Sewage can back up through toilets, sinks and floor drains when a drain blocks or fails. It carries germs, so it is a health risk. Contact with skin, food or children needs avoiding.
While you wait, keep people and pets out of the room and open a window. Do not flush toilets or run taps, since more water makes the backup worse. Switch off power only if you can reach the switch without touching water.
Ask who owns the pipe. That decides who must fix it. Chelmsford City Council says Anglian Water handles sewers and blocked sewers in the Chelmsford area. The flooding emergency guide covers water that is not foul, and the emergency drain services guide gives the wider picture. A leaking water pipe is a different problem, so see the emergency plumber guide.
Use the form and mark the request urgent. The form stays open 24/7, yet an arrival time depends on the engineer who takes the job. Say if the sewage is inside the home or outside.
Keep clear of the sewage and wash your hands well. Wear gloves for anything you must touch, since sewage carries germs. Keep children and pets away until the area is clean.
The engineer works out whether the block sits in your drain or in the public sewer. This matters, since the owner of the pipe must clear it. A full manhole in the street may point to the public sewer.
Ask who will clean the affected area, since drain clearing and deep cleaning can be separate jobs. Ask what repairs remain. Wash your hands before you eat or drink.
Use these questions to compare quotes, since the answers differ from one engineer to the next. Write the answers down, since a written note helps if the job changes. Then compare two quotes if the job looks large.
These are typical UK ranges from national guides, not Essex quotes. PlumberMarket says emergency call-out fees are typically 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate. MyJobQuote lists emergency call-out charges of £100 to £200 on its drain guide.
Cleaning and sanitising may be a separate cost, because the guides cover drain work only. Ask for the price in writing before work starts. If the cause is the public sewer, the water company may deal with it, so ask which pipe is at fault.
Yes. Sewage carries germs. Avoid touching it, keep children and pets away, and wash your hands well. If anyone feels unwell, ask a doctor for advice.
Keep out of the room and open a window. Do not flush or run taps, since that adds more water. Switch off power only if you can do so without touching water.
Then the water company deals with it. Chelmsford City Council says Anglian Water handles blocked sewers in the Chelmsford area. In Brentwood, your postcode decides between Anglian Water and Thames Water.