Keep everyone clear until it's cleaned
- Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system out of the affected area.
- Stop using water in the house: no flushing, showers, dishwasher or laundry. Every drain can add to the backup.
- Turn off the HVAC if sewage reached a return vent or the air handler area.
- Don't try to save carpet or pad that sewage soaked. It will be removed.
Common causes of sewage backups in Florida
- Main line blockages from roots, grease or wipes, often showing up first at the lowest drain in the house.
- Septic system problems. A large share of Florida homes, especially outside the big cities, are on septic. A saturated drain field after heavy rain can push effluent back into the house.
- Municipal systems overwhelmed by storms, when heavy rain gets into sewer lines.
- Lift station and stack failures in condos and multi-story buildings, where one blockage affects several units. See commercial water damage restoration for multi-unit jobs.
- Toilet overflows, which can range from clean water to fully contaminated depending on the source.
How sewage cleanup works
- Containment. The affected area is sealed off with plastic sheeting so contamination isn't tracked through the house.
- Protective equipment. Technicians work in gloves, boots, eye protection and respirators appropriate for the job.
- Removal. Waste and water are extracted. Porous materials that sewage soaked, including carpet, pad, drywall below the affected line, and insulation, are bagged and removed.
- Cleaning and disinfection. Hard surfaces, framing and slab are cleaned and treated with disinfectants suited to the contamination.
- Drying. The structure is dried with dehumidifiers and air movers and monitored until it reaches target readings.
- Verification. The space is checked before reconstruction starts.
Who's responsible for the line?
In most Florida cities, the property owner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the house to the property line or the main, and the utility is responsible for the public main. If the backup came from the city side, report it to the utility right away. Either way, the cleanup inside can't wait while that gets sorted out.
Sewage Cleanup: common questions
Can carpet be saved after a sewage backup?
Carpet and pad soaked by sewage are generally not salvageable under industry standards, because they can't be reliably disinfected. Hard flooring like tile can usually be cleaned and kept.
How soon is the house safe after sewage cleanup?
Once contaminated materials are removed, surfaces are disinfected and the area is dry, it can be reoccupied. For many rooms, that's within a few days of starting. We'll tell you when an area is ready.
Does insurance cover sewage backup?
Many homeowners policies only cover sewer or drain backup if you added a specific endorsement. Check your declarations page, or ask your agent. We'll document the loss either way.
Sewage Cleanup near you
We provide sewage cleanup in all 29 Florida metro areas we serve: