Sewage in a bathroom, laundry room or ground floor is black water. The crew contains the area in protective gear, removes contaminated material and sanitizes before drying begins.
(888) 532-8921Sewage backup? Call for cleanup
Keep people and pets out of areas touched by sewage and close doors to limit spread.
Avoid flushing, running the washer or using sinks until the blockage is cleared.
Household cleaning and vacuums can spread bacteria through the air.
Capture the backup, the fixtures and the damaged items from a safe distance.
Sewage Backup Cleanup: the trade facts
Sewage backs up through floor drains, toilets and tubs when a drain clogs or the wastewater system is overloaded. Charleston Water System is the wastewater provider and reports sewer overflow work primarily in West Ashley, but a backup inside a building is a contaminated-water job whatever the cause.
A backup limited to one bathroom is the smallest sewage job, though it still needs containment and protective gear. Several rooms add air scrubbers and more removal, and a whole floor or crawl space costs the most because of the volume of contaminated material.
$3,000 to $8,000
$8,000 to $18,000
$16,000 to $30,000
Ranges are typical figures, not a quote. The category of water, the square footage, the material class and how fast drying started move the number most. The water damage cost calculator gives a closer range.
The tech who does the walkthrough finds the source and maps the moisture before equipment goes down, and the drying team keeps it running until the readings say dry.
Plastic barriers and negative air separate the affected rooms from the rest of the house.
Flooring, pad, insulation and lower drywall touched by sewage are cut out and bagged.
Surfaces are cleaned and treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial.
Dehumidifiers and air movers dry the structure until readings reach target.
Technicians wear protective suits, gloves, boots and respirators and set up HEPA air scrubbers. Containment barriers separate the affected area from the rest of the building, and waste is bagged and removed according to the job plan.
Once the contaminated materials are gone, the area is cleaned and sanitized, then dried with air movers and dehumidifiers. Final readings confirm the structure is dry, and records document each step for the owner and the insurer. Air scrubbers keep running until the cleaning is complete and the air is clear.
A plumber clears blockages inside the home, and the utility handles the public sewer. Moving people and pets out of the affected rooms comes first, and related flooding pages include storm water damage and bathroom leak water damage.
Sewage cleanup is available in ZIP 29407 and 29414, including West Ashley, Avondale, Old Windermere, Byrnes Downs and James Island, as well as peninsula and Daniel Island properties.
The same service nearby: sewage backup cleanup in Goose Creek, Hanahan, North Charleston.
Yes. It carries bacteria and pathogens, so skin contact, splashing and household vacuums are unsafe. The crew works in protective gear with air filtration running.
No. Carpet, pad and other porous materials that touched sewage are removed, since they cannot be cleaned to a safe level. Hard surfaces are cleaned and treated.
Charleston Water System handles the public system, while a plumber handles blockages in the home's drains. The restoration crew handles the contaminated water and cleaning inside.
Many policies need a sewer backup endorsement, so coverage varies. Ask the insurer early, and keep dated photos and the crew's written scope for the claim.
Rooms are cleared for use after the area is sanitized, dry and verified by readings. Rebuilding may follow, depending on how much material was removed.
Sewage inside the building?
Contaminated water spreads through porous materials quickly. The crew works in protective gear, removes what cannot be saved and sanitizes until the readings and surfaces are clear.