocked, wastewater backs up the pipe until it reaches the lowest opening it can find. In a single-story Placentia tract home on a slab, that is usually a bathtub, a shower pan or a floor drain in the laundry area. A toilet on the same level may also gurgle or rise.

That is why the fixture that overflows is often not the one that caused the problem. A load of laundry draining in the garage can push water up into a hall bathtub on the other side of the house.

Safe cleanup checklist

  • Wear gloves, boots and eye protection when handling anything sewage has touched
  • Remove standing water only after the line has been cleared, or it will refill
  • Bag and discard porous items that were soaked, such as rugs and cardboard
  • Disinfect hard surfaces after cleaning off visible waste
  • Ask your insurer before discarding expensive items or removing drywall
  • Consider a water-damage specialist if sewage soaked into carpet, drywall or cabinets

What to ask the plumber who clears the line

  1. Where along the line did the cable or jetter hit the blockage, measured from the cleanout?
  2. What came back on the cable: roots, grease, paper, rust or pieces of pipe?
  3. Can you run a camera now that flow is restored, and can I have a copy of the video?
  4. Does what you found suggest the pipe is damaged, or was it a one-time clog?

Common questions

Can I pour a chemical drain opener into a backed-up sewer?

It is not a good idea. Chemicals rarely reach a main-line blockage, they can harm older pipe, and they make the water dangerous for whoever clears the line next.

Should I open the cleanout cap myself?

Only carefully, and expect pressure. If sewage is standing in the line, removing the cap can release it suddenly into the yard. Many homeowners leave this to the plumber.

Is a one-time backup a sign the pipe is broken?

Not always. A single clog from wipes or grease can cause it. A camera inspection after clearing tells you whether roots, a crack or a sag is behind it.

General information for Placentia, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.