Treat the water as contaminated
Sewage carries biological contaminants. Contact should be avoided, and affected areas should be kept closed off from the rest of the property.
Do not run water into the system
Using sinks, showers, laundry or toilets can add to the backup while the blockage remains, worsening the affected area.
- Keep children and pets away from the area
- Do not attempt to dry the area with household fans
- Ventilate carefully so contaminated air is not spread indoors
Why materials are removed
Porous materials such as carpet, underpad and insulation absorb contaminated water and cannot be reliably cleaned in place, so they are removed rather than dried.