Contaminated water cleanup
Sewage Backup Cleanup in Pembroke Pines, FL
Keep people and pets away from the water and call. You are connected with an independent restoration company that handles sewage backups safely.
- Free to use, no obligation
- Independent local contractors
- Homes, condos, rentals and businesses
Sewage isn't an ordinary spill
Wastewater carries bacteria and other contaminants. When it comes up through a shower drain, a toilet or a floor drain and spreads over tile, carpet and the bottom of the walls, the cleanup has to deal with contamination as well as water.
In Pembroke Pines homes built before the mid-1970s the drain lines under the slab are often cast iron, and after fifty years in South Florida soil they corrode, scale up and collapse. Repeated slow drains, gurgling and backups in more than one fixture point that way. A plumber diagnoses and repairs the line; a restoration contractor removes the contaminated water and materials, sanitizes and dries what stays.
Right now
What to do first
- Keep children and pets out of the area and close the door if you can.
- Stop using sinks, toilets, showers and the washing machine until the line is cleared. Everything you run comes back up.
- Don't touch the water without gloves and boots, and don't put fans on it. Fans spread the contamination.
- Turn off electricity to the area only if you can do it without walking through the water.
- Photograph the damage for your insurer, then call a plumber for the line and a restoration company for the cleanup.
What sewage cleanup involves
What a restoration contractor should do, so you know what to expect and what to ask.
Safety and containment
The affected area is sealed off so contaminated water and debris aren't tracked through the house. Workers use protective gear.
Contaminated water removal
Wastewater is extracted and disposed of properly. Getting the water out is only the first stage.
Porous material removal
Carpet, pad, insulation and soaked drywall exposed to sewage usually can't be cleaned reliably and are removed.
Cleaning and sanitizing
Tile, block and other hard surfaces are cleaned, then treated with a suitable disinfectant. Disinfectant does not replace cleaning or removal.
Drying
Once the contamination is dealt with, the structure is dried and metered like any other water loss.
The drain line
Clearing, repairing or relining a failed cast-iron line is plumbing work, often with its own insurance questions. Ask the plumber for a camera inspection.
How it works
From your call to a dry home
We don't run our own crews. When you call or send the form, we connect you with an independent local restoration company that serves your area. They inspect, give you the estimate and do the work.
- 1
Keep clear and stop using drains
Call a plumber to clear or inspect the line.
- 2
Call or request a call back
We connect you with an independent restoration company that covers your address.
- 3
Contain, remove, clean and dry
The contractor removes contaminated water and materials, sanitizes and dries.
- 4
Review and repairs
You get a list of what was removed and what needs rebuilding.
Costs
What sewage backup cleanup typically costs
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Small, contained backup | $1,800 – $5,000 | Contamination level, one room or more |
| Several rooms | $4,500 – $12,000 | Materials removed, disposal |
| Extensive contamination and drying | $8,000 – $20,000+ | Spread through walls and under flooring, access |
These are planning ranges for typical jobs, not quotes or surveyed local averages. The contractor prices your job after an inspection. Plumbing, roofing, AC repairs and rebuilding are usually extra.
Questions
Sewage Backup Cleanup: common questions
Is a sewage backup dangerous?
It can be. Sewage can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Avoid contact, keep children and pets out, and leave anything larger than a small spill to people with the right protective equipment.
Can carpet be saved after a sewage backup?
Usually not. Carpet and pad soaked with sewage are normally removed. Tile, terrazzo and some furniture can be cleaned and disinfected.
My older home keeps backing up. Is it the cast-iron pipe?
Possibly. Cast-iron drain lines of the age found in many 1960s and early 1970s South Florida homes corrode from the inside and eventually collapse. A plumber's camera inspection will show it. Some homeowners policies have covered the resulting damage, so talk to your insurer before you accept a quick fix.
Does insurance cover sewage backups?
Many standard homeowners policies exclude sewer backup unless you added a water backup endorsement. Check your policy and ask your insurer.
Related
Other water damage help
Water Extraction
Standing water out fast, before it wicks into drywall, cabinets and the pad under the carpet.
Learn moreMold Remediation
Musty smell when the AC kicks on, or spots after a leak? Contain it, remove it, and fix the moisture behind it.
Learn moreFlood & Storm Damage
Hurricane season and summer flooding. What to do when rain or floodwater gets into the house.
Learn moreAlso serving nearby cities
Besides Pembroke Pines itself, calls are taken from these neighboring Broward County cities.
Water damage right now?
Talk to a restoration contractor today
Call and you are connected to an independent restoration contractor who serves Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Cooper City and Davie. Or leave your number and they call you back.