24/7 Sewage Cleanup Services
A-Star Restoration connects homeowners with IICRC-certified sewage cleanup professionals for Category 3 black water decontamination, antimicrobial treatment, contained disposal and structural drying.
What We Do
Sewage cleanup is the IICRC S500 Category 3 water restoration process. It involves the removal of grossly contaminated black water from sewage backups, sewer line failures, toilet overflows or surface flooding — followed by full antimicrobial decontamination and structural drying.
Category 3 water carries pathogens, bacteria and chemical contaminants that require specialized PPE, containment and disposal. The work is more aggressive than standard water damage — porous materials are typically removed rather than dried, and antimicrobial protocols are mandatory.
Types of Sewage Damage We Handle
Common sewage cleanup scenarios — each Category 3 by IICRC S500 definition and requiring full decontamination protocol.
Sewer Line Backups
Main sewer line clogs or municipal-system backups pushing raw sewage up through floor drains and toilets.
Toilet Overflows
Toilet supply, wax-ring or main-line clog overflows — sewage contaminating bathroom floors, walls and subfloor.
Septic System Failures
Septic tank or drain field failures causing sewage backup into the home or onto the property surface.
Flooded Basements
Storm-event flooding combined with sewer-system overload — surface water mixed with sewage contamination.
Burst Sewer Pipes
Cast-iron or PVC sewer line failures inside walls, slabs or crawlspaces — sewage saturating structural materials.
Bathroom Flooding
Multi-fixture bathroom events combining supply-line and drain-line water — typically Category 3.
Cat 3 Water Decontamination
Antimicrobial application, PPE-controlled removal and HEPA air filtration during cleanup of any black-water event.
Sewage Odor Removal
Persistent sewage odor remediation in HVAC, ductwork, framing and porous building materials.
Our Sewage Cleanup Process
IICRC S500 Category 3 standard at each phase — from emergency dispatch to a fully restored home.
Inspection & Containment
IICRC-certified contractor inspects the affected area, sets up containment with negative-air control and documents the loss.
PPE-Controlled Extraction
Full PPE crews extract contaminated water and remove sewage-saturated porous materials (carpet, drywall, padding, baseboards).
Antimicrobial Treatment
Affected hard surfaces and structural materials treated with EPA-registered antimicrobial agents.
Structural Drying
Air movers and dehumidifiers operate under containment until subfloor, framing and remaining structural materials reach dry standard.
Contained Disposal
All sewage-saturated materials bagged, sealed and disposed of per regulated waste protocols.
Reconstruction
Replacement of removed flooring, drywall, baseboards and finishes after clearance — typically same crew or coordinated.
Why Fast Response Matters
Pathogen exposure escalates rapidly. Category 3 water carries bacteria, viruses and chemical contaminants — every hour of exposure increases health risk for occupants.
Material salvage drops to near-zero after 24 hours. Porous materials saturated with sewage cannot be dried — they must be removed regardless of time, but quick removal prevents secondary contamination of adjacent areas.
Insurance coverage requires immediate mitigation. Most policies require prompt remediation when a covered backup occurs — and require Water/Sewer Backup endorsement to cover the loss at all.
Insurance Overview
Sewage backup is excluded by default on most U.S. homeowners policies. Coverage requires a Water Backup or Sewer Backup Endorsement, which has its own sub-limit (typically $5,000–$25,000). When the endorsement is in force, Category 3 cleanup, contaminated material removal and structural drying are usually covered. Surface flooding mixed with sewage requires NFIP coverage for the flood component.
Contractors in the A-Star Restoration network produce the loss documentation insurance carriers expect: moisture/photo logs, equipment runtime logs, antimicrobial application records and Xactimate-compatible scopes of work.
Typical Sewage Cleanup Costs
Most insured sewage cleanup projects settle between $5,000 and $14,000.
Minor
$2,000–$5,000 · Single-room · partial sewage · contained area · 2–3 day cleanup.
Moderate
$5,000–$15,000 · Multi-room · structural drying · partial demolition · antimicrobial · 4–6 day cleanup.
Major
$15,000–$40,000+ · Whole-floor or whole-house · full demolition · subfloor replacement · extended reconstruction.
Related Services
Water Damage Restoration
Burst pipe, flood, appliance leaks — IICRC S500 standard extraction and structural drying.
→Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
Fire cleanup, soot removal, deodorization and complete reconstruction — IICRC S700 standard.
→Mold Remediation
IICRC S520 containment, source removal and HEPA filtration with post-remediation verification.
→Areas We Serve
Active dispatch coverage. Statewide expansion is continuing.
Texas
Active dispatch network across Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth.
View Texas Service Areas →Florida
Coming soon — hurricane band, flood and storm damage network.
Coming SoonArizona
Coming soon — monsoon flooding, slab leak and storm damage network.
Coming SoonGeorgia
Coming soon — Gulf-band storm, freeze and flooding network.
Coming SoonSewage Cleanup — Frequently Asked Questions
- What is sewage cleanup?
- Sewage cleanup is the IICRC S500 Category 3 black-water restoration process — extraction, antimicrobial decontamination, contained disposal of sewage-saturated materials, structural drying and reconstruction.
- Is sewage cleanup dangerous?
- Yes. Category 3 water carries pathogens, bacteria and chemical contaminants. Cleanup requires full PPE, containment and EPA-registered antimicrobial protocols — homeowners should not attempt cleanup directly.
- Does insurance cover sewage backup?
- Only with a Water/Sewer Backup Endorsement — which has its own sub-limit (typically $5,000–$25,000). The endorsement must be on the policy at the time of loss.
- Can flooring be saved after a sewage event?
- Hardwood, engineered wood and carpet typically cannot be saved after sewage exposure — they're porous and absorb contaminants. Tile, sealed concrete and some LVT can be sanitized.
- How long does sewage cleanup take?
- Most events take 4–7 days from extraction through clearance, then reconstruction adds 1–3 weeks depending on demolition scope.