Sewage backup: the short answer
Treat sewage as a health hazard. Keep children and pets away, stop running water and flushing toilets, avoid contact with the water, and call a professional experienced with contaminated water. The EPA says sewage and other contaminated water calls for a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by it. Call (770) 555-0186 to speak with a local water damage restoration contractor in the Kennesaw area.
Signs it's a sewer backup
- water coming up through a floor drain, tub or shower, especially in the lowest part of the house
- toilets gurgling or several drains backing up at once
- a sewage smell, or water with visible waste or debris
If the water is clean and came from a supply line, see burst pipe water damage instead. Our water damage restoration page for Kennesaw covers every situation.
How urgent is it?
Stop using water right now.
Every flush, shower and load of laundry can push more wastewater into the house. Under the IICRC S500 standard, toilet backflow from beyond the trap is always Category 3, the most contaminated category, and porous materials it soaks generally can't be saved.
If you must go near it, the CDC's advice for contaminated water applies: rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles, and wash your hands with soap and clean water afterward.
Whose pipe is it? Cobb County's rules
Cobb County says homeowners are responsible for the sewer pipes on their property and their internal plumbing, while the county manages the public sewer lines. If your sewer service comes from the Cobb County Water System, it lists Emergency Dispatch at 770-419-6201 for sewage backing up into a yard or basement. Some cities run their own utilities, so check your bill. A plumber can camera the line to find the blockage. See sewer backup in Cobb County: who to call.
What happens during the visit
Contain and protect
The area is isolated, and the crew works in protective equipment.
Remove the wastewater
Sewage and solids are extracted and disposed of properly.
Remove contaminated materials
Carpet, pad, insulation and affected drywall are cut out and bagged.
Clean and disinfect
Hard surfaces are cleaned and treated with disinfectant.
Dry and confirm
The structure is dried and checked before anything is rebuilt.
What affects the cost
- Area affected: one bathroom floor versus a whole finished basement.
- Materials: porous materials touched by sewage are generally removed and replaced.
- Time: sewage that sat longer soaks deeper and smells worse.
- The line repair: clearing or replacing the sewer lateral is separate plumbing work.
See the cost guide for comparing estimates.
Insurance and sewer backup
Many homeowners policies exclude sewer and drain backup unless you added a water backup endorsement. Check your declarations page, call your insurer before cleanup if you can, and photograph everything. The cost of fixing the sewer line itself is often treated separately from the damage the water caused.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Do you handle Category 3 water, and what disinfection do you use?
- What will be removed, and what can be cleaned and kept?
- Will you work around the plumber clearing the line?
Sewage cleanup around Kennesaw
Backups tend to show up in the lowest fixture in the house, so basements and ground-floor bathrooms are common trouble spots, whether in Ridenour, Heritage Park or Holly Springs. In a townhome or condo, contact the HOA or management as well, because shared lines may be involved.
What to have ready when you call
- which drains or fixtures backed up and roughly how much water came out
- whether you've stopped using water in the house
- whether it's a house, townhome or condo, and who your sewer provider is