Sewer backups
Sewage backup cleanup in Minneapolis
Sewage coming up through a basement floor drain or toilet is a health problem as much as a water problem. Report it to the city, keep people away, and call to reach an independent cleanup contractor.
Why sewage is its own job
Water from a sewer backup carries bacteria and other contaminants. Porous things it touches, such as carpet, pad, upholstered furniture, cardboard and the bottom of drywall, are normally thrown away rather than cleaned. Hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, then everything is dried.
People doing the work wear protective suits, gloves, boots and respirators. Keep children, pets and anyone who is ill or pregnant out of the area until the cleanup is done.
Step by step
Right away
Stop sending water down
No laundry, showers, dishwashers or flushing until the line is cleared.
Report it
In Minneapolis, contact 311 (612-673-3000) or call Sewer Operations at 612-673-5625. Outside business hours the city lists a stand-by number, 612-490-5568.
Keep out
Don't wade in without boots and gloves, and stay away from the panel if water is near it.
Photograph everything
Water level, the drain, damaged belongings. Keep anything the city or your insurer may want to see.
Call for cleanup
The city fixes its own pipe. Cleaning your basement is a job for a restoration contractor.
Questions
Sewage Backup Cleanup: common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup?
Often not without an endorsement. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowners policy covers sewer backups, and that a separate endorsement is needed. Check your policy for one. More in the insurance guide.
Can I clean it up myself?
Small, shallow backups on a bare concrete floor sometimes can be, with gloves, boots and disinfectant. Anything that soaked into carpet, drywall or furniture is better handled by people with the gear and a way to dispose of it.
Will a backwater valve stop it happening again?
It can help in some houses. The city offers advice on whether you need one: call 612-673-2406 and describe your situation.
Related
Often comes with
- Flooded Basement CleanupSnowmelt, a storm or a failed sump: water pumped out, belongings moved, the basement dried.
- Water Damage RestorationLeak found, water stopped, now what? Extraction, drying and putting the rooms back together.
- Mold RemediationSpots on a basement wall or behind a cabinet: moisture found, growth removed, the area dried.
Basement, ceiling, smoke or mold
Talk it through with a local restoration contractor
A single call reaches an independent contractor who handles water, fire and mold jobs around Minneapolis. They will ask questions, may come out to look, and give you their own price. Hiring them is your choice.
Water where it shouldn't be?
The call goes to an independent restoration contractor that takes jobs in Minneapolis and the nearby suburbs. Have the source, the wet rooms and the start time in mind.
Call (612) 471-0822Calls may be recorded. How the line is paid: referral disclosure. How call data is handled: privacy.