Quick answer
After a flood, stay out of standing water near electricity, shut off the main water valve, and treat tap water as unsafe until your utility or health department says otherwise. Do not use a flooded water heater or appliances until they are checked. Document damage with photos, and call a plumber, electrician or restoration company for their part of the job.
Safety comes before plumbing
Do not enter a flooded building until it is safe. Public Health, Seattle and King County advises that if standing water is still present, you should shut off power, gas and water before going back in. Do not touch electrical equipment while you are touching water. Call your utility for an emergency disconnect.
The CDC adds that you should never turn power on or off or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. If you must enter water to reach the main switch, call an electrician. Return during daylight and use battery-powered flashlights, not candles.
If you smell natural gas, turn off the main gas valve only if you can reach it safely, open windows if you can, and leave. Do not touch light switches. Call the gas company or 911 from outside. Do not return until you are told it is safe. Pyper Plumbing does not do gas line work, so the gas utility comes first.
Shut off the water and stop using fixtures
Once you can reach it safely, close the main water shutoff valve. This limits damage if pipes are broken and keeps contaminated water from being drawn into the home.
Avoid flushing toilets and running drains while there is water in the basement or crawl space. A county sewer-backup guide from Oakland County, Michigan, advises against using plumbing fixtures while a basement is flooded, because the waste has nowhere to go and can add to the backup. Treat this as general guidance, and follow local instructions if your city or sewer district gives them.
If you find a broken pipe, leave the main valve closed and note where the break is. Photos help later.
Treat water as contaminated until told otherwise
The CDC says tap water in a flood-affected area may not be safe. Do not use water you suspect is contaminated for dishes, brushing teeth, food preparation, handwashing, ice or baby formula. Use bottled, boiled or treated water.
Check with your water utility or health department for a boil-water or do-not-use advisory. If you are advised to boil, the EPA says to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. If you cannot boil, the EPA describes a method using plain, unscented liquid bleach, with dose amounts that depend on the bleach strength and water volume. Follow the EPA table exactly. Boiling and disinfecting do not remove heavy metals, salts or most chemicals.
Do not drink water with floating debris, a dark color or an unusual odor. Throw away food that touched floodwater.
Sewer backups and floodwater contact
The EPA notes that floodwater may contain raw sewage or other hazardous substances. Wash hands often with soap and clean running water, keep children out of floodwater, and keep them away from toys that touched it.
Public Health, Seattle and King County notes that sewage can affect lakes, streams, rivers and Puget Sound, so assume floodwater is contaminated. After any contact, wash your hands and clothes thoroughly. The EPA also advises reporting cuts, open wounds and any illness symptoms.
If sewage is backing up into floor drains, tubs or toilets, stop using water in the home and call a plumber. Do not use chemical drain cleaner on a sewer backup.
Water heaters and submerged appliances
NC State Extension, adapting a Kansas State University publication, states that flooded gas and electric water heaters should be replaced. It says manufacturers generally recommend replacing motors, electrical components, safety controls and gas valves that were in floodwater, because contaminated water can clog controls and a defective control can cause fire, explosion or shock.
The same source says that only a qualified, licensed contractor should work on electric or gas equipment, and advises contacting the manufacturer before plugging in a flooded appliance.
The CDC says all electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before they go back into service, and that a certified electrician should check any item if you have doubts. Have the electrical system inspected before power is turned back on.
In practice, do not relight, power up or run a water heater that was in floodwater until it has been assessed. Pyper handles water heater replacement and plumbing connections. Gas line and electrical work stay with the gas utility, a gas-qualified contractor and an electrician.
Wells and septic systems
Pyper Plumbing does not service well pumps or septic systems, but you should know the basic rules. The EPA says that for household wells, you should not turn on the pump because of the danger of electric shock, and you should not drink or wash with well water until it has been tested and found safe.
For septic systems, the EPA says not to use the system until the water in the soil absorption field drops below the water level around the house. Public Health, Seattle and King County advises having a licensed maintainer check a flooded system. Call a well or septic professional for those.
Document everything before cleanup
Take dated photos and video of water lines, damaged items, pipes, appliances and meters before you move anything. Make a written list of damaged items. A county guide recommends notifying your insurance company and listing all damaged items, and notes that sewage-related flooding may or may not be covered, so ask your insurer.
Keep damaged plumbing parts when possible, and keep receipts for emergency repairs, hotel stays and cleanup supplies.
Who to call: plumber, electrician or restoration
- Plumber: broken or leaking pipes, backed-up drains, sewage in fixtures, flooded water heaters, shutoff valves and fixtures that were submerged.
- Electrician: wet panels, outlets, wiring, and any electrical appliance. Do not restore power yourself.
- Gas utility: any gas smell, and relighting or restoring gas service.
- Restoration company: drying, pumping, removing wet materials and mold control. The EPA says mold control depends on moisture control, and materials that stay wet more than 24 to 48 hours should usually be discarded.
- Well or septic professional: private wells and septic systems.
When to call Pyper Plumbing
Call Pyper when you have burst or leaking pipes, a sewer backup, a flooded water heater, or fixtures you do not trust after water exposure. We provide emergency plumbing repair, leak detection, water heaters, drain cleaning and sewer line repair across Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties.
If the main shutoff is under water or you cannot reach it safely, say so when you call, and wait for guidance. Do not wade into water near electrical equipment to find a valve.
Common questions
Is it safe to use my tap after a flood?
Not until your utility or health department says so. Use bottled, boiled or treated water. The EPA says to boil at a rolling boil for at least one minute if a boil advisory is issued.
Can I reuse a water heater that was in floodwater?
Sources such as NC State Extension say flooded gas and electric water heaters should be replaced. Do not restore power or gas to it until a qualified person has assessed it.
Should I flush toilets after a flood?
Not while there is standing water in the basement or while sewage may be backing up. Wait until a plumber or your sewer utility confirms the lines are clear.
Who do I call first, a plumber or an electrician?
If water is near electrical equipment, call your utility or an electrician first. Shut off the main water valve if it is safe to reach, then call a plumber for pipe, drain and water heater problems.
Sources
Facts in this guide come from the following references. Local rules and manufacturer instructions can differ, so follow your utility and your equipment manual.
- Public Health Insider (Public Health, Seattle & King County): Safety steps before entering a flooded building
- CDC: Reentering your flooded home safely
- EPA: Flood Cleanup for Homes
- EPA: Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- NC State Extension: How to Salvage Flood-Damaged Appliances
- Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner: Sewer backup guidelines (DC-364)
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. If you smell natural gas, leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility. Pyper does not perform gas line work.
