What Should I Do While Waiting for an Emergency Drain Plumber?

Whatever kind of water you're dealing with, start here. These three steps apply to every drain backup.

1. Stop using water anywhere in the house. That includes faucets, showers, the dishwasher, and the washing machine. They all drain into the same lines.
2. Don't flush any toilet. Each flush sends more water toward a line that can't carry it away.
3. Keep children and pets away. Close doors to the affected rooms if you can.

Once those are handled, look at the water itself. The next three sections cover what to do for each kind.

Wondering when help can come, or whether an after-hours call costs more? That's covered in getting emergency drain service overnight.

Clean water comes from a sink or tub that overflowed with fresh water, or from a leaking supply line. It isn't dirty, but it can still soak into floors and walls. The goal here is to get it up and start drying.

Move what you can. Pick up rugs, electronics, and anything else sitting in the water. Set them somewhere dry.

Soak up standing water. Towels, a mop, or a wet vac all work. The less water sitting on the floor, the less soaks in.

Get air moving. Open windows and run fans, as long as it's safe to use electricity near the wet area.

Keep the clock in mind. The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. 

Gray water comes up from a sink, tub, shower, or washing machine drain. It isn't sewage, but it isn't clean either. It carries soap, food, hair, and whatever else went down the drain. Anything it soaks into needs to dry within 24 to 48 hours.

Wear rubber gloves. Handle anything the water touched with gloves on, and wash your hands when you're done.

Keep it off your skin. Cover any cuts or scrapes, and rinse off right away if it splashes on you.

Wipe hard surfaces. Use detergent and water on floors, tubs, and counters the water reached. Then dry them well.

Set soaked fabrics aside. Rugs, towels, and anything upholstered that sat in gray water may need professional cleaning. Keep them out of the way until someone can look at them.

Sewage comes up from a toilet backup, or rises through a tub, shower, or floor drain when the main line is blocked. It carries germs that can make people sick. Here, the best thing you can do is mostly nothing.

Don't touch it without gloves. If you have to handle anything it reached, wear rubber gloves and wash your hands right after.

Don't plunge it. Plunging a sewage backup can splash it around the room. If the clog is in the main line, plunging one fixture won't clear it anyway.

Keep everyone out. That matters most for children, older adults, and anyone who's pregnant or ill. Close the door to that room if you can.

Watch for electrical risk. If standing water could reach outlets or cords, stay clear. Cut power to that area only if you can safely reach your panel without walking through water.

Leave the cleanup to professionals. The EPA advises calling a professional experienced in cleaning buildings damaged by contaminated water. Sewage cleanup takes more than a mop and bleach.

Once the water stops, time starts working against you. Mold can begin growing on wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. That's why the next day or two matter as much as the first hour.

Not everything can be saved. Carpet, padding, and upholstery that stay wet too long may need to be thrown out. Anything soaked with sewage or other contaminated water should be discarded rather than cleaned.

Here's how to split the work. You can start drying clean-water areas right away with towels, fans, and open windows. Sewage-soaked materials are a job for a cleanup professional, not something to handle yourself.

Before anything gets moved or thrown away, take photos. Get the water, the damage, and every item you plan to discard. If you file an insurance claim later, those pictures will matter.

A few details help your plumber find the cause faster. Gather these while you wait.

• Which drains backed up, and in what order. The sequence often points straight to where the clog sits.
• When it started. A rough time is enough.
• What you've already tried. That includes plunging, snaking, or any chemical drain cleaner. If you used a chemical cleaner, say so first, since it changes how the drain is handled. Here's why chemical drain cleaners change the job.
• Where your cleanout is, if you know. It's often a capped pipe outside near the foundation.
• A clear path to the problem area. Move anything blocking the way to the affected drains.

Still waiting, or haven't made the call yet? Our Frisco plumbers can clear the backup and find what caused it.

Emergency service requests are prioritized. After-hours fees may apply. Call (214) 216-1727 for availability.

We answer calls 24/7. Want to see what your Frisco neighbors say first? Read our Frisco Google reviews.

Business Address: 4645 Avon Ln Suite 260, Frisco, TX 75033