Quick answer: A sewer backup means sewage is coming up through a drain, usually because the main sewer line is blocked. Stop using all water, keep everyone away from it and call our 24/7 line to get a licensed plumber who clears the main line and can camera-inspect it to find the cause.
Do this right now
- Stop using water: no flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every drop you use ends up in the backup.
- Keep children and pets out of the area, and do not touch sewage with bare hands.
- Do not pour drain cleaner in. It will not clear a main line, and it splashes back on you and the plumber.
Causes and safe cleanup steps: sewer backup causes and what to do first.
Sewer backup: call now or can it wait?
Sewage inside the house is always urgent. Use this check to see where your problem sits.
- Call now
Sewage coming up a floor drain, tub or shower
Stop using all water and call now. Raw sewage is a health risk. - Call now
Several drains backing up at the same time
The main sewer line is likely blocked. Call before it overflows inside. - Same day
Gurgling drains and a sewer smell
A backup is building. Book a same-day visit before it gets worse. - Can wait
One slow sink or tub
Usually a local clog, not the main line. See drain cleaning or book a regular visit.
Sewer backup or one clogged drain: which repair you need
| What you see | Likely problem | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One sink, tub or toilet is slow; the others work | A clog in that one drain | Emergency drain cleaning |
| Flushing the toilet makes water rise in the tub or shower | Main sewer line blocked | Call for a sewer backup |
| Water or sewage comes up a floor drain or the lowest drain | Main sewer line blocked | Call for a sewer backup |
| Gurgling in several drains and a sewage smell | Main line partly blocked | Call before it backs up fully |
| Neighbors have backups too, or sewage is in the street | Problem in the public sewer main | Call the utility first |
Only one drain affected? See emergency drain cleaning. Toilet that keeps overflowing? See overflowing toilet repair.
Is a sewer backup a health emergency?
Yes. Sewage carries bacteria and viruses that can make people sick. Keep people and pets away, wear gloves and boots if you must go near it, and wash any skin it touches. Food, toys and soft items it reaches usually have to be thrown out.
Can I use the toilet or shower during a sewer backup?
No. Until the line is cleared, any water you use goes into the same blocked pipe and comes back up at the lowest drain. That includes the washing machine and dishwasher.
Who fixes it: you or the utility?
The sewer pipe that runs from your house to the public sewer main, often called the sewer lateral, is usually the property owner’s. The main under the street belongs to the utility. If neighbors have backups too, or sewage is coming up in the street, call the utility first:
| Where you live | Sewer utility emergency line |
|---|---|
| Augusta (Augusta Utilities) | 706-842-3060 after hours |
| Evans, Martinez, Grovetown area (Columbia County Water Utility) | 706-860-2587 after hours |
| City of Grovetown, Harlem or Hephzibah city systems | The number on your water and sewer bill |
Where exactly the line changes hands is explained in who fixes water and sewer line leaks.
How a plumber clears a main sewer line
- Finds the cleanout: a capped pipe, usually outside near the house, that opens into the main line.
- Runs a drain machine (auger) with a cutting head through the line to open the blockage.
- Uses a hydro jetter (high-pressure water) if roots, grease or buildup line the pipe.
- Runs a camera through the line to see the cause and where it is.
- Explains what was found and the options, with prices, before any extra work.
| Method | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Drain machine (auger) | Opening a blockage fast | Can leave roots and grease on the pipe walls |
| Hydro jetting | Grease, sludge and roots | Not for broken or fragile pipe; the plumber checks first |
| Camera inspection | Finding the cause and its location | Shows the problem; does not clear it |
| Spot repair or line replacement | Broken, collapsed or sagging pipe | Usually a planned job that needs digging or trenchless methods |
How long does it take to clear a sewer backup?
A simple blockage can often be cleared within the visit once the plumber reaches the cleanout. Roots, grease buildup, a missing cleanout or a broken pipe take longer, and a broken pipe may need a second, planned repair visit.
What changes the cost of clearing a sewer backup?
- Whether there is a cleanout the plumber can reach
- What is blocking the line: roots and grease take longer than a single clog
- The method: drain machine, hydro jetting or both
- Whether you want a camera inspection
- The time of the call (see how after-hours pricing works)
- Repair or replacement if the pipe is broken
You get the price before work starts.
Who cleans up the sewage?
The plumber clears the line. Pumping out, drying and disinfecting the area is usually done by a water damage restoration company. Many homeowners policies cover sewer backup damage only with a separate sewer backup add-on, so check your policy before cleanup starts.
After the line is cleared
If backups repeat, ask the plumber for a camera inspection so roots, a sag or a broken pipe can be repaired instead of cleared again. Everyday habits that keep the line clear are in sewer backup causes and prevention.
Sources: Augusta Utilities Department, contact and after-hours emergency page. Columbia County Water Utility Services page. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Flooding and Sewage Back-ups: Home Care Guide.
