Augusta, GA sewage cleanup, across 39 ZIP codes

Local notes on sewage cleanup in Augusta

Augusta's older housing shapes most sewage jobs here. Census figures show 52% of homes were built before 1980 and 11% before 1950, against 32% and 6% across Georgia. Houses from those decades may have clay, cast iron or fiber sewer lines that roots, settling and age can break. When a line under the house cracks, sewage can collect in the crawlspace without showing inside, and the first sign is an odor or a damp floor.

So the restoration crew checks the crawlspace first. It looks for standing waste water, soaked vapor barrier and insulation, and wet joists and subfloor. Contaminated insulation and vapor barrier are removed, the area is cleaned and treated, and the wood is dried and tested before anything is closed back up. If the subfloor has soaked through, subfloor water damage repair follows.

Inside the house, a backup through a tub, toilet or floor drain is Category 3. Carpet and pad are discarded, drywall is cut above the water line, and hard surfaces are disinfected. In the 3% of homes that are manufactured, drain lines under the home can separate and soak the belly wrap, which the crew opens to dry.

In the Augusta area, 48% of homes are rented, so tenants should report a backup in writing at once. The owner is responsible for the sewer line and the cleanup of the building. Ask the crew for the water category, what it removes, its moisture readings and a written estimate.

Heavy rain can overload drains too, and Augusta averages 12 days a year with an inch of rain or more. Sewer backup is usually excluded from homeowners policies unless an endorsement was added, and only 0.9% of Richmond County homes carry federal flood insurance, so check your policy.