If sewage is coming back up into your home, stop using all water straight away, keep people and pets away from the affected area, and get the drain assessed as soon as you can. Sewage can carry germs, so your first priorities are limiting the spread and protecting everyone in the property.
The cause is usually a blockage somewhere in the drain, though it can sometimes be a problem on a shared drain or public sewer.
Stop the Water and Protect People
Every time a tap runs or a toilet flushes, more water heads towards the blockage. Ask everyone in the home to stop using sinks, showers, toilets and appliances such as the washing machine.
Keep children, older relatives and pets out of the room. If the backup is in a bathroom, close the door. Open a window if you can do so easily, to help with the smell.
If sewage has reached sockets, extension leads or appliances, do not touch them. Stay clear and ask a qualified electrician to check them before they are used again.
Limit the Mess Safely
Wear rubber gloves and old shoes or boots if you need to move items out of the way. Lift rugs, towels and anything valuable off the floor where it is safe to reach them.
Do not try to push the waste back down with a plunger or pour bleach or drain cleaner into the fitting. Chemicals can react with each other and give off harmful fumes, and they rarely clear a main drain blockage.
Wash your hands well with soap and warm water after any contact, and keep food and drink away from the area.
Find Out Where the Problem Might Be
Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue. If several homes are affected, the blockage may be on a shared drain or sewer. In Oxford, that can be a matter for Thames Water, so it is worth contacting them.
If you can safely lift a light inspection cover in your garden without tools, a full chamber suggests the blockage is further along. Never climb in or lean over an open chamber.
If you rent, tell your landlord or letting agent straight away, as they are usually responsible for drains.
After the Drain Is Cleared
Once the waste has drained away, the affected area will need a thorough clean. Hard surfaces can usually be washed with hot soapy water and a household disinfectant, used on its own and as directed on the label. Soaked carpets, underlay and soft furnishings may need to be thrown away, and badly affected areas may need a specialist cleaner.
Take photos before cleaning up, as your insurer or landlord may ask for them. If waste water is backing up into your property now, our urgent drain unblocking team in Oxford can help find the blockage and clear it, then explain what may have caused it.