What to Do Before Help Arrives

Limit the damage

• Keep the main or fixture shutoff closed.
• Don't run water, flush toilets, or use the dishwasher or washer while a drain is backing up.
• Move furniture, rugs, stored boxes and electronics out of the water's path.
• Soak up standing water you can safely reach. Skip anything near electrical outlets or equipment.

Help us get to the problem

• Clear a path to the affected fixture, the water heater, the sump pit and the main cleanout if you know where it is.
• Unlock gates and move cars that block access to the yard or the curb box.
• Secure pets.

What not to do

• Don't open a sewer cleanout during a backup. It can release sewage into the house.
• Don't pour chemical drain openers into a backed-up drain. If you already have, tell us.
• Don't use an open flame to thaw a frozen pipe.
• Don't go into standing water near electrical hazards. Contact the electric utility, emergency services or a qualified electrician.

Write down what you've seen

When it started, what you were doing at the time, and which fixtures were affected all help the technician find the cause. Photos help too.