My basement floor drain backed up during a storm and I had to think fast

I was finishing drywall in my basement in Toledo last Tuesday when a huge storm hit. The floor drain started gurgling, then water came up and spread across the whole corner, about 4 inches deep. I ran to shut off the main water, but the backup was from the city sewer line. I used my shop vac to suck up as much as I could, then poured a bucket of hot water and dish soap down the drain to break up the clog. It took three tries over an hour before it finally started draining again. Has anyone else dealt with a sudden sewer backup and have a better fix for next time?

4 comments

4 Comments

ward.kim2mo agoMost Upvoted

My uncle in Cleveland had the same thing happen and his insurance agent told him to take pictures before cleaning anything. He said if the backup is from the city line, sometimes the city is responsible for the cleanup cost. You have to file a claim with them, but they need proof of the damage. I would grab your phone and take a video of the water level and where it came from before you start the shop vac next time. It could save you a lot of money on professional cleanup or ruined materials.

charles212mo ago

Yeah, @ward.kim's uncle had the right idea with those pictures.

kai_webb912mo ago

Sounds good in theory, but good luck getting the city to actually pay up. They have more lawyers than you do. Taking pictures is smart for your own insurance, but counting on the city to cover it feels like a long shot.

charles_young9212h ago

Exactly. The city is going to fight any claim hard and make you jump through hoops before they pay a dime. Documenting everything is the real value here because it gives you something to stand on with your own insurance if the city stonewalls. A lot of people don't realize their homeowner's policy can cover water backup from sewers and drains if you have the right rider, but you still need the photos to prove what happened and when. Filing a claim with the city is worth a shot but nobody should sit around waiting for that check to fix their basement.