woman screaming in the showerWater coming up through your bathtub drain can be an alarming sight. Usually, this is sewage water. It could be from the sink or toilet, and can be dangerous, so you’ll need to act quickly. Find out what could be causing this problem and what should you do about it.

Why is Water Coming Up Through My Bathtub Drain?

There are a few different problems that can cause water to come up through your tub drain. A blockage in other fixture’s drain may force its water up through the bathtub. This blockage may be anywhere in the home’s plumbing, potentially forcing the dishwasher, washing machine or bathroom sink to back up into the tub.

There could also be a clog in the plumbing vent. This vent usually allows sewer air to escape the home through the roof, or enter the home, depending on what the system needs. If this vent is clogged, it may force air and water through your bathtub. The clog may have been caused by debris on your roof, like leaves or pine needles.

The third most common cause of water backing up into your bathtub is a blockage in the city’s sewer pipes. This blockage could prevent sewer water from draining out into the city’s system. If so, it should be affecting multiple homes that are close to the blockage.

What Should I Do?

  1. Prevent a Bigger Mess

If discoloured or black water is coming out of the tub drain, it is sewer water. As such, it may contain bacteria and other dangerous microbes that you do not want to come into contact with. You should not try to clean up the water. If it is close to overflowing the tub, you should lay down old towels near the tub to collect the water and prevent a bigger mess. Anything the water touches will have to be bleached or disinfected.

  1. Call the Plumber

You need to find out what’s the root cause of your plumbing problem, and a plumber is best equipped to do that. They will be able to tell you if the blockage is in your pipes, vent, or in the city’s sewer. If the blockage is in your property, they will be able to fix it with a quick drain cleaning service.

  1. Call the City

If your plumber has discovered that the blockage is in the city’s property, you will need to call the city to get it fixed. However, you should double-check how much of the pipe you’re responsible for in your municipality. Some cities hold homeowners responsible for pipes that are past their property line.

If the blockage is in the sewer main itself, the city should be responsible, and you may even be able to hold them responsible for any damages the blockage caused on your property.

  1. Sanitize the Tub

Once your plumber or the city’s plumber has removed the blockage, the water should drain out of your tub. However, the tub has come into contact with potentially dangerous microbes and needs to be sanitized with a bleach solution before you use it again.

The most important thing to remember when water is backing up into your bathtub is that time is of the essence. Contact the professionals quickly, and you should avoid further damage.