Stars and Bars RestorationThere are few things more unsettling than walking downstairs to find your basement floor covered in sewage. The smell hits you first. Then the reality of what you're looking at sets in — and the question of what on earth you're supposed to do about it.
We want to give you a straight answer, because a sewage backup is not just an unpleasant mess. It's a genuine health hazard, and how you respond in the first few minutes matters a lot.
Why Sewage Backups Happen
First, let's talk about what causes this — because it helps you understand what you're dealing with.
Municipal sewer overload: During heavy rain events (which Southern Colorado gets regularly during monsoon season, July through September), the municipal sewer system can get overwhelmed. That excess pressure pushes sewage backward through the lowest drain in your home — which is usually a basement floor drain, laundry drain, or toilet.
Clogged or collapsed sewer line: Tree roots are the most common culprit in older neighborhoods. In areas like Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Cañon City where mature trees are common, roots infiltrate sewer lines over decades. Grease buildup, non-flushable wipes, and other debris are also common causes.
Sewer line age: Many homes in Southern Colorado sit on original cast iron or clay sewer lines from the 1950s–1970s. These lines crack, shift, and eventually fail — sometimes backing up for the first time after 40+ years of service.
Floor drain backflow: Even if your main sewer line is fine, a blocked floor drain can back up from below during heavy rain if the drain's check valve (if it has one) fails.
Understanding the cause matters because it affects both the cleanup and your insurance claim — more on that later.
This Is a Biohazard — Here's What Not to Do
We need to be direct here: raw sewage contains bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that can make you seriously sick. This is Category 3 water (what the industry calls "black water"), and it requires different handling than a burst pipe or a flooded basement from clean water.
Do NOT:
- Wade through sewage in bare feet or street shoes
- Try to clean it up yourself with a mop and bucket and some bleach
- Run the washing machine, dishwasher, or any drains until the backup is resolved
- Let children or pets anywhere near the affected area
- Use a regular vacuum — including a shop vac — without proper personal protective equipment and proper disposal protocols
We've seen DIY sewage cleanup go wrong in too many ways. The issue isn't just the visible sewage — it's the contamination that soaks into porous flooring, drywall, insulation, and wood framing. Bleach on the surface doesn't reach contamination that's already absorbed into your floor.
What to Do Right Now
Step 1: Get everyone out of the area
People and pets out of the basement immediately. Close the door if you can.
Step 2: Call a plumber and a restoration company
You need two calls. The plumber addresses the cause — the clogged or backed-up line. The restoration company handles the contaminated cleanup and drying.
For immediate 24/7 emergency sewage cleanup across Southern Colorado, call Stars and Bars Restoration at (719) 676-2456. We respond day and night.
Step 3: Stop using water in the house
Don't run any drains — sinks, toilets, showers — until the sewer line is cleared. Every gallon of water you send down a drain could add to the backup.
Step 4: Call your insurance company
Sewage backup coverage varies significantly by policy. Some homeowners policies include it; others require a specific sewage/sewer backup rider. Document everything with photos before any cleanup begins.
Step 5: Open windows if possible
Ventilate the space without entering it. This reduces the concentration of airborne contaminants and helps the cleanup team when they arrive.
How Professional Sewage Cleanup Works
When Stars and Bars arrives, here's what the process looks like:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Our technicians work in full Tyvek suits, respirators, gloves, and eye protection. This isn't theater — it's necessary for the pathogens present in raw sewage.
Pump out and extraction: Industrial pumps remove standing sewage. We use truck-mounted extractors for high-volume situations.
Remove contaminated materials: This is the part most people don't expect. Carpet, carpet padding, drywall, insulation, and other porous materials that contacted sewage cannot be cleaned — they must be removed and properly disposed of. That's not us trying to upsell you; it's the IICRC S500 standard for Category 3 water damage, and it's the only way to actually make the space safe.
Cleaning and antimicrobial treatment: All structural surfaces — concrete, wood framing, remaining drywall — are cleaned and treated with EPA-registered disinfectants and antimicrobial agents specifically rated for Category 3 contamination.
Drying and dehumidification: After cleanup, we run commercial dehumidifiers and air movers to fully dry the affected area. Moisture left in walls or under floors is an invitation for mold — which is the last thing you need on top of sewage cleanup. See our article on mold remediation in Southern Colorado for more on what happens when water damage isn't dried properly.
Post-cleanup documentation: We provide detailed documentation of all damage, materials removed, and work performed — which is critical for insurance claims.
Sewage Backup and Homeowners Insurance
Here's the honest truth about insurance: standard homeowners policies often do NOT cover sewage backup. It's frequently excluded unless you've specifically added a sewer/drain backup endorsement.
That said, if the backup was caused by a sudden, accidental event — like a municipal sewer surcharge during a storm event — some policies will cover it under your general water damage coverage.
Our team works directly with insurance adjusters and can help you document your claim properly regardless of who's paying. We'll give you an honest assessment of what you have and what it's going to take to make it right. You can also review our water damage insurance claims guide for general guidance on navigating the claims process.
Preventing Future Sewage Backups
Once you've been through one, you never want to deal with it again. A few steps that can help:
Install a backflow preventer: A plumber can install a backflow prevention valve on your sewer line that stops sewage from flowing backward into your home during municipal overload situations. This is especially worth doing in older neighborhoods with aging sewer infrastructure.
Get your sewer line scoped: A camera inspection of your sewer line costs a few hundred dollars and tells you if you have root intrusion or damage before it becomes a backup. If you're in an older home or you've had slow drains for years, it's worth doing.
Watch what goes down the drain: Fats, oils, grease, and so-called "flushable" wipes are the leading causes of residential sewer line clogs. They're not as flushable as the packaging claims.
Know where your clean-out is: Your sewer clean-out access point is usually a white or black PVC cap near the foundation of your home. Know where it is — a plumber will need to access it during an emergency.
We're Here When It Happens
Nobody plans for a sewage backup. It happens on a Tuesday morning, or during a July monsoon, or on a holiday weekend. That's why Stars and Bars Restoration operates 24/7, 365 days a year.
We serve all of Southern Colorado — Colorado City, Pueblo, Pueblo West, Colorado Springs, Fountain, Cañon City, Trinidad, Walsenburg, and beyond. Our IICRC-certified technicians treat every job like it's their own home, because we live and work in this community too. Robert started this company as a veteran-owned business built on doing the job right — not cutting corners and hoping the homeowner doesn't notice.
Call us at (719) 676-2456 any time. We'll be there fast, and we'll do it right.
Stars and Bars Restoration | 24/7 Emergency Sewage Cleanup | IICRC Certified | Veteran-Owned | (719) 676-2456 | services@sb-resto.com