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Sewage backup or main drain clog.

A plumber in sewage protection should open lines, and a licensed contractor should dig or repair connections under local permits.

Customers put it like this

  • Sewage came up in the basement
  • Every drain in the house is backing up
  • The floor drain is overflowing
  • We get this backup over and over
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Stop first if

  • Sewage is near or on outlets, panels or other electrical partsKeep everyone out. Call the electric utility or a licensed electrician before anyone enters.
  • A cleanout sits lower than the fixtures that are backed upDo not open it. Lower the water first, or open the line farther up.
  • The work would need a trench entry or a manholeDo not enter. Call a contractor with trench protection and confined space training.
01

Ask on the call

6

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. Where is the lowest spot the sewage reached?
  2. Is it near outlets, a panel or a furnace?
  3. Do all drains act up, or only the lowest ones?
  4. Has this happened before, and what did the last cleaning or camera find?
  5. Did it start after low-flow toilets went in or the sewer was relined?
  6. Do you know where the cleanouts or any backwater valve are?
02

Bring

5
  • Drain camera with a distance counter
  • Drain rodding tools
  • Gloves and eye protection
  • Containment for spills
  • Flashlight
03

Check on site

6
  1. Look for electrical risk before entering the wet area.
  2. List each cleanout, backwater valve and house trap. Note size, cover, and how high it sits compared with nearby rims.
  3. Confirm each one can be reached. A stuck plug on a full line stays put.
  4. Open a line that may be full slowly, with containment ready and protective gear on.
  5. Run the camera with a distance counter. Note standing water, deposits, fitting types, size changes and the sewer connection.
  6. Read the video with care. Standing water at one footage may point toward a sag. Solids at a size change may point toward an oversized run.
04

Keep on the record

4
  • Camera video with footage marks
  • Photos of the high-water mark and affected fixtures
  • Cleanout map with size and access notes
  • Dates of past backups and what cleared them

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.