Sewage Backup in Colorado Springs: What to Do Immediately and When to Call a Professional

A sewage backup in your Colorado Springs home or business is not just a plumbing problem. Once contaminated wastewater enters flooring, drywall, carpet, baseboards or other building materials, it becomes a property-restoration issue that should be addressed quickly and carefully.

 

If sewage is backing up through a toilet, floor drain, shower or basement drain, your first questions are probably simple:

 

What should I do right now? Is it safe to clean myself? Who should I call? And will insurance cover it?

 

Here’s what Colorado Springs property owners should know.

 

What Should You Do Immediately After a Sewage Backup?

Your first priority is safety.

 

Avoid direct contact with sewage-contaminated water whenever possible. Keep children and pets away from the affected area, and avoid walking through wastewater and tracking it into clean areas of the property.

 

The CDC advises caution around water that may contain sewage and recommends appropriate protective equipment when contact cannot be avoided. Flooded structures may also contain electrical, mold and contamination hazards.

 

If standing water is near electrical outlets, appliances or wiring, do not enter the area simply to begin cleanup. Address electrical safety first.

 

If it is safe to do so:

Stop using toilets, showers, washing machines, dishwashers and other fixtures that may add more water to the drainage system.

 

Take photographs of the affected areas and damaged belongings.

 

Keep people and pets away from the contamination.

 

Contact a plumber, wastewater provider or restoration professional as appropriate.

 

If you believe the backup may involve the municipal wastewater system, Colorado Springs Utilities maintains information and procedures for wastewater-related issues and a Residential Wastewater Backup Claim Policy.

 

Who Should You Call First After a Sewer Backup?

That depends on what is happening.

 

A plumber helps identify and correct problems with plumbing or sewer lines.

 

Colorado Springs Utilities may need to be contacted if the problem appears to involve the municipal wastewater system.

 

A restoration company addresses the physical damage inside the property—the contaminated water, affected building materials, cleaning, moisture and structural drying.

 

Your insurance carrier determines whether the loss is covered under your policy.

 

These roles are different, and in many sewage-loss situations more than one of them may be involved.

 

One important distinction:

 

Clearing the sewer line does not clean or dry your property.

 

Once sewage has entered the structure, the damage inside the home or business still needs to be evaluated.

 

Why Is Sewage Cleanup Different From Regular Water Damage?

Not all water losses are the same.

 

A broken supply line or leaking appliance can cause extensive water damage, but sewage introduces an additional concern: contamination.

 

Wastewater may contain bacteria, human waste and other contaminants. The CDC recommends removing materials such as drywall and insulation when they have been contaminated by sewage or floodwater and thoroughly cleaning affected surfaces.

 

That means a sewage backup should not simply be treated as a wet-carpet problem.

 

Professional sewage cleanup may involve:

 

Water extraction to remove standing wastewater.

 

Containment to reduce the spread of contamination into unaffected areas.

 

Removal of unsalvageable materials when porous materials have been contaminated.

 

Cleaning of affected structural surfaces.

 

Moisture detection to determine how far water traveled.

 

Structural drying after contaminated materials have been appropriately addressed.

 

Ongoing moisture monitoring to determine whether affected materials are drying properly.

 

The exact restoration process depends on the extent of the loss and the materials involved.

 

What Should You Never Do After a Sewage Backup?

One of the most common mistakes is treating sewage like an ordinary spill.

 

Avoid using a household vacuum to remove wastewater.

 

Do not allow children or pets into the affected area.

 

Do not carry contaminated belongings through clean areas without precautions.

 

Do not assume carpet, drywall or insulation can simply dry in place.

 

Do not cover odors with air fresheners and assume the problem is gone.

 

And most importantly:

 

Do not assume the damage is over because the drain starts working again.

The plumbing problem may be fixed while contaminated materials and hidden moisture remain inside the property.

 

How Far Can Sewage Water Travel?

Farther than many property owners realize.

 

Wastewater can move underneath flooring, behind baseboards, into wall cavities and through adjoining rooms.

 

A backup that appears limited to a small bathroom or basement drain may have affected materials beyond the visible water line.

 

Professional moisture-detection equipment can help determine the extent of affected areas before drying begins.

 

This is one reason sewage cleanup and water damage restoration in Colorado Springs should focus on more than what is visible on the surface.

 

Can a Sewage Backup Cause Mold?

Yes. Once the immediate contamination has been addressed, remaining moisture can create another problem.

 

Walls, subfloors, framing and other building materials may retain moisture after standing water is removed. The CDC emphasizes that drying water-damaged structures and removing damaged materials are important parts of preventing mold problems after flooding.

 

If moisture is allowed to remain, a sewage loss can eventually become both a water damage restoration and a mold remediation issue.

 

Musty odors, discoloration, persistent dampness or visible fungal growth after a previous sewage backup are signs that further evaluation may be warranted.

 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sewage Backup Cleanup?

Sometimes—but coverage varies considerably.

 

A standard homeowners policy does not automatically mean every sewer or drain backup is covered. Coverage can depend on the cause of the loss, your specific policy and whether you purchased additional sewer or drain-backup coverage.

 

If you may be filing an insurance claim:

 

Photograph the damage when it is safe to do so.

 

Document affected belongings.

 

Keep records of emergency services and repairs.

 

Contact your insurance carrier promptly.

 

A restoration company can document the physical condition of the property, affected materials, moisture readings and work performed.

 

The insurance carrier determines whether the loss is covered.

 

What If the Sewage Backup Came From the Colorado Springs Wastewater System?

This is where being in Colorado Springs matters.

 

Colorado Springs Utilities publishes a Residential Wastewater Backup Claim Policy for certain incidents involving verified blockages in its wastewater main. Whether an incident qualifies depends on the source of the blockage and the specific facts of the loss.

 

That does not mean Colorado Springs Utilities is responsible for every sewage backup.

 

A blockage or damaged line on private property may be the property owner’s responsibility.

 

If you are unsure where the backup originated, determining the source is important before assuming who is financially responsible.

 

What Areas of a Property Are Commonly Affected?

Sewage backups commonly occur in:

 

Basements

 

Bathrooms

 

Laundry rooms

 

Floor drains

 

Crawl spaces

 

Lower-level living areas

 

Commercial restrooms and utility areas

 

But contamination can extend beyond the room where the backup first appeared.

 

That is why the visible sewage line should not automatically be considered the boundary of the damage.

 

What About Sewage Backups in Commercial Buildings?

Businesses face additional challenges when sewage enters a property.

 

Restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, retail spaces and other commercial properties may need to protect employees, customers, tenants, inventory and equipment while the damaged area is being restored.

 

A sewage backup can also interrupt operations until the affected area is appropriately addressed.

 

Best Option Restoration of Colorado Springs provides commercial water damage restoration and sewage cleanup as well as residential restoration services.

 

How Quickly Should Sewage Cleanup Begin?

As soon as the situation can be addressed safely.

 

The longer contaminated water remains in contact with building materials, the more extensive the affected area may become.

 

Professional help is particularly important when:

 

Sewage has reached drywall, flooring, insulation or carpet.

 

More than one room is affected.

 

There is significant standing wastewater.

 

A basement or crawl space is contaminated.

 

Odors persist after the plumbing problem is corrected.

 

You are unsure how far the water traveled.

 

There are signs of mold following an earlier backup.

 

Sewage Cleanup and Water Damage Restoration in Colorado Springs

When sewage enters your property, fixing the drain is only part of the solution.

 

The affected materials still need to be identified, contamination addressed, moisture located and the structure properly dried.

 

At Best Option Restoration of Colorado Springs, we help homeowners and businesses respond to sewage backups and other unexpected water losses throughout Colorado Springs and surrounding communities.

 

Our services include sewage cleanup, water damage restoration, water extraction, structural drying, moisture detection and mold remediation when needed.

 

When a sewage backup happens, acting quickly can help limit how far the damage spreads and make the restoration process more manageable.