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Sewage Cleanup

Sewage Cleanup for homes and businesses: what it covers, how it works, what it costs and how to book it by phone.

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  • Calls answered 24/7
  • Written estimate before work starts
  • Water removal, drying and repair
  • Homes and businesses

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Technical drawing of sewage cleanup: sewer backup cleanup, toilet overflow cleanup and containment and disinfection.
Sewage Cleanup covers sewer backup cleanup, toilet overflow cleanup and containment and disinfection.

Your call, step by step

  1. Call (833) 728-2327

    Tell the person who answers what got wet and where the water came from. Calls are answered 24/7.

  2. Stop the source

    You get help shutting off the water or the power to a wet room while the crew is on the way.

  3. Inspection and written estimate

    Moisture readings, photos and a written estimate come before any work begins.

Call (833) 728-2327

Sewage Cleanup is one of the water damage services 911 Water Damage Fix books in every city it lists.

Calls are answered 24/7 at (833) 728-2327.

Sewage Cleanup in short

Sewage cleanup is the removal, disinfection and drying of an area reached by a sewer or drain backup or an overflowing toilet. Sewage is Category 3 water under the IICRC S500 standard: it carries bacteria and viruses, so crews wear protective gear, remove porous materials it touched and disinfect before drying. Keep people and pets away and call.

What is part of sewage cleanup

Sewage cleanup deals with water from a sewer line, a floor drain, a septic system or an overflowing toilet. It is Category 3 water under the IICRC S500 standard, which means it is handled as contaminated from the first minute.

The crew sets up containment so the backup does not spread through the house, wears protective gear, removes the sewage and every porous material it touched, then cleans and disinfects hard surfaces before drying. Carpet, pad, upholstery and drywall that sewage soaked are thrown away, not dried.

The cause matters for the next backup. A tree root, a collapsed line or a blockage in the main is a plumbing repair that the cleanup does not fix, so ask the plumber or the city about the line once the cleanup is done.

  • Containment to keep the backup from spreading
  • Removal of sewage and solids
  • Tear-out of porous materials sewage touched
  • Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces
  • Air scrubbers for odor
  • Drying and moisture readings

Jobs inside sewage cleanup

  • Sewer backup cleanup

    Backups from the main line or a floor drain are removed, the area is disinfected and porous materials are taken out.

  • Toilet overflow cleanup

    Overflow water from a toilet bowl is treated as contaminated; flooring and drywall it reached are cleaned or replaced.

  • Containment and disinfection

    Plastic containment, negative air and disinfectant applied to every hard surface the sewage reached.

  • Odor control

    HEPA air scrubbers run during and after cleanup to remove odor and airborne particles.

Sewage cleanup: the steps

  1. Contain

    The affected area is closed off with plastic sheeting so the backup does not spread.

  2. Remove

    Sewage and solids are removed, and porous materials it touched are bagged and taken out.

  3. Disinfect

    Hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, and air scrubbers handle the odor.

  4. Dry and check

    The structure is dried with readings logged until it meets the dry standard.

When to call for sewage cleanup

  • Water coming up through a floor drain, shower or toilet
  • Gurgling drains and a sewage smell
  • A toilet overflow that reached carpet or walls
  • Several drains backing up at once

Before you call

  • Keep everyone, especially children and pets, out of the area.
  • Stop using sinks, toilets and appliances that drain into the backed-up line.
  • Do not try to clean sewage with household bleach and a mop.
  • Photograph the area from a distance.

Typical prices for sewage cleanup

Typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. The written estimate after an inspection is the price that applies.

ItemTypical rangeUnit
Sewage backup cleanup (Category 3)$2,000 to $10,000per job
Sewage cleanup and disinfection$7 to $15per sq ft

Typical US ranges compiled on 17 October 2026 from public cost guides and price lists, not prices from 911 Water Damage Fix or any one company. Most guide figures trace back to Angi and HomeAdvisor customer surveys (HomeAdvisor water damage cost guide, updated June 17, 2026); independent checks: HomeGuide (2025 and 2026), Fixr (January 2025), a State of Iowa restoration contract price list effective May 22, 2026, and a published restoration equipment rental list. The written estimate after an inspection is the only price that applies.

sewage cleanup price ranges

What drives the price

  • The area the sewage reached.
  • How much carpet, drywall and furniture must be thrown away.
  • Containment and protective gear for Category 3 water.
  • Air scrubbers and drying days.
  • Access to a basement or crawl space.

Insurance and who pays

Sewer and drain backup is not covered by a typical homeowners policy or by flood insurance unless the policy has a sewer backup endorsement, according to Triple-I.

Whoever pays, the insurer will want proof: photos before anything is moved, moisture readings, a list of damaged items and the written estimate. Restoration companies document all of this as part of the job, and you deal with your own insurer about the claim.

Sewage cleanup questions

How much does water damage restoration cost?

Most home jobs fall between about $1,300 and $6,400, based on HomeAdvisor's 2026 survey, with an independent HomeGuide range of $2,000 to $6,000. A small clean-water leak can be $150 to $500, while water that sat through much of a house can pass $15,000. Water removal and drying run about $3 to $12 per square foot, depending on whether the water was clean, gray or sewage. The written estimate after an inspection is the price that applies.

What should I do right after water damage?

Stop the water first: close the main shutoff valve or the valve under the fixture. Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can reach the panel without stepping in water. Photograph every wet room before you move anything, lift furniture off wet carpet, and move papers and electronics to a dry room. Then call for extraction and drying, because the EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.

What is the difference between water mitigation and water restoration?

Mitigation stops the damage from getting worse: extracting water, removing wet materials that cannot be saved and drying the structure until moisture readings reach a dry standard. Restoration is the whole job, which includes mitigation and then the repairs: new drywall, flooring, ceilings, trim and paint. Insurers often see the two as separate line items on the estimate, and some companies only do the mitigation part.

How long does it take to dry out water damage?

Drying usually takes several days, and the moisture readings decide when it is done, not the calendar. Clean water caught early in carpet and drywall dries faster than water that soaked into hardwood, plaster or subfloor for days. Equipment is billed per unit per day, so ask for the daily readings: they show which areas have reached the dry standard and when the air movers and dehumidifiers can come out.

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?

Often, for sudden damage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, standard homeowners policies list accidental discharge of water from plumbing, heating, air conditioning or appliances as a covered peril. Gradual leaks, poor upkeep and mold are usually excluded. Flooding from outside needs a separate flood policy, and sewer backup needs an endorsement. Check your own policy and call your insurer; the restoration company documents the damage for your claim.

Will mold grow after water damage?

It can. The EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, which is why extraction and drying start on the first visit. If water sat longer, or a musty smell shows up after a leak was cleaned, ask for moisture mapping of the walls and floors. Mold that has already grown is a separate job from drying, priced separately, and standard homeowners policies usually exclude it.

What are the categories of water damage?

The IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories. Category 1 is clean water, such as a broken supply line. Category 2 is gray water with some contamination, such as a washing machine or dishwasher overflow. Category 3 is grossly contaminated water, such as sewage or flooding from a river or storm runoff. The category decides what can be dried in place and what must be thrown away, and it moves the price.

How do I choose a water damage restoration company?

Ask four things on the first call or visit: whether the company holds the contractor or restoration license your state requires, a current insurance certificate, a written estimate before any work, and daily moisture readings during drying. Read any contract before signing, and never sign over your insurance benefits under pressure. A company that documents the job with photos and a drying log makes your insurance claim easier.

Other water damage services

Call (833) 728-2327

Answered 24/7, with a written estimate before any work starts.

Call (833) 728-2327Calls answered 24/7
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