Blocked and Flooded Drains: 3 Steps You Need to Take
Posted on: 24 February 2017
It is not unusual for household drains to become blocked. An accumulation of oil and grease from the kitchen can congeal in the drain pipes, or inappropriate objects such as sanitary towels can block your toilet's waste pipe. Whatever the cause, a blocked pipe will likely result in your home beginning to flood. If your home begins to flood due to a blocked pipe, you should call an emergency plumber immediately. While you are waiting for the emergency plumber to arrive, you should take some steps to limit the damage and keep yourself safe from the hazards created by waste water.
Turn off the water supply and clear the room
The first step you should take is to turn off the water at the mains supply. This will prevent any additional water from entering the plumbing system and increasing the volume of flood water. You should also clear the room of any objects which may become contaminated by the flood water. For example, in the bathroom, you should remove toothbrushes, towels, medicines and cosmetics. If the flood occurs in the kitchen, you should empty any cooking utensils or food from cupboards which are at floor level. This will help to control the spread of any bacteria contained within the water.
Maintain good personal hygiene
When dealing with a flood from a drain, it is very important that you take steps to maintain good personal hygiene. Drain water will typically contain high levels of bacteria which could make you and your family very unwell. You should ensure that you regularly wash your hands whenever you have been into the flooded area and before you carry out any food preparation activities.
Wear the right gear and clothing
If you are dealing with the flood before the plumber arrives, it is vital that you wear the proper protective clothing. At the very least, you should wear heavy duty rubber gloves and boots. Ideally, you should wear a protective suit over your clothes which will help to prevent contaminated water from coming into contact with your clothes and skin. Once you have dealt with the flood, you should disinfect and clean the protective clothing you have used and thoroughly wash the clothes you were wearing on a very high temperature.
If you would like further advice and information about how best to deal with a blocked or flooded drain, you should contact an emergency plumbing service, such as Sam's Local Plumbing, today.
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