City Sewer Backup Cleanup Nationwide

City Sewer Backup: Sewage in the House, Cause Outside

Heavy rain, grease, roots or a blocked main can push sewage back up the public sewer and into basements along the street. The cause is outside the house, but the sewage is inside it. Cleanup cannot wait for the street work.

Call Sewer Backup Cleanup Team at (888) 774-9605, 24/7. The crew starts extraction and sanitizing and keeps records you can show the city and your insurer.

• Source: The public sewer main under the street
• City's part: The sewer utility clears its own main
• Crew's part: Extraction, removal, sanitizing and drying inside the home
• Paperwork: Photos, moisture logs and the date the backup began

Signs the Backup Came From the City Main

• Neighbors on the same street report sewage in their drains too.
• Water backs up in a basement floor drain during or after heavy rain.
• Several fixtures back up at once, starting with the lowest ones.
• Street manholes overflow or sewer utility crews are working nearby.
• A plumber finds the pipe on the property is clear.

City Sewer Backup Cleanup in Four Moves

1. Report it

   Call the city or sewer utility and report the backup so crews check the main. Ask for a report number and write down the time of the call.

2. Extract and contain

   The crew pumps out the sewage and seals off the contaminated rooms. Gear, containment and air scrubbers protect the rest of the house.

3. Remove and sanitize

   Soaked carpet, pad, drywall and insulation come out. Concrete, framing and hard surfaces get scrubbed and treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial.

4. Dry and document

   Dehumidifiers and air movers dry what stays. Photos, moisture logs and a list of removed items go into the file for the insurer, and for the city if it asks.

What to Do Before the Crew Arrives

• Call the city or sewer utility and report the backup.
• Stop using water in the house until the main is cleared.
• Photograph the sewage, the damage and the street if it is flooded.
• Ask neighbors whether their drains backed up and note who.
• Keep receipts for hotels, disposal and cleaning supplies.

What to Expect From the Crew

• Cleanup does not wait on blame

  Who caused the backup is a separate question. The crew removes the sewage first, because the longer it sits, the deeper it soaks.

• Records for two audiences

  The insurer and the sewer utility may both want proof. Dated photos and moisture logs show the loss and when it began.

• Plain scope

  The crew cleans inside the home. The city handles its main, and a plumber checks the pipe on the property.

City Sewer Backup Cleanup Costs, Typically

Typical national cost for a city sewer backup runs from about $1,200 to $18,000, driven by how much of the house the sewage reached. Who pays depends on the policy and the local sewer authority, so check with your insurer and the city.

• One room, bare floor: $1,200 to $3,000. Extraction and sanitizing
• Finished basement affected: $3,000 to $9,000. Carpet, pad and wall removal plus drying
• Deep or whole-level backup: $9,000 to $18,000. Large removal, contents handling, long dry-out

What changes the price

• Depth of the sewage and floor area covered
• How much finished material soaked it up
• Contents that need cleaning or disposal
• How long sewage sat before extraction

For a rough number, try the sewer backup cleanup cost calculator.

Insurance Records for City Sewer Backup Cleanup

Damage to the structure and damage to belongings may fall under different parts of the policy. Ask how each one is handled and what limits apply. Keep a written list of damaged items with their approximate age and cost.

Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your own insurer.

City Sewer Backup Cleanup by City

Busy cities for this service. Every town has its own page.

• Houston, TX
• Sacramento, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Atlanta, GA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Chicago, IL
• San Antonio, TX
• Phoenix, AZ
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Charlotte, NC
• San Diego, CA
• Austin, TX

City Sewer Backup Cleanup by State

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington DC
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Related Sewage Backup Services

• Main Sewer Line Backup Cleanup

  A blocked main sewer line sends sewage through several drains, and the crew cleans every room it reached.

• Sewer Backup Smell Cleanup

  Lingering sewage odor means something porous still holds contamination, so the crew finds, removes and sanitizes it.

• Sewer Backup Cleanup Cost

  Sewage cleanup cost follows wet area, depth and materials, and a written scope shows what each charge covers.

• Basement Sewer Backup Cleanup

  Basement sewage gets pumped out, soaked carpet and drywall come out, and the whole lower level gets sanitized.

• Floor Drain Sewer Backup Cleanup

  Drain backups flood the lowest room, so the crew extracts sewage, cleans the slab and checks walls.

• Toilet Sewer Backup Cleanup

  Toilet sewage soaks grout, flooring and the subfloor, so the crew extracts, sanitizes and checks the room below.

Every sewer backup cleanup service

Questions About City Sewer Backup Cleanup

• Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Sewage Backup?
• Who Should You Call for a Sewage Backup?