Sewage Backing Up Into the House: Emergency Steps

If sewage is backing up into your house, stop using water, keep everyone (especially children and pets) away from it, and call a septic company, or a plumber if your home is on city sewer. Don't touch the sewage: the U.S. EPA warns it may contain harmful germs. Once the backup is under control, clean up with rubber boots, gloves and goggles, throw out soaked materials you can't clean, and disinfect hard surfaces.

This page walks through those steps in order, using guidance from the CDC, the EPA and the Florida Department of Health. If someone is badly hurt, has fallen into a septic tank or has collapsed near one, call 911 first.

Do these things first

Stay out of the sewage. The EPA says to avoid contact with sewage that backs up into your home, because it may contain harmful pathogens. The CDC advises keeping children and pets away from the affected area until cleanup is done.
Stop sending water down the drains. Every flush, shower or load of laundry adds to the backup. The CDC's septic guidance is to limit toilet flushing, dishwashing, washing clothes and showering. Tell everyone in the house. After storms, the Florida Department of Health suggests a rented portable toilet if using the plumbing creates a sanitary problem. Florida's septic rule normally limits portable toilets at homes unless DEP has issued an emergency order, so ask your county health department first.
Be careful with electricity. If water has reached outlets, cords or appliances, the CDC says never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. If you would have to step into water to reach the main switch, call an electrician.
Don't open the septic tank. The EPA says only trained specialists should clean or repair septic tanks, because tanks may contain dangerous gases. If anyone falls in or collapses at an open tank, call 911 and don't go in after them: OSHA warns that rescue attempts by untrained people can lead to multiple deaths. Our septic tank safety guide explains why.
Wash skin that touched sewage. The CDC says to wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible, to use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer if you don't have soap and water, and to cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage.

Septic problem, plumbing clog or full tank?

A backup can start in the house pipes, in the tank or in the drain field, and you can't always tell which from inside the house. For septic odors whose cause can't be diagnosed remotely, the EPA recommends contacting a local septic system service provider and/or a plumber, and the same applies here. The Washington State Department of Health lists these common reasons a septic system doesn't work properly:

Possible cause	What it can look like (Washington State DOH)	Who usually fixes it
Clogged pipe from the house to the tank	Drains run very slowly or stop	A service provider can usually snake the line; a crushed, broken or root-damaged pipe needs at least a section replaced
Blocked inlet baffle	Similar to a clogged pipe	A septic service professional
Clogged outlet baffle or effluent filter	Sewage backs into the home or surfaces near the tank	Clean or replace the filter; without one, the tank likely needs pumping to find and remove the clog
Failed or saturated drain field	Backups, plus soggy areas, spongy bright green grass or odors over the field	A septic professional assesses whether it can recover or needs repair

A tank that is long overdue for pumping is another possibility. The EPA says household tanks are typically pumped every 3 to 5 years. If you can't remember the last pump-out, tell the company. Our list of signs your septic tank is full covers the warning signs that often come before a backup.

Treat the table as background, not a diagnosis. A few things you can note before you call will help the company:

Which drains are backing up or slow, and on which floor.
Whether there is wet ground, odor or standing water over the tank or drain field.
Whether it has rained heavily or flooded recently.
When the tank was last pumped, and whether you have an effluent filter, a pump or an aerobic unit with an alarm.

Skip chemical drain openers: the EPA says to avoid them for a clogged drain. If your home is on city sewer rather than septic, the backup is a plumbing or sewer line problem. Call a plumber, and the Florida Department of Health advises reporting sewage spills to your local utility.

If the ground is flooded

After heavy rain or a storm, the cause may be a drain field sitting in saturated soil. Florida DOH advises minimizing water use and not having the tank pumped in those conditions, because a very high water table can make the ground around a pumped-dry tank cave in. The EPA adds that flooding can lift scum and grease that partly plug the tank outlet, so the tank should be checked for outlet blockage first. Our flood zones and septic systems page has the full flood checklist.

Who to call

A septic company. In our directory, companies whose own websites state round-the-clock service carry a "24/7 (per company website)" label. Emergency and after-hours visits can cost 50–100% more than a scheduled one. You can check a company's Florida DEP registration with our registration checker.
A plumber, if the problem looks like it is inside the house pipes or the home is on sewer.
Your local health department, for guidance. The EPA suggests contacting your local health department or regulatory agency when sewage backs up into your home. In Florida, that is the county health department, which handles septic systems on behalf of Florida DEP, or DEP itself in Marion County. Find yours on our county septic permit offices page.
The maintenance company on your service contract, if you have an aerobic treatment unit (ATU) and its alarm is sounding.

Florida's septic rule does not count pumping as a repair: Rule 62-6.002, F.A.C. says removing a tank's contents, where the drain field is not disturbed, is not a repair, so it does not need a repair permit. Local rules can differ, so ask your county permit office. If the fix turns out to be a repair, it usually needs a permit under s. 381.0065, F.S. Ask the company whether your job needs one.

Cleaning up safely

Start cleanup only after the backup has stopped and the area is safe. The CDC says to clean up and dry your home quickly, within 24 to 48 hours if possible. If the job is large, or you are worried about doing it safely, you may want to hire a cleanup company.

Protect yourself

The CDC says to wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles if sewage is involved.
The EPA recommends protective clothing such as long rubber gloves and face splash shields for cleanup crews.
Florida DOH says to wear foot coverings such as rubber boots, and waterproof gloves, during cleanup after a sewage backup.

Remove what you can't clean

The CDC says to remove and discard drywall and insulation contaminated with sewage or floodwater.
It also says to throw away anything you can't clean or dry quickly, such as mattresses and carpeting, and toys you can't clean.
Florida DOH lists absorbent household materials to remove, such as wall coverings, cloth and drywall.

Clean and disinfect hard surfaces

Florida DOH says to thoroughly clean hard-surfaced walls and floors, counter tops, refrigerators and other surfaces.
To disinfect a floor where sewage backed up, the EPA's flood page gives a half cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. We give the EPA's ratio here. Follow the directions on the bleach label: the CDC says to read and follow the safety instructions on any product you use.
The CDC says never to use bleach in a closed space (open windows and doors first) and never to mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.
The EPA says the area should be dried out thoroughly and not used until it has been completely dry for at least 24 hours.
Wash all clothes worn during cleanup in hot water and detergent, separately from other laundry (CDC).

Watch your health

The CDC notes that floodwater, which may contain sewage, can cause wound infections, skin rashes and stomach illness. It says to take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary, and to seek immediate medical attention if a wound develops redness, swelling or oozing. Wash children's hands often, and always before meals.

Insurance: document before you throw things out

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) suggests contacting your insurance professional as soon as possible after a backup, photographing the damage, making a list of damaged property and saving every receipt for repairs and cleanup. Whether any of it is covered depends on your policy and any endorsements you bought. Ask your insurer or agent.

Preventing the next backup

Pump and inspect on schedule. The EPA says to inspect at least every 3 years. The pumping interval calculator estimates the time between pump-outs for your household.
Spread out water use. The EPA suggests spreading washing machine use over the week.
Watch what goes down the drain. The EPA says never to flush non-flushable wipes, which can lead to a system failure. See our septic do's and don'ts.
Fix leaks. The EPA says a single leaky or running toilet can add as much as 200 gallons of water a day.

National cost guides put a routine pump-out at about $290–$600, and a typical septic repair about $600–$3,000. The Florida septic pumping cost guide has the details. To find a company, browse the directory or start with Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, St. Petersburg and Kissimmee.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep flushing the toilet during a backup?

No. Stop using water until the problem is found. The CDC's septic guidance is to limit flushing, dishwashing, laundry and showers. After storms, Florida DOH suggests a rented portable toilet if using the plumbing creates a sanitary problem. Florida's septic rule normally limits portable toilets at homes unless DEP has issued an emergency order, so ask your county health department first.

Should the tank be pumped right away?

Often pumping is part of the fix, but not when the ground is flooded or saturated. Florida DOH and the EPA both warn against pumping in those conditions. Let the septic company decide after it checks the tank and the outlet.

Is a sewage backup an emergency?

Sewage inside the house is a health risk, so treat it as urgent: stop water use, keep people and pets away, and call a septic company. If anyone is hurt, or has fallen into or collapsed near a tank, call 911.

What bleach mix should I use?

We use the EPA's figure: its flood page gives a half cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water to disinfect a floor where sewage backed up. Follow the directions on the bleach label. Open windows and doors first, and never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner (CDC).

Will insurance pay for the cleanup?

It depends on your policy and endorsements. Document everything first, then ask your insurer or agent.