Sewage backups are the worst kind of water damage event. The water itself is contaminated with pathogens, the affected materials usually can’t be saved, and the cleanup requires specialized protective equipment, containment, and disposal procedures. It’s also one of the more common water damage events we respond to in Akron, particularly in neighborhoods on the city’s older combined storm-and-sanitary sewer lines.
We respond 24/7 to sewage events throughout Summit County. This is Category 3 water work, and we handle it according to IICRC S500 and S520 standards.
Why Akron Has a Sewage Backup Problem
Combined sewer overflows. Several older sections of Akron — including parts of North Hill, the older central neighborhoods, and pockets of West Akron — still have combined sewer lines that carry both storm runoff and sanitary sewage in the same pipe. During heavy rain events, the system surcharges. The water has to go somewhere, and lowest-elevation fixtures (basement floor drains, basement toilets, basement utility tubs) are where it comes back up.
Aging municipal infrastructure. Akron’s sewer system, like most Northeast Ohio cities, has substantial sections that are 80-120 years old. Failures, partial collapses, and root intrusions in the municipal lines back up into homes connected to those sections.
Lateral failures. The lateral sewer line that runs from your house to the municipal main is your responsibility. Many Akron lateral lines are original clay tile or cast iron, now well past their service life. Root intrusion at joints is the most common failure mode. When the lateral clogs or partially collapses, sewage backs up through the lowest fixture in your house — usually a basement floor drain.
Basement bathrooms and laundry rooms. Many Akron homes have basement bathrooms or laundry rooms that were added in the 1950s-1980s as the family expanded. These low-elevation fixtures are the first to back up during any sewer issue.
What We Do for Sewage Events
Containment. Affected areas are isolated from the rest of the home with plastic barriers and negative air pressure. We don’t want sewage-contaminated air circulating into living areas during cleanup.
Personal protective equipment. Our techs work in full PPE — Tyvek suits, respirators, gloves, eye protection. This isn’t optional for Category 3 water.
Extraction and removal. Standing sewage is extracted. Saturated porous materials — carpet, padding, drywall, insulation, particle-board cabinetry, finished-basement paneling — are removed and disposed of as contaminated waste. They cannot be saved or salvaged regardless of what they cost originally.
Cleaning and sanitization. Non-porous surfaces — concrete floors, framing, masonry walls, sealed flooring — are cleaned mechanically and treated with EPA-registered antimicrobial agents specifically rated for Category 3 water.
Structural drying. After cleaning, dehumidifiers and air movers run until materials are dry to industry-standard moisture content.
Post-remediation verification. For significant sewage events, we recommend (and can coordinate) post-remediation testing before reconstruction.
Reconstruction. New drywall, flooring, fixtures, and finishes to restore the area.
What You Should NOT Do
If you have a sewage backup in your basement:
- Do not walk through the standing water. It’s contaminated. Stay out of the basement until we arrive, or until you can equip yourself with rubber boots and gloves at minimum.
- Do not use shop vacs or rental carpet extractors. The contamination they spread is worse than the water they remove. They also can’t be sanitized adequately afterward.
- Do not run the HVAC system if return ducts are in the affected area. This spreads contamination throughout the house.
- Do not try to save porous materials. Sewage-contaminated drywall, carpet, padding, and paneling cannot be salvaged — they have to go.
Insurance Coverage
Sewage backup is a tricky coverage area. Standard homeowners policies in Ohio typically EXCLUDE sewer and drain backup unless you’ve added a specific endorsement (often called “sewer backup,” “sump pump and sewer backup,” or “water backup of sewers and drains”). Coverage limits on these endorsements vary widely — some are only $5,000, while others can be $25,000 or more.
When you call, ask your insurance agent specifically about sewer backup coverage and the limit. We can document the event for your claim and bill within your endorsement limit.
Call Now
(555) 555-5555 — 24/7. Don’t wait on a sewage event. The contamination spreads, the affected materials expand, and the health risk grows by the hour.