Sewage Backup Cleanup
Sewage is contaminated water, and it's handled that way: the water and affected porous materials come out, and everything that stays gets cleaned and sanitized before drying.
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- Licensed Long Island contractor since 2006
- Documentation built for your insurance claim
- Restoration and rebuild under one company
- Serving all of Nassau & Suffolk County
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For an active leak, call. For everything else, send this and we'll get back to you.
Water in the house now? Call (631) 555-0142Keep everyone out of it
Sewage can carry bacteria and other contaminants. Keep children and pets away from the affected area, don't walk through it, and don't try to clean it with household fans or a vacuum. The CDC recommends avoiding contact with contaminated floodwater and wearing rubber boots, gloves and eye protection during any cleanup.
Sources: CDC, Floodwater Safety, CDC, Cleaning Safely After a Disaster
Where backups come from on Long Island
- Cesspools and septic systems. Many Long Island homes, especially in Suffolk County, aren't connected to a sewer system, so a backup often traces to a full or failing cesspool or septic system.
- Sewer line problems: roots, grease or a collapsed section in the line from the house.
- Heavy rain that overloads drainage and pushes water back up through floor drains and low fixtures.
The source has to be fixed, usually by a plumber or a cesspool/septic service, or the backup can happen again.
How sewage cleanup works
- Protective setup for the crew and, when needed, containment to keep contamination out of the rest of the house.
- Extraction of the water and solids.
- Removal of porous materials that absorbed it: carpet and pad, drywall, insulation and similar materials generally can't be decontaminated and come out.
- Cleaning and sanitizing the surfaces that stay, like concrete, framing and other hard materials.
- Structural drying, verified with readings. See structural drying.
Insurance: check for a sewer backup rider
Standard homeowners policies don't always cover this. Triple-I notes that some policies cover sewer and drain backups but many do not, and that you can buy a sewer backup rider. Check your policy before you assume either way. See the insurance claims guide.
Source: Triple-I, How to protect your home from water damage
Common questions
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A very small backup on a hard floor may be manageable with proper protection, but anything that soaked into carpet, drywall or a finished basement usually needs porous materials removed and the area sanitized. If in doubt, treat it as contaminated.
Do I have to throw out my carpet?
Carpet and pad that absorbed sewage generally can't be decontaminated and have to be removed. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and sanitized.
Is sewage backup covered by insurance?
Only if your policy includes it, which many don't without a sewer or drain backup rider. Check your declarations page or ask your agent.
Sewage in the house?
Keep everyone out of the area and call.