Sewage and sewer backups
Sewage Backup Cleanup in Columbus, OH
Dark water coming up the basement floor drain, out of a toilet or a shower? Keep people and pets away and call to be connected with an independent contractor that cleans up sewage in Columbus.
Sewage is handled differently
Restoration contractors treat sewage as the most contaminated kind of water (what the industry calls Category 3). It can carry bacteria and viruses, so porous materials it soaks, such as carpet, pad, drywall and insulation, are normally removed and thrown away rather than dried. Hard surfaces are cleaned and sanitized, then the area is dried and checked.
Crews doing this work wear protective gear for a reason. Don't try to clean up a sewage backup with a shop vac and bleach, and keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system out of the area until it is cleaned.
Right now
Stop using water
Don't flush, run the dishwasher or washing machine, or shower until you know the drain line is clear.
Keep away
Keep everyone out of the affected area, and wash hands well if you touched the water.
Find the cause
One drain backing up suggests a blockage in your line; many homes on the street backing up during heavy rain points to the public sewer.
Call the city if it's the main
If the backup may be coming from the public sewer, report it to the sewer utility. See the Columbus contacts below.
Turn off HVAC in the area
Don't run a furnace or air handler that sits in sewage-contaminated water until it has been checked.
Document it
Photos of the water level, the drain and damaged items, with the date and time.
In Columbus
Columbus: report it within 24 hours
The city asks residents to report sewer backups straight away to its 24-hour Sewer Maintenance Operations Center at 614-645-7102, or 311 / 614-645-3111 (city flooding and leak page). You get a service request number; keep it.
Reporting quickly matters for Project Dry Basement. The city covers an approved backflow prevention device for eligible single- and two-family homes, but only if the backup was reported within 24 hours and city staff find that rainwater in the sanitary sewer caused it (program fact sheet). The city also says plainly that it does not help clean up private property, which is where a restoration contractor comes in.
How it works
From the call to a dry house
You call
Tell the person who answers what happened, where the water or smoke came from and your ZIP code.
You're connected
The call goes to an independent restoration contractor that serves your part of Columbus.
They assess
The contractor inspects, measures moisture, explains what needs removing and gives you their price.
You decide
Hire them or not. There is no obligation, and the agreement is between you and the contractor.
Questions
Sewage Backup Cleanup: common questions
Can sewage-soaked carpet be saved?
Generally no. Carpet and pad soaked by sewage are removed and discarded. Hard flooring, concrete and some furniture with hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and sanitized.
Is a sewer backup covered by insurance?
Often only if your policy has a water or sewer backup endorsement, which many standard policies don't include by default. Check your policy; see insurance basics.
How do I stop it happening again?
Ask a plumber whether your line has roots, a sag or a blockage, and about a backflow prevention device or standpipe for the floor drain. The City of Columbus has a program for some homeowners; see the Columbus section on this page.
Other services
Other kinds of damage
- Water Damage RestorationLeaks, overflows and failed appliances: water out, structure dried, damaged materials replaced.
- Flooded Basement CleanupStorm water, a failed sump pump or seepage: water pumped out, contents moved, the basement dried.
- Frozen & Burst PipesA pipe split in the cold or a supply line let go: water off, extracted and the walls and floors dried.
- Water Extraction & DryingPumps and extractors take up standing water; air movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure, checked daily.
- Storm & Roof Leak DamageRain through the roof, ice dams or wind-driven water: ceilings, walls and insulation dried or replaced.
- Fire & Smoke DamageSoot, smoke odor and the water used to put the fire out: cleaned, deodorized, dried and rebuilt.
- Mold RemediationMold after a leak or flood: the moisture source fixed, the area contained, moldy materials removed.
Water, smoke or mold?
Talk to a Columbus restoration contractor
One call connects you with an independent restoration contractor serving Columbus and nearby suburbs. Tell them what happened, where the water came from and how long it has been wet.
Water in the house? Talk to a restoration contractor now.
You are connected with an independent water damage restoration contractor that serves your part of central Ohio.
Call (380) 214-0333Calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and privacy policy.