7 Steps to Take Immediately After Discovering Sewage Damage in Your Home

 

Finding sewage damage in your home can be stressful and worrying. Sewage water is not only unpleasant, but it also carries bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances that can affect your health. Acting quickly is very important to prevent more damage and to make your home safe again. In this guide, we will explain seven simple steps you should take right after discovering sewage damage, helping you manage the situation effectively and start sewage damage restoration. These steps are also useful if your home has flood damage caused by heavy rain or overflowing drains.

1. Keep Safety as Your First Priority

The very first thing to do after finding sewage damage is to make sure everyone is safe. Sewage water is dangerous and can carry harmful germs.

Here’s what you should do:

• Wear protective gear: Use gloves, boots, and masks to avoid contact with the contaminated water. If possible, wear old clothes or clothes that can be washed easily.

• Turn off electricity: Sewage water can create electrical hazards, so turn off power in the affected area if it is safe to do so.

• Keep children and pets away: Make sure everyone stays out of the contaminated area until cleanup begins.

Safety is always the most important step before handling sewage damage.

2. Stop the Sewage Source

After making sure it’s safe, the next step is to stop more sewage from coming into your home. Sewage can come from blocked toilets, broken sewer pipes, or overflowing septic tanks.

• If the problem is from the city sewer, call your local authorities.

• If it is a plumbing issue inside your home, turn off the main water supply.

Stopping the source of sewage prevents further damage and helps make sewage damage restoration easier and faster.

3. Document the Damage for Insurance

Before cleaning anything, take pictures or videos of the damage. Document:

• Floors, walls, and ceilings that are affected

• Furniture and appliances damaged by sewage water

• Personal belongings that are wet or contaminated

Make a list of all damaged items. This documentation is important if you want to file an insurance claim. Most insurance policies cover sewage backup or water damage in certain situations. Good documentation makes the process smoother and faster for flood damage restoration and repairs.

4. Remove Contaminated Items

Once you have documented the damage, remove any items that have been soaked in sewage water. This can include:

• Carpets and rugs

• Mattresses and bedding

• Furniture and upholstered items

• Personal belongings that cannot be cleaned

Some items can be cleaned and disinfected, but porous materials (like fabric or paper) often absorb bacteria and are better to throw away. Place these items in sealed bags when taking them out to avoid spreading contamination to other areas.

5. Remove Water and Start Drying

Standing water from sewage damage can quickly soak into floors, walls, and furniture. It can also cause mold to grow if left for too long.

• Use pumps or wet vacuums to remove water from the home.

• Open windows and doors to improve airflow.

• Use fans and dehumidifiers to help dry walls, floors, and air.

Be careful while handling sewage water—it is considered highly contaminated. Quickly drying the home is a key step in both sewage damage restoration and flood damage restoration, and it helps prevent further damage to your home.

6. Disinfect and Clean Affected Areas

After removing water, cleaning and disinfecting is very important to remove germs.

• Use disinfectants or a bleach solution (1 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water) for hard surfaces.

• Pay attention to floors, walls, cabinets, sinks, and counters.

• Make sure appliances that touched sewage water are cleaned carefully.

Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products, as it can create harmful fumes. Proper cleaning will make your home safe again and prevent health problems, which is an essential part of sewage damage restoration.

7. Call Professionals for Restoration

For serious sewage damage, it’s best to call certified restoration professionals. They can:

• Safely remove contaminated water

• Dry and dehumidify the building structure

• Restore materials affected by sewage

• Check for mold or other hidden damage

Professionals also handle insurance paperwork and ensure that the cleanup is done according to safety standards. If your home was also affected by heavy rainfall or flooding, they can provide flood damage restoration services to fix the water damage properly.

Extra Tips for Homeowners

• Always wear gloves, masks, and protective clothing when dealing with sewage.

• Avoid touching contaminated surfaces with bare hands.

• Act quickly—sewage water can cause more damage in a short time.

• Maintain your plumbing regularly to prevent backups.

• Check your insurance coverage for sewage or flood damage.

Conclusion

Sewage damage in a home is stressful, but acting quickly and carefully can prevent serious health risks and expensive repairs. By following these seven steps keeping safety first, stopping the source, documenting damage, removing contaminated items, removing water, disinfecting, and calling professionals—you can make the cleanup safer and faster.

For severe cases, professional sewage damage restoration and flood damage restoration services are the best way to ensure your home is properly cleaned, dried, and safe to live in again. Quick action not only protects your home but also helps your family stay healthy and safe.