Sewage in the house is a health hazard, not just a mess. This guide covers protective gear, what to throw away and when the job belongs to a professional.
Water that backs up from a sewer line or drain is the most contaminated type, category 3 in the terms of the IICRC S500 standard. It can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Health agency guidance describes sewage water as biologically dirty and says to isolate the affected area to prevent further contamination. Our categories guide explains the system.
Start by stopping the source if you can. Stop using sinks, toilets, showers and washing machines so more wastewater does not enter the line, and call a plumber or your sewer utility. If electricity may be involved, follow the safety steps in our basement flood guide before entering.
Keep children and pets out. Health department guidance says pregnant people, people with asthma or other breathing problems and people with weakened immune systems should stay away from flooded or moldy sites and should not take part in cleanup. Anyone who has an open wound should be especially careful, and a doctor or health department can say whether a tetanus booster is needed after a puncture or a wound contaminated with soil or feces.
Gear is not optional. Health guidance for sewage backup lists the following as a baseline, and a professional crew will use more.
Porous materials that have soaked up sewage are generally not worth saving. Health agencies say to discard drywall, rugs, wallcoverings and other porous items that cannot be disinfected, and the Red Cross says to remove all drywall and insulation that touched floodwater. Remove materials that have been wet more than 48 hours and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. See drywall removal for how to cut safely.
Food, drinks and medicine that touched floodwater should be discarded, and wooden cutting boards, wood or plastic utensils and similar items cannot be reliably sanitized. Photograph items and note what was lost before disposal, and ask your insurer what they need, as covered in our documentation guide.
Hard surfaces such as concrete, tile and sealed floors can be cleaned and disinfected after the solids and liquid are removed. Health guidance describes washing with soap and water and then disinfecting with chlorine bleach solution, with strengths that depend on the surface and use. Follow the bleach label and the guidance from your health department for dilution, and never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
For a small spill, one health department describes covering the area with garden lime, letting it stand for 24 hours and shoveling waste into heavy bags. For a major backup, it advises contacting a pumper truck or sewage cleanup company instead. Ventilate with fans set to blow outward at a window or door so contaminated air is not pushed deeper into the house.
A wet vacuum or electric pump should be used only after an electrician has confirmed it is safe to power the area. Never run gasoline-powered equipment or generators indoors, because of carbon monoxide. Use a rented pump only where discharge is allowed, since rules on where sewage water may go are set locally.
The EPA notes that OSHA requires protective equipment and containment when water is known or suspected to be contaminated with sewage. For anything beyond a very small incident, a licensed cleanup company is the right choice. Do not run air movers across sewage-contaminated areas until professionals have decided how to proceed.
Washing is part of the job. Remove work clothes before you walk through the clean areas of the house, wash them separately in hot water or discard them, and shower with soap. Disinfect boots and tools. Do not eat, drink or smoke during cleanup, and keep your hands away from your face.
Watch for signs of illness in the days afterward, such as stomach upset or skin infection, and tell a doctor that you were exposed to sewage. The local health department is a good resource for questions specific to your area.
A licensed cleanup company is the right choice when sewage has soaked flooring or walls, when the volume is large, when the backup came through a wall or floor system, when you cannot stop the source or when anyone in the home is vulnerable to infection. These crews have protective equipment, containment and disposal methods for contaminated material.
Rules about who can transport and dispose of contaminated waste, and about where it can go, vary by state and municipality. Ask any contractor you hire about their training and what local rules apply, and keep their paperwork for your insurer.
Pets and household items need attention too. Wash pet bedding in hot water, keep animals out of the affected area until it has been cleaned and dried, and do not let them drink from or walk through standing water. Keep paperwork from any professional you hire, including what they removed, what they cleaned and how they disposed of waste. The same records help with an insurance claim and with any later questions about the property, such as when you sell it. Photograph the area before and after, and note dates. If the backup was caused by a problem in the municipal sewer line or in your own lateral, a plumber's written diagnosis helps establish the cause and who may be responsible for repair, though responsibility rules differ by city and utility.
Only a small, simple backup is a candidate, and then only with the right protective gear. Large backups, backups through floors or walls and any case with health concerns call for professionals.
Porous items that cannot be disinfected, such as carpet, drywall and wallcoverings, plus food and anything that touched the water and cannot be sanitized.
Not until the contamination has been dealt with. EPA warns against running fans before the water is determined to be clean.
It depends on the policy. Sewer backup is often a separate coverage, so ask your insurer before you begin.
Tell us what is wet and what you need, and we will reply with availability and terms.