If sewage has come up through a drain in your Norfolk home, stop using water, keep people and pets out of the wet area, and call Norfolk Water Damage Restoration. Sewage water is contaminated, so carpet, pad and wet drywall that it touched are normally removed and discarded, not dried and kept.
Stop flushing toilets and running sinks, showers and washing machines. Everything in the house drains to the same line, and each use can push more into the backup.
Then keep out of the wet area. Wear waterproof boots and gloves if you must cross it, and do not touch it barehanded. Sewage carries bacteria that ordinary floodwater may not.
What can be saved after sewage touches it?
The dividing line is porous versus non-porous. Hard sealed surfaces such as tile, sealed concrete and some solid wood can usually be cleaned and disinfected. Carpet, padding, insulation and drywall that wicked up sewage generally cannot be made safe again, so they come out.
Upholstery, mattresses and cardboard storage are in the same category. It is a hard conversation to have about belongings, but better to have it before anyone starts drying a couch that will not pass.
Will my homeowners policy pay for a sewer backup?
Often it will not, unless you added a water backup endorsement. A standard policy may cover a burst pipe and exclude a backup coming up from the sewer line. Read your declarations page or call the agent before assuming either way.
Whatever the answer, photograph the water line and the damaged items before anything is hauled out. Claims are decided on what you can show.
Where did the backup come from?
A clog inside your own lateral line and a problem in the main are different repairs with different bills. A plumber's camera inspection tells you which, and it matters for any claim and for preventing a repeat.
Norfolk Water Damage Restoration covers 17 service areas around Norfolk. Tell us your neighborhood on the phone so we can plan the visit.
Is it safe to stay in the house after a sewage backup?
If the backup is confined to one area such as a basement or a bathroom, you can often stay elsewhere in the house while it is cleaned. Keep children and pets out of the affected rooms. Anyone with a weakened immune system should arrange to stay elsewhere.
Can I clean up sewage myself?
A very small, hard-surface spill can be handled with protective gear and a disinfectant. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or a larger area calls for professional removal. Porous materials cannot be disinfected in place.
How is sewage cleanup priced?
There is no published flat rate here. Cost follows the area affected, what materials must be torn out, and whether disinfection and drying are needed afterward. Ask for the quote itemized.