Sewage Backup in Your Orlando Home

Sewage backup in my house: what do I do first?

1. 1. Stop using water

   Don't flush toilets or run sinks, showers, the washer or the dishwasher. More water pushes more sewage into the house.

2. 2. Keep everyone out

   Keep people and pets out of the affected rooms. Don't touch the sewage or walk through it without protection.

3. 3. Power off if it is safe

   If sewage has reached outlets or appliances, turn off power to those rooms at the breaker, but only if you can reach the panel without stepping in the water. Otherwise call an electrician.

4. 4. Check the pattern

   If several drains back up at once, the blockage may be in the main line. Call a plumber, or your sewer utility if the problem is in the public main.

5. 5. Photograph from a safe distance

   Take photos and video without entering the area, for your claim. Don't throw out damaged items until they are documented.

6. 6. Call a sewage cleanup company and your insurer

   Open a claim with your insurer and call for cleanup. Don't use plungers, drain snakes or chemicals while the line is backing up.

Water from another source too? House flooded? Who to call, in order →

Is sewage backup dangerous?

Yes, treat it that way. CDC warns that floodwater may contain sewage and other germs that can lead to illness, and says the best protection is to stay out of the water. Apply the same caution to a sewage backup in your house, and don't clean it up yourself.

Who do I call if the backup is from the city sewer?

If every drain in the house backs up, or neighbors are affected too, the blockage may be in the public sewer main in the street. The utility that serves your address handles that line; find its number on its official website or on your water bill. A plumber can tell you quickly whether the problem is in your pipes or in the main, and can quote a backwater valve to help prevent a repeat.

Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backup in Florida?

Often not, unless you bought an endorsement. Citizens' HO-3 does not cover sewer backup (Citizens comparison chart); many private carriers sell an endorsement. Read your policy and call your insurer before you decide, and report the loss either way.

Your matched company documents the loss for your claim and writes a line-item Xactimate estimate. Coverage and settlement decisions stay between you and your insurer.

Ask your matched company how billing works on an insurance job; your deductible is yours.

Sewer backup endorsements → · Citizens and water damage → · Florida claim deadlines →

What can be saved after a sewage backup?

Hard, non-porous surfaces can usually be cleaned and disinfected. Porous materials that sewage soaked, such as carpet, pad, drywall and insulation, usually can't be, and CDC's flood guidance says to discard items such as rugs and drywall that can't be disinfected. Photograph items before they go. If mold develops later, Ryan can match you with a mold remediation company. Mold remediation →

What does a sewage cleanup company do?

How much does sewage cleanup cost?

It depends on how many rooms were reached, what has to be removed and whether the line needs repair, so get a written, itemized estimate before work starts. Sewage backup cleanup cost →

Before work starts, ask the company for its IICRC Certified Firm number, its Florida license number where the work needs one, and a certificate of insurance.