Stars and Bars RestorationA sewer backup is one of the worst calls we get, and it almost always comes at a bad time: a full house, a holiday, or the first cold snap when everyone is running the washer and the water heater is working overtime. If you live in Pueblo West, Fountain, Pueblo or anywhere along the Front Range south of the Springs, here is what a main-line backup actually means and what to do in the first hour.
Why sewer lines back up around here
Most backups come down to a handful of causes:
- Tree and shrub roots. Older neighborhoods in Pueblo and Fountain have mature trees whose roots find the tiny gaps in clay or cast-iron lines and grow into them.
- Grease and "flushable" wipes. Wipes labeled flushable do not break down. They snag on a rough spot in the pipe and everything else piles up behind them.
- Collapsed or bellied pipe. Older clay and Orangeburg pipe can sag or crack, leaving a low spot where waste settles.
- Municipal main problems. Sometimes the blockage is not on your property at all. If your neighbors are having trouble too, call your utility.
A quick clue: if only one fixture is slow, the clog is probably local to that drain. If the lowest drain in the house (a basement floor drain, shower or tub) gurgles or backs up when you flush a toilet upstairs or run the washing machine, the main line is the likely problem.
What to do in the first hour
- Stop using water. No flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher. Every gallon you send down goes somewhere, and it will come out the lowest drain.
- Keep people and pets out of the affected area. Sewage water is Category 3 "black water" under IICRC standards. It carries bacteria and pathogens, and it is not something to mop up with a towel.
- Turn off the power to the area if water is near outlets or the electrical panel. Only do this if you can reach the breaker safely and dry. If the panel itself is wet, stay out and call your utility or an electrician.
- Call a plumber or drain service to clear the line. Cleanup cannot start in earnest until the source is fixed, or it will just happen again.
- Call your insurance company. Ask specifically whether you have a water or sewer backup endorsement. Many standard homeowners policies do not cover backup unless you added it. Our insurance documentation checklist walks through what to photograph before anything is touched.
- Call us at (719) 676-2456. We answer around the clock.
What not to do
Do not run a shop vac on sewage water, since it can aerosolize contaminants and ruin the vacuum. Do not use fans to push air around the affected room; that spreads microbes. Do not try to save porous materials that touched black water. Carpet, pad, drywall, insulation and upholstered furniture that were soaked with sewage generally have to be removed, not cleaned.
How we handle sewage cleanup
Our crew includes IICRC-certified technicians, and Stars & Bars is veteran-owned, so we take process seriously. A typical sewage job looks like this:
- Containment and PPE. We wear protective gear and seal off the work area so the rest of the house stays clean.
- Extraction. Standing water is removed with extraction equipment.
- Removal of affected materials. Wet carpet, pad, baseboards and the lower section of drywall are cut out and bagged.
- Cleaning and disinfecting. Hard surfaces and framing are cleaned and treated with an antimicrobial product.
- Drying. Air movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure. Southern Colorado's dry air helps, but wet framing still needs monitoring until it reads dry.
- Verification. We check moisture levels before anything is rebuilt.
Because a backup is wet and warm, mold can begin to grow in a day or two if materials stay damp. If you are dealing with that afterward, see our guide on mold after heavy rain in Florence and Penrose for what to watch for.
Preventing the next one
- Put grease in a can in the trash, not down the sink.
- Only toilet paper goes in the toilet. Wipes, paper towels and feminine products go in the trash.
- If your home is older and has mature trees nearby, have the main line scoped with a camera every few years. A plumber can show you the roots or the sag before it becomes an emergency.
- Ask your insurance agent about a sewer or water backup endorsement. It is usually inexpensive compared with a cleanup bill.
- If you have a basement floor drain, consider a backwater valve. A plumber can tell you if it makes sense for your home.
Local help
We serve Pueblo West, Fountain and Pueblo, and the rest of Southern Colorado from our home base in Colorado City. You can read more about our water damage services or our 24/7 emergency response. If you want to know what to expect when you call, our post on what to expect from 24/7 emergency water damage response covers it.
If sewage is coming up in your home right now, call Stars & Bars at (719) 676-2456. Stop the water, keep everyone out of the area, and we will take it from there. You can also email services@sb-resto.com.