Blocked drain problems

[Pete Zahut]

Woke up this morning (well, nearer noon actually) to find the kitchen half flooded - seems that we've had a blocked drain and every time someone uses water upstairs, it all floods out of the kitchen sink and dishwasher waste pipe, including the contents of the bog :-(

We have plumbing and drainage insurance cover from our water supplier (United Utilities) so they've sorted the blockage out - took a man with a high-pressure jetting system to do it and he finished about half an hour ago. My question is, what's the best way to tackle the cleaning up, given that human waste is involved? Any recommended 'industrial strength' cleaning stuff that we can get on a New Year's Day?

After 1hr 47min listening to the god-awful so-called 'music' that the household insurance company play while telling you that they 'value your call' I gave up and will try again tomorrow, but how are they likely to respond? The water came about two or three feet into the hallway so the carpet is sodden there, it somehow managed to get into the dishwasher and it overflowed the sink. Given that some of this water was from the loo, will the ins. co. be likely to replace said items or, as we're cleaning up now ourselves, are they likely to do nothing? There's no real harm been done, everything just needs a damn good cleaning, but I'm just not sure about things because of human waste being involved.

[Steve Walker]

I think you must be entitled to claim replacement for items which stewed overnight in human waste. Even if you clean thoroughly, particles will be lodged inaccessibly and present a continuing health risk.

In the short term, a bucket of hot water with a cup of bleach and a squirt of washing-up liquid is probably the best option. Actually, lots of buckets of..

Good luck, it's a rubbish start to 2011... :o(

[Pete Zahut]

Thanks Steve - we've actually been using hot water, bleach and washing up liquid so it's good to know that we're on the right track. Cheers mate.

[eastender]

A good blues number, if i remember right.

We had a similar sewage type incident in a basement a few years ago - all you can do is wear protective clothing and use a disinfectant solution, chucking out any soft coverings that can't be washed properly. I don't think there is a need to use anything more than diluted bleach - after all this is what we clean lavatories with.

E.

[Steve Firth]

Bleach.

[Steve Firth]

Yeah, Dave Medway Handyman knows the routine, I think he's recommended the process to people before. It's a case of make up your cleaning solution and keep changing the buckets after each swab down. Three or four changes should see the worst of the stuff diluted sufficiently.

[Mr Pounder]

Fuck of Firth.

>

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Mr Pounder" saying something like:

Is that a Scottish holiday resort?

[Tabby]

Bleach, but the important thing is dont throw anything away, the loss adjuster will need to see it. Depending on the floor construction that might need to be replaced too. Everything sewage contaminated water has touched needs a thorough washing & disinfecting, or out it goes. A boil wash for the washing machine.

NT

[Peter Crosland]

Phone your insurer. They should provide specialist contractors to do it assuming you have good cover.

Peter Crosland

[Mr Pounder]

:-))))))))))))))))

>

[Terry Casey]

Did you not read the post you replied to?

The bit that says:

After 1hr 47min listening to the god-awful so-called 'music' that the household insurance company play while telling you that they 'value your call' I gave up and will try again tomorrow ...

[John MacLeod]

You haven't told us what the floors are made of, or how deep the water was on the floor.

I doubt whether there's much by way of faeces actually found its way anywhere serious and without further info I'm not at all sure about the financial advisability of calling the insurance company. Sure they'll pay out -- but you'll go on a list of claimants which will be circulated round most other companies and you're bound to see a significantly higher premium in the future as a result.

Have a word with the local small-animal vet with regard to the carpet

-- they'll be able to point you in the direction of something that will deodorise effectively, should there be a smell problem.

The advice about bleach is good.

John