Home Sewer Backup: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

A home sewer backup is one of those household emergencies nobody wants to deal with. But when it happens, you don’t have a choice. When raw sewage pushes back through your drains, it brings some serious health hazards with it, along with the potential for major property damage. 

Whether you’re dealing with a backup now or just want to be prepared, now‘s the time to learn the causes, warning signs, and what to do if the worst should happen.  

Key Takeaways

• A home sewer backup can happen to any homeowner. Knowing the signs of an impending backup can save you from costly damage.  
• Common causes of backups include tree roots, aging pipes, clogs from grease or wipes, and overflowing municipal sewer systems during heavy rain. 
• You may be able to fix minor clogs with a plunger or drain snake, but main line backups and sewage cleanup always require a licensed professional. 
• Standard homeowners insurance often doesn’t cover damage from sewer backups, so review your policy now to avoid a major headache later. 
• Exposure to sewage can cause serious health issues, including bacterial and viral illnesses. Keep everyone out of the area until it’s professionally cleaned and sanitized. 

What Causes a Home Sewer Backup?

Sewer backups don’t just come out of nowhere. There’s usually an underlying issue that’s been building for a while. Common culprits include: 

• Tree roots: Roots naturally grow toward moisture and can work their way into small cracks in sewer pipes. Eventually, they can grow large enough to cause a serious blockage. 
• Grease and debris buildup: Pouring grease, oil, or fat down the drain causes a buildup in pipes over time. So does flushing wipes, paper towels, or tampons down the toilet.  
• Aging or damaged pipes: Older pipes can crack, collapse, or deteriorate, which can slow or stop the flow of wastewater out of your house.  
• Heavy rainfall: A major storm can overwhelm a municipal sewer system, pushing wastewater back toward your home. 
• Pipe bellying: When a section of pipe sinks or shifts in the ground, it creates a low spot where waste collects. Over time, this can form a block.  

Warning Signs of a Home Sewer Backup

Catching a sewer problem early can mean the difference between a minor repair and a major rehab.  

Backups tend to first appear at the lowest points in your home, like basement floor drains, ground-floor toilets, and utility sinks. If you notice anything suspicious in these areas, investigate right away.  

Keep an eye and ear out for these major warning signs: 

• Multiple slow drains: When more than one drain in your home is sluggish at the same time. 
• Gurgling sounds: Odd noises coming from toilets or drains after running water somewhere else in the house. 
• Sewage odors: A persistent foul smell coming from drains. 
• Water backing up unexpectedly: If wastewater appears in a tub, shower, or floor drain when you flush a toilet or run the washing machine. 

What to Do During a Home Sewer Backup

If you’re dealing with a home sewer backup right now, don’t panic. While a sewer backup is a serious situation, you can limit the damage by knowing the right steps to take.  

Stop Using Your Water 

Every drop of water you send down a drain makes the situation worse. Immediately stop using your toilets, sinks, dishwasher, and washing machine until the plumbing issue is fixed.  

Stay Away from the Affected Areas

According to the EPA, raw sewage can contain bacteria, viruses, parasites, intestinal worms, mold, and fungi. Contact with sewage can cause anything from mild ailments to life-threatening illnesses. 

Keep everyone, including children and pets, out of any area where they could come into contact with sewage. If you have to enter the area, wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, and eye protection. 

Shut Off Electricity

If the sewage has reached an area with electrical outlets or appliances, cut power to that part of the home at the breaker box. If you can’t reach the breaker safely, call an electrician.  

Try a Plunger for Minor Clogs

If the issue appears to be a single, isolated clog rather than a mainline backup, you may be able to clear it with a plunger. However, if plunging doesn’t fix the problem quickly, call a professional. Forcing the issue can make things worse. 

Call a Professional Plumber

For anything beyond the smallest clog, bring in a licensed plumber. Mainline backups require specialized equipment like sewer cameras and hydro-jetting tools.  

Contact SERVPRO for Sewage Cleanup

Once the plumber has fixed the sewage backup, it’s time for cleanup. This is never a DIY job. To safely remove sewage from your home, you’ll need to bring in specialists with professional-grade equipment and EPA-approved disinfectants to fully sanitize your home.  

SERVPRO’s trained technicians are available 24/7 to handle sewage cleanup and water damage restoration.  

Insurance Considerations Following a Sewer Backup

After a home sewage backup, one of the first calls you should make is to your insurance company. However, you might be surprised to learn that standard homeowners insurance policies don’t automatically cover sewer backup damage. Your insurance coverage will likely depend on the source of the backup and the specifics of your policy. 

A few things to keep in mind: 

• Check your policy now: Many insurers offer an optional sewer backup endorsement that you can add to your existing policy at a relatively low cost.  
• Document everything: Before you start any cleanup, photograph and take video of the affected areas and any damaged belongings. 
• File your claim promptly: Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Delays can complicate the claims process. 
• Let SERVPRO help: We work directly with insurance companies to help navigate the claims process, taking the burden off your plate during an already stressful time.  

How to Prevent Sewer Backups at Home

If you’ve ever faced a sewer backup, you almost certainly never want to go through that again. Fortunately, you can prevent many backups with just a little routine care.  

• Don’t pour grease down the drain: Let it cool and dispose of it in the trash instead. Even small amounts of grease can build up over time and create blockages. 
• Only flush toilet paper: Wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and anything else labeled “flushable” can still cause major clogs.  
• Use drain strainers: These strainers can help catch hair, food particles, and debris before they go down your pipes and create dangerous buildups. 
• Get your sewer lines inspected regularly: Every few years, hire an inspector to check for signs of tree root intrusion, pipe deterioration, and other issues before they lead to an expensive sewage backup. 

Home Sewer Backup Cleanup: Why It’s a Professional Job

When a home sewer backs up, the cleanup isn’t something you want to tackle on your own. Raw sewage poses a real health risk to you and your family. Without the right equipment and training, it’s nearly impossible for an everyday person to fully sanitize the affected area. That can leave your home vulnerable to lingering contamination and mold growth.  

SERVPRO’s trained technicians have the tools, experience, and EPA-approved products to handle sewage cleanup safely. Our team can remove standing water and contaminated materials from your home, then perform deep cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing. We can also work directly with your insurance company to make the claims process as smooth as possible.  

Find a SERVPRO location near you.  

FAQs

How do you fix a sewer backup?

Fixing a sewer backup depends on the severity of the problem. You may be able to fix a minor clog in a single fixture with a plunger or a drain snake. For main line blockages, however, you’ll want to call a licensed plumber.  

Does homeowners insurance cover sewer backup? 

Most standard homeowners insurance policies don’t automatically cover sewer backup damage. However, many insurers offer optional sewer backup coverage that you can add to your policy. Review your current policy and talk to your insurance agent to understand your coverage and learn what you can add. 

How much does sewage cleanup cost?

The cost of sewage cleanup will vary widely depending on the severity of the backup, the size of the affected area, and the extent of the damage. Other factors like removing contaminated materials, drying structural elements of your home, and sanitizing the affected area, will all impact the final price tag. 

Why is professional restoration needed for sewage flood cleanup?

Raw sewage contains dangerous bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The safest way to sanitize your home after a backup is to hire a trained technician who will use professional-grade equipment to fully sanitize your home.