Sewage backup in your home: safety, who to call and cleanup
First 30 minutes, step by step
- Stop adding water. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher anywhere in the house. Every drain feeds the same pipe.
- Check the neighbors. If others on your street have the same problem, the public sewer main is likely blocked. Call your city sewer line (below).
- Only your house? The blockage is probably in your private sewer line. Call a licensed plumber with a drain camera.
- Protect yourself if you must enter: rubber boots, waterproof gloves, eye protection, and a mask.
- Open windows for ventilation if the weather allows. Turn off the furnace or air conditioning if it draws air from the affected area.
- Photograph and video the water, the drain it came from and everything it touched, for insurance.
- Call a water damage company for Category 3 cleanup if sewage reached carpet, drywall, a finished basement or the crawl space.
Our 24/7 local pro line for Boise and the Treasure Valley is opening soon. Until then: stop the water using the steps on this page, then contact a licensed water damage restoration company in your area. Check that they are licensed and insured before work begins.
Treasure Valley sewer emergency numbers
| City | Number |
|---|---|
| Meridian | Sewer emergencies 208-888-2191 |
| Kuna | Sewer 208-573-1511 |
| Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, other areas |
Who is responsible?
In most cities the public sewer main in the street is maintained by the city or sewer district. The private sewer lateral, the pipe from your house to the main, belongs to the homeowner, including the part under your yard. Common causes in the lateral are tree roots, grease, "flushable" wipes and sagging or broken pipe. Your city can confirm where its responsibility ends.
Cleanup: what can be saved
Sewage is Category 3 water under the IICRC S500 restoration standard. That decides what stays and what goes:
| Material | Usual outcome |
|---|---|
| Carpet and pad | Removed and discarded |
| Drywall and insulation that got wet | Cut out above the water line and discarded |
| Upholstered furniture, mattresses | Usually discarded |
| Tile, concrete, sealed hard surfaces | Cleaned and disinfected |
| Solid wood furniture, metal | Often cleanable |
Category 3 cleanup costs more per square foot than clean-water drying, typically $7 or more per square foot for mitigation. Details: water damage restoration cost.
Insurance: the expensive surprise
A standard homeowners policy usually does not cover water that backs up through sewers or drains. That protection normally comes from an optional water or sewer backup endorsement, often with a separate limit. Flood insurance covers outside surface flooding, not a drain backup. If you do not have the endorsement, ask your agent about adding it; the Insurance Information Institute has long recommended it for homes with basements or below-grade drains.
Prevent it
- Nothing but toilet paper down the toilet. "Flushable" wipes do not break down like paper.
- No grease or oil down the kitchen sink.
- Ask a plumber about a backwater valve if your home has fixtures below street level.
- Have the sewer lateral camera-inspected if you have large trees near it or an older home.
Quick answers
Is sewage backup dangerous?
Yes. Sewage is Category 3 ("black") water under the IICRC S500 standard and can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Keep children and pets away, wear protection, and remove porous materials it touched.
Who is responsible, me or the city?
Generally the city maintains the public sewer main; the homeowner is responsible for the private sewer lateral from the house to the main. If several homes on your street back up at once, the main is the likely cause, so call your city sewer line.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backup?
Usually not under a standard policy. Coverage normally comes from an optional water or sewer backup endorsement, often with its own limit. Flood insurance is different and covers outside surface water, not a drain backup.
Can I clean up sewage myself?
A small, contained overflow on a hard floor can be cleaned with protection and disinfection. Sewage on carpet, drywall or across a basement or crawl space should be handled by professionals; contaminated porous materials generally need to be removed.