Sewage Backup Cleanup in Lilburn, GA

How serious is a sewage backup, from 1 to 10?

Eight to ten: sewage is still spreading, a drain keeps pushing water up, or wiring sits in the water. Get clear, dial 911 for shock, and phone the sewer utility. Four to seven: the backup has stopped but a room is soiled, so call (678) 835-3780. One to three: a slow drain with no overflow, which is a plumbing question.

Can I clean up sewage myself?

For a house soaked by sewage or other contaminated water, the EPA recommends calling a professional with experience in that cleanup. The CDC also warns that sewage and mold can be present in a flooded house. Until someone arrives, keep children and pets out.

Whose pipe is the blockage in?

Gwinnett's lateral page puts the private lateral under the owner's care all the way to the county's right-of-way line, with the county looking after the cleanout at that line. The utility can help work out which side of the line a blockage is on.

What is a backwater valve?

It is a valve between the house and the public sewer that closes when sewage backs up at the upstream manhole. Gwinnett says Georgia plumbing code requires one when the lowest fixture is below that manhole, and that an older house may be worth checking.

What happens to carpet that touched sewage?

Georgia's insurance office says soaked carpeting and padding get pulled up and discarded after a flood, since floodwater picks up sewage and chemicals along the way. The EPA adds that porous materials like carpet may have to be thrown away. Photograph everything before it goes.

Is sewage cleanup offered in Tucker and Snellville too?

Yes, Lilburn, Tucker and Snellville are all covered. The pages for water damage in Tucker and water damage in Snellville list the utility numbers for each town. Say which drain backed up, then call (678) 835-3780.