Sewage backup cleanup: the short answer
Stop using water in the house, keep children and pets away, and don't try to clean sewage with a mop and bleach. Sewage is the most contaminated kind of water damage, and porous materials it soaks usually have to be removed. A plumber or the city clears the blockage, and a restoration company handles the contaminated cleanup and drying. Call (413) 555-0147 to speak with a local company about sewage cleanup in Westfield and nearby towns.
On this page
Is it sewage?
- dirty water or waste coming up through a basement floor drain
- a toilet, tub or shower filling with dirty water when another fixture drains
- several drains backing up at once, often the lowest ones in the house
- a sewage smell in the basement after heavy rain
- water from a toilet overflow that contained waste
Clean water from a supply line is a different job, covered on our water removal page and our main page on water damage restoration in Westfield.
Why sewage needs a different approach
The IICRC S500 water damage standard puts sewage in Category 3, the most contaminated category, because it can carry bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. The EPA's water damage guidance notes that when water may be contaminated with sewage, protective equipment and containment are needed and an experienced professional should be consulted. In practice that means:
- Carpet, pad, upholstered furniture, mattresses and other porous items soaked by sewage are usually discarded.
- Drywall and insulation that sewage touched are usually cut out above the water line.
- Hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, then dried.
- Work areas may be sealed off so contamination doesn't spread to the rest of the house.
What to do right now
Stop the flow and keep people away.
- Stop using water. Don't flush, run the washer or take showers. Every gallon you send down the drain can come back up.
- Keep everyone out of the affected area, especially children, pets and anyone who's pregnant, elderly or has a weakened immune system.
- Stay clear of electricity if water is near outlets or the panel.
- Call a plumber to find and clear the blockage. If neighbors have the same problem, call the city's public works department, since the city main may be blocked.
- Take photos and call your insurer. Sewer backup is often covered only by an added endorsement.
What happens during sewage cleanup
Assessment and containment
The crew confirms the blockage is cleared, checks how far the water spread and may seal off the area.
Removal of sewage and contaminated materials
Liquid and solids are extracted, and contaminated porous materials are bagged and removed.
Cleaning and disinfection
Floors, walls and framing are cleaned and treated.
Drying
The area is dried with dehumidifiers and air movers and checked with moisture readings. See structural drying.
Rebuild
Once it's clean and dry, removed materials are replaced. See water damage repair.
Common causes of sewer backups
- Blocked house sewer line: tree roots, grease, wipes and other items that shouldn't be flushed.
- A blocked or overloaded city main: sewage backs up into the lowest drains on the street.
- Heavy rain: in some systems, stormwater entering sewer lines overloads them in a downpour.
- Collapsed or sagging pipe: older clay or cast iron lines can crack or settle.
A plumber can camera-inspect the line and tell you whether a backwater valve could help prevent a repeat. Who pays for which part of the line depends on your city's rules, so ask the public works department.
Sewage cleanup near you
We take calls from every Westfield neighborhood and from Holyoke, West Springfield, Agawam, Southwick and Southampton. In homes on a private septic system, a backup may point to a full tank or a failing system, so call a septic service as well.
What affects the cost
- how much sewage and how many rooms it reached
- finished basement materials that have to be removed
- containment and protective equipment
- belongings that must be discarded or professionally cleaned
- days of drying and the rebuild afterward
See the cost guide and the insurance guide, since sewer backup coverage is often a separate endorsement.
Questions to ask before you hire
- How will you contain the area and protect the rest of the house?
- What has to be thrown away, and what can be cleaned?
- How do you disinfect, and how do you confirm the area is clean and dry?
- Are you a registered Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor?
- Will you document everything for my insurance claim?
What to have ready when you call
- your address or nearest cross street, and the town
- what happened and where: which floor, which room, the basement or the ceiling
- whether the water is still running and whether you've shut it off
- roughly when it started and how large the wet area is
- whether the water is clean (a supply line), from a drain or toilet, or came in from outside
- whether you own or rent, and whether you plan to file an insurance claim
- whether the blockage has been cleared, and whether you're on city sewer or septic
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean up a sewage backup myself?
Small, contained overflows on hard floors may be manageable with gloves, boots and disinfectant. Sewage that soaked carpet, drywall or a finished basement should be handled by professionals, because it's the most contaminated category of water damage.
Is sewage backup covered by homeowners insurance?
Often only if your policy has a water or sewer backup endorsement. Check your declarations page or call your agent.
Who is responsible for a sewer backup, me or the city?
It depends on where the blockage is and your city's rules. A blockage in your house sewer line is usually the owner's responsibility. If neighbors are backing up too, call the public works department about the city main.
What has to be thrown away after a sewage backup?
Porous items soaked with sewage, such as carpet, pad, upholstered furniture, mattresses, insulation and the affected drywall, usually can't be reliably cleaned and are discarded.
Is it safe to stay in the house after a sewage backup?
Keep everyone out of the affected area and stop using water until the line is cleared. If the backup is widespread or the smell is strong, consider staying elsewhere until cleanup is done.