Sewage Backup Cleanup Done Safely, Since 1997
Raw sewage is category 3 black water under the IICRC standard. It carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make adults, children, and pets sick on contact, and the contamination soaks into anything porous it touches: carpet, pad, drywall, insulation, cardboard, and unsealed wood. The area has to be cleaned and disinfected properly, and the materials that cannot be disinfected have to be removed and disposed of.
RestorePro has handled sewage backups across Eastern Massachusetts since 1997. Our crews arrive with protective equipment, extraction gear, hospital-grade disinfectants, and the containment needed to keep the contamination from spreading through the rest of the house.
Sewage Problems We Clean Up
- Sewer line backups — Municipal main or private line backing up through floor drains, toilets, and tubs.
- Basement sewage flooding — The most common call. Finished and unfinished basements, utility rooms, and storage areas.
- Crawl space sewage — Broken waste lines under the house. Confined-space cleanup and removal of contaminated soil and insulation.
- Toilet overflows and septic failures — Bathrooms, hallways, and whatever is below them.
- Outdoor sewage spills — Yards, patios, and walkways after a septic or line failure.
- Commercial sewage backups — Restaurants, offices, retail, and multi-unit buildings. See commercial sewage cleanup.
- Contents — Sorting what can be disinfected from what has to be disposed of, with an inventory for your claim.
What To Do Right Now
Stay out of it. The goal until we arrive is to keep people and pets away and keep it from spreading.
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area and close the door.
- Stop using water in the house: no toilets, sinks, showers, dishwasher, or washing machine.
- Cut power at the breaker if water is near outlets or appliances.
- If you must go in, wear rubber boots, gloves, and eye protection.
- Take photos from the doorway for your insurance claim.
- Call your insurance company to open the claim. We can talk to the adjuster directly.
What not to do
- Do not try to mop or shop-vac raw sewage. It spreads contamination and the equipment is ruined.
- Do not run fans. Moving air spreads bacteria through the house.
- Do not touch anything that was submerged and then touch your face.
- Do not pour bleach into standing sewage. It does not disinfect the structure and can create fumes.
We Handle the Insurance Claim With You
RestorePro works directly with every major insurance carrier serving New England. We handle the documentation, photo logs, dry logs, scope-of-work writing, and itemized billing required to support your claim from start to finish. You deal with one company from the first call through the final repair, because our construction supervisor licenses let us do the rebuild in-house instead of handing you off to another contractor.
Sewage Cleanup Near You
RestorePro crews are based in Woburn and respond across Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, including:
Sewage Cleanup FAQ
Is a sewage backup covered by homeowners insurance?
Often only if your policy has a water backup or sewer backup endorsement. Many standard policies exclude it. We document the cause and the damage so your claim is as strong as it can be, and we tell you up front what we see.
How much does sewage cleanup cost?
It depends on how much sewage, how long it sat, how much porous material has to be removed, and whether there is a crawl space involved. We inspect first and explain the scope before any work starts.
Can I clean up a small sewage spill myself?
A toilet overflow of clean water on tile, maybe. Anything that came up from a drain, anything that reached carpet, drywall, or wood, or anything that sat for more than a few hours should be handled by a crew with protective gear and proper disinfectants.
Is sewage a biohazard?
Yes. Category 3 black water is treated as a biohazard. That is why we use the same containment and disposal protocols as our biohazard cleanup service.
Will the smell go away?
Yes, once the contamination is actually removed and the structure is disinfected and dried. A smell that lingers means something porous was left in place.
How fast can you get here?
We answer 24/7 and dispatch immediately. Across Eastern Massachusetts our trucks are on the road in under an hour.
Related Guides From Our Team
- The Health Risks of Untreated Sewage Backup in Residential Properties
- How To Clean a Basement After a Sewage Backup
- Expert Tips on Outdoor Sewage Clean-Ups
- How Much Does Sewage Cleanup Cost?
- How to Cleanup Sewage Spills
- Why Immediate Sewage Cleanup Is Critical for Protecting Your Home's Foundation
Need help right now? Call 1-800-847-0114. A real person answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.