Sewage Backup Cleanup in Owasso, OK

Is sewage backup dangerous?

Yes. Sewage is contaminated water that can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Touching it, breathing in its odor in a closed room, or tracking it through the house can make people sick, especially children, older adults and anyone with a weak immune system. Keep everyone out of the area until it's cleaned and disinfected.

What should you do right now?

Stop using water. Don't flush, run sinks, showers, the dishwasher or the washing machine. Every gallon you send down the drain can come back up.

Keep people and pets away from the area, and close the door to it.

Shut off power to the affected rooms if the breaker panel is dry and safe to reach.

Open windows if it's safe, to let the smell out.

Take photos and video of the water, where it came up and anything it touched.

Call a plumber to clear or repair the line, and call us to clean up the sewage.

Where does sewage back up in Owasso homes?

Sewage comes up at the lowest drain in the house first. In Owasso's slab homes, that's usually:

• A shower or bathtub drain
• A toilet, especially on the lowest floor
• A floor drain in the laundry room or garage
• The washing machine standpipe

What causes sewer backups?

Clogs from grease, wipes, paper towels or other items flushed or poured down drains

Tree roots growing into the sewer line between the house and the street

Aging or damaged lines, including older pipes that have cracked or sagged

Heavy rain that overloads sewer lines, so water backs up instead of draining away

Is it your sewer line or the city's?

In most cities, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line from the house out to the city's main line, and the city is responsible for the main line under the street. If several neighbors back up at the same time, the problem may be in the city main. Call the City of Owasso to report it, and call a plumber for anything on your side.

What has to be thrown away after a sewage backup?

Anything porous that sewage touched usually has to be removed, because it can't be fully disinfected.

How do we clean up sewage safely?

Protect ourselves and your home with protective equipment and by closing off the area.

Remove standing sewage with extraction equipment.

Take out contaminated carpet, pad, drywall and other porous materials.

Clean and disinfect every hard surface the sewage reached.

Dry the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers.

Control odor so the smell doesn't linger.

Document everything for your insurance claim.

Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backup?

Many standard homeowners policies don't cover sewer or drain backup unless you've added a sewer backup endorsement. Some policies include it, and coverage limits vary. Check your policy, photograph everything before it's removed and call your agent early. Read more: Water damage insurance claims in Owasso

Related help

Flood cleanup

when outside floodwater comes into your home

Mold after water damage

what happens when contaminated materials stay wet

Emergency water removal

when the water is clean, from a pipe or appliance

Frequently asked questions

Can I clean up a toilet overflow myself?

A small overflow of clean bowl water on tile can usually be wiped up and disinfected. If the overflow had waste in it, soaked into carpet or drywall, or reached another room, it should be cleaned by people with protective equipment so bacteria aren't spread through the house.

Will bleach kill the bacteria from sewage?

Disinfectant can clean hard, non-porous surfaces, but it can't make soaked carpet, pad or drywall safe. Those materials have to be removed. Never mix bleach with other cleaners, because some combinations release dangerous fumes.

How do you get rid of the sewage smell?

The smell goes away once every contaminated material is removed, surfaces are disinfected and the structure is dried. Air fresheners only cover it up. If the smell comes back, something contaminated is usually still in place, or the drain line is still backing up.

Is it safe to stay in my house after a sewage backup?

You can often stay if the sewage is contained to one area that's closed off and you have a working bathroom you can use without sending water down the backed-up line. Leave if sewage spread through living areas, or if anyone in the home is very young, elderly or has a weak immune system.

Should I call a plumber or you first?

Call both. The plumber clears or repairs the line so it stops backing up. We clean up the sewage and dry your home. Until the line is fixed, avoid using any water in the house.

Is a sewer backup the same as a flood?

No. A sewer backup comes up through your drains from the sewer line. A flood is outside water coming in at ground level. Insurance treats them differently: sewer backup usually needs its own endorsement, and outside flooding usually needs flood insurance.

Sewage in your Owasso home? Call now.

Sewage keeps soaking into floors and walls while it sits. Stop using water, keep everyone away and call us.

Serving Owasso, Collinsville, Claremore, Catoosa and nearby areas