Sewage Backup Cleanup

If sewage has backed up into your home, stop using water, keep everyone away from it and call 786-919-0159. A live person answers 24/7 and sends a crew with a fast response anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Sewage is the most hazardous kind of water damage. It carries bacteria, viruses and other contaminants, so it needs protective equipment, removal of affected materials, thorough disinfection and complete drying. It is not a job for household cleaners and a mop.

Common Causes of Sewage Backups

• Cast iron drain lines: homes built before the mid-1970s often have cast iron drains under the slab that crack, corrode and collapse.
• Clogs and roots: grease, wipes and tree roots block drain lines.
• Heavy rain: overwhelmed sewer systems and saturated ground push water back up through drains.
• Septic systems: in homes on septic, a full tank or saturated drain field backs up into the house.
• Toilet overflows: clogged toilets and failed fill valves.

What to Do Right Now

1. Stop using all water in the house: no flushing, showers, laundry or dishes.
2. Keep children and pets away from the area.
3. Do not touch sewage without gloves and boots, and wash thoroughly if you do.
4. Turn off power to affected rooms if you can do it from a dry spot.
5. Take photos for insurance, then call 786-919-0159.

How Sewage Cleanup Works

1. Protective equipment and containment. Crews wear protective gear and keep contamination from spreading.
2. Removal of sewage and solids. Pumps and extractors remove contaminated water and debris.
3. Removal of porous materials. Carpet, pad, drywall and insulation that absorbed sewage are removed and disposed of.
4. Cleaning and disinfecting. Hard surfaces, framing and the slab are cleaned and treated.
5. Drying. Commercial equipment dries the structure, with daily moisture readings.
6. Repairs. Walls, flooring and cabinets are restored once everything is clean and dry.

A licensed plumber or septic contractor fixes the cause, such as a broken drain line or full septic tank. A camera inspection of the drain line can show exactly where it failed.

Sewage Backups and Insurance

Standard homeowners policies often exclude sewer and drain backups unless you added a water backup endorsement. Sudden pipe breaks may be covered, and backups caused by flooding fall under flood insurance. Check your policy for “water backup” or “sewer backup” coverage and document the damage before cleanup.

Cast Iron Drain Lines in Older South Florida Homes

Homes built before the mid-1970s across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach often still have cast iron drain lines under the slab. After 50 years or more, many are corroded, cracked or partly collapsed. Early signs include slow drains, gurgling toilets and sewer smells; eventually water comes up through a tub or shower. If you have had one backup in an older home, have a licensed plumber camera-inspect the line before it happens again.

Septic Systems

Homes in rural and some suburban areas, including parts of The Acreage, Loxahatchee, Jupiter Farms, Southwest Ranches, the Redland and some older neighborhoods, use septic systems. Heavy rain can saturate the drain field and push wastewater back into the house. Septic overflow is handled exactly like sewage. After cleanup, a licensed septic contractor can pump and inspect the system.

Health and Safety

Sewage can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Anyone with a weakened immune system, young children, older adults and pets should stay away from affected areas. Do not use fans that could spread contaminated dust, and do not try to save items that soaked in sewage without professional advice. Wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and see a doctor if you develop symptoms.

Preventing Sewage Backups

• Do not flush wipes, even ones labeled flushable, or grease down drains.
• Have older drain lines camera-inspected, especially cast iron.
• Ask a plumber about a backwater valve if your home has had backups during heavy rain.
• Pump and inspect septic systems on a regular schedule.
• Watch for early signs: slow drains, gurgling and sewer smells.

Category 3 Water

The restoration industry classifies sewage as Category 3 water, the most contaminated type. Floodwater from outside is treated the same way. Category 3 cleanup always involves protective equipment, removal of porous materials that were soaked, cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and drying the structure. Even a small toilet overflow with waste is treated as Category 3.

Commercial Sewage Backups

Restaurants, offices and apartment buildings face sewage backups from grease buildup, blocked main lines and overloaded systems during heavy rain. In commercial spaces, health codes and tenant safety add urgency. Crews contain the affected area, clean and disinfect, and document the work for the property owner and insurer.

Toilet Overflows

Not every toilet overflow is a major sewage backup, but any water that touched waste is treated as contaminated. If a toilet overflows, turn off the supply valve behind it, keep people away and avoid walking the water through the house. Small overflows on tile can sometimes be cleaned quickly, but water that reached carpet, baseboards or the floor below needs professional cleanup and drying.

What Can Be Saved After a Sewage Backup

• Usually removed: carpet and pad, drywall and insulation that got wet, particleboard cabinets and upholstered items that soaked up sewage.
• Often saved: tile, concrete, sealed hard surfaces, metal and hard plastic after cleaning and disinfecting.
• Case by case: solid wood furniture and cabinets, depending on how long they were exposed.

Items removed are photographed and listed for your insurance claim.

Sewage Backups in Condos and Apartments

In multi-unit buildings, a blocked shared drain line can push sewage up into the lowest units on the stack, even if those residents did nothing wrong. Notify building management right away so they can stop use of the line and call a plumber. Cleanup should start in every affected unit, and the association and owners sort out responsibility based on where the blockage was.

Sewage Backups During Heavy Rain

During intense South Florida storms, sewer systems and septic drain fields can be overwhelmed, and water can come back up through the lowest drains in a home: floor drains, showers and toilets on the ground floor. If this happens, stop using water, keep people away and call. A plumber can advise on a backwater valve to help prevent future backups.

Why Professional Disinfection Matters

Sewage leaves bacteria and other contaminants on every surface it touches, including places you cannot see, like the bottom of walls and under cabinets. Household cleaners are not designed for this level of contamination, and wiping can spread it. Professional cleanup removes contaminated materials, disinfects what remains and dries the structure so nothing harmful is left behind.

Related Services

• Burst Pipes and Leaks: including failed cast iron drains
• Flood Cleanup: backups during storms
• Water Mitigation and Drying: drying after cleanup
• Mold Remediation: if moisture lingered

Where We Provide Sewage Cleanup

Sewage Cleanup is available 24/7 across all three South Florida counties, in every city, town and neighborhood:

• Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Kendall, Homestead and more
• Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach and more
• Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington and more

See every community on our South Florida service areas page.

Sewage Cleanup Questions