How To Clean Sewage Backup from Bathtub

11/12/2019 (Permalink)

Sewage backup from bathtub in Eagle, CO

How To Clean Sewage Backup from Bathtub

If you have found murky brown water coming up through your bathtub drain, you likely have a sewer backup. Most of the time, the horrid smell will give away where this substance is coming from. Unless it is a very small area that is easy to disinfect, you may need to hire a professional restoration company to properly identify the source, disinfect the area, and restore your bathroom.

Where it Comes From

A bathtub backup can happen for a variety of reasons, but most often it is a clog in the main drain line. The blockage keeps the water from effectively leaving the house and the liquid seeks out the lowest path, which is usually a bathtub drain. There are several common reasons main sewer lines get blocked:

• Flushing non-flushable items
  
• Tree roots clogging the system
  
• Congealed grease build-up
  
  

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, it will need to be identified and fixed so that it does not happen again.

How To Clean Small Messes

If your sewer backup is contained in the bathtub, you may want to clean and disinfect it yourself. This type of water contains bacteria and other organisms, so you will need to use gloves. Dispose of the spill in heavy-duty plastic bags and double bag them. Whatever you use to clean the mess will also need to be discarded into these bags. Make sure the bags are tightly sealed. Once the mess is cleaned up, you will need to disinfect anything that came in contact with the water with a bleach solution. Let it sit the recommended amount of time, which is usually a minimum of 10 minutes.
Finding a sewer backup in Eagle, CO is never fun. If it is a small area on an easily treatable surface, you may be able to clean it yourself. If you have additional damage, you will need the help of a professional restoration company to extract water, disinfect the area, remove, and replace items.