Drain tips

What to do when your sewer backs up

A guide for Yuma homeowners · Updated November 2026

There's no drain problem worse than this one: dirty water, maybe sewage, coming up through the tub, the shower or a floor drain. It's stressful, it smells, and it seems to get worse by the minute. The good news is that a few quick steps stop it from getting worse, and most backups are cleared in a single visit once a technician gets there.

Step 1: Stop all water use. Right now.

A sewer backup happens when the main line out of your house is blocked. Every gallon you send down any drain has nowhere to go but back up through the lowest opening in the house, usually a tub, shower or floor drain. So the most important thing you can do is stop adding water:

• Don't flush toilets.
• Turn off the dishwasher and washing machine, even mid-cycle.
• Don't run sinks or showers.
• Tell everyone in the house, including kids and guests.

If a toilet is actively overflowing, turn the valve on the wall behind it clockwise to shut off its supply. If that valve is stuck, lift the tank lid and push the rubber flapper down to stop the water.

Step 2: Keep people and pets away

Sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Keep children and pets out of the affected rooms. If you have to go in, wear rubber gloves and boots, and wash thoroughly afterward. Don't use a household vacuum or shop vac on sewage unless it's rated for it.

Step 3: Protect what you can

Move rugs, towels, furniture and anything stored on the floor away from the water. Put down old towels at doorways to keep water from spreading. Take a few photos of the affected areas; they're useful if you file an insurance claim later.

Step 4: Find your sewer cleanout (if you can)

The cleanout is a capped pipe, usually 3 to 4 inches across, that sticks up out of the ground near your foundation or in the front yard. Some homes have one in the garage. The technician will use it to reach the main line. Knowing where it is saves time.

Step 5: Call, and tell us these things

• Which drains are backing up, and whether water is still rising
• Whether it started during or after a storm
• Whether you're on city sewer or septic
• Where the cleanout is, if you found it
• Anything you've already tried, especially chemical drain cleaners

Call (928) 977-9642. For more on what counts as an emergency, see emergency drain cleaning in Yuma.

What happens when the technician arrives

The technician will open the cleanout and run a heavy-duty sewer machine with a cutting head into the main line to break through the blockage. Once water is flowing, they'll run water through the system to make sure it drains at full speed. If the blockage was heavy grease, scale or roots, they may recommend hydro jetting to clean the full width of the pipe. If they suspect a broken or sagging pipe, a camera inspection will show it. Ask for a copy of the video.

Why sewers back up in Yuma

• Roots. Palms, citrus, mesquite and other landscape trees send roots into cracked sewer joints looking for water.
• Grease and hard-water scale. Kitchen grease clings to mineral scale inside the pipe until the opening is too narrow. More in our hard water guide.
• Wipes. "Flushable" wipes don't break down like toilet paper and pile up in the main line.
• Storms. Heavy monsoon rain can overwhelm lines that are already restricted. See monsoon drain tips.
• Sags and breaks. A section of pipe that settles holds water and waste and clogs again and again in the same spot.

After the backup: cleanup and insurance

Hard surfaces like tile and tub can be cleaned with hot water and detergent, followed by a disinfectant. Carpet, padding, drywall and cabinets that soaked up sewage usually need professional cleanup or replacement, since they can't be fully disinfected. Call your homeowner's insurance to ask what's covered. Many policies treat sewer backup as a separate add-on, so it's worth checking your policy before you ever need it.

How to keep it from happening again

• Ask what caused the clog, and whether it's likely to return.
• If roots or a sag were the cause, ask about a maintenance cleaning schedule or a repair.
• Keep grease and wipes out of your drains.
• If you're planting trees, keep them well away from the sewer line.