Sewage is Category 3 water by definition. It carries bacteria, viruses and parasites, and it is not a job to take on with a mop and a bottle of bleach.
Do not clean this up yourself
We say that about very little, but this one is worth stating plainly. Sewage exposure risks E. coli, hepatitis A, salmonella and giardia. The aerosols generated while cleaning are themselves a hazard, which is why crews work in respiratory protection and full PPE.
If a backup has happened: keep people and pets out of the area, shut off the HVAC so it does not distribute contaminated air through the building, do not run water into affected drains, and call.
What we do
Extraction of the sewage and contaminated water. Removal and disposal of porous materials it touched — carpet, pad, drywall below the water line, insulation, particleboard — handled as regulated waste. Then cleaning and disinfection of the remaining structure, structural drying, and verification before any rebuild starts.
Common causes
- Main line blockage — tree roots and accumulated grease are the usual culprits.
- Municipal surcharge — heavy rain overwhelms the public system and pushes back into the lowest fixtures in the building.
- Failed ejector or sump pump in a basement installation.
- Collapsed or offset pipe in older clay or cast-iron laterals.
Insurance
Sewer backup is frequently excluded from base homeowner policies and sold as a separate endorsement. It is worth checking your declarations page now rather than during a claim. We document the cause and category thoroughly either way, since that documentation drives the outcome.
Call 844-526-1501 — 24 hours.