Morgantown, WV's #1 Sewage Backup Cleanup Experts

Keep everyone, especially kids and pets, away from the water. Stop running sinks, showers, toilets and appliances, since any water you use can add to the backup. Turn off power to the area at the breaker if you can do it without standing in the water. Open windows if it's safe, take photos of the damage and then phone our team at (304) 395-3925, day or night.

It can be. Sewage is Category 3 water, the most contaminated category, and it carries bacteria and other contaminants that you don't want on your hands, your shoes or tracked through the house. Cleaning it up properly takes protective gear, containment and the right disinfectants. Household cleaners and a wet vac aren't enough. Please leave sewage cleanup to a trained crew.

It depends on the lease, the cause and the insurance policies involved. In general, the landlord is responsible for the building and its plumbing, and tenants are responsible for their own belongings. If a tenant flushed something that caused the clog, the lease may say something about that. We work with landlords and property managers on cleaning the structure and provide documentation that helps everyone with their claims.

Get out of the affected area and let your landlord or property manager know right away, in writing if you can. Take photos of the damage and your belongings. Leave the cleanup to professionals. The owner usually arranges the cleanup, and they can call us directly. Your renters insurance may help with your personal belongings, so contact your insurer too.

Sometimes. Many standard homeowners policies exclude sewer and drain backups unless you've added a specific sewer backup endorsement, while others include some coverage. Your insurance company makes the final decision, so read your policy or call your agent. We photograph the damage, log moisture readings and write a scope of the work, and we help you fill out the claim forms.

Because older sewer systems can carry storm water and sewage in the same pipes, or rain can find its way into sewer lines through cracks and old connections. When a big storm dumps a lot of water at once, the lines fill up and the pressure pushes water back up through the lowest drains in homes. A plumber can tell you whether a backwater valve would help your property.

The type of water. A burst supply pipe or a leaking water heater releases clean water, and many wet materials can be dried in place. Sewage carries contaminants, so porous materials it touches usually have to be removed, and every hard surface has to be cleaned and disinfected before drying. The protective gear, containment and disposal steps are also different. We handle both, but they aren't the same job.

Usually not. Carpet and carpet pad soak up sewage deep into their fibers and backing, and there's no reliable way to clean that out completely. Leaving it in place tends to leave odor and bacteria behind. We remove contaminated carpet and pad, bag them and photograph them for your claim. Hard flooring like tile or sealed concrete can usually be cleaned and disinfected instead.

A small backup confined to one bathroom or one corner of a basement may take a day or two to clean and disinfect, plus a few days of drying. A larger backup that soaked a finished basement or reached several units takes longer. Once we see the damage, you'll get an honest timeline, and we'll keep you updated as each step is completed.

It depends on how far the sewage spread, how long it sat and what materials it soaked into. A backup that stayed on a bare concrete basement floor costs far less than one that soaked carpet, drywall and furniture in a finished lower level. After the inspection, we go over the scope with you before any work starts. Our documentation also goes to your insurance company if you file a claim.

Usually both. A plumber clears the clog or repairs the sewer line so the backup stops and doesn't happen again. A restoration company like ours cleans up the damage the sewage left behind, disinfects the area and dries the structure. We don't do plumbing work, but we can start containing the mess and keep you informed while the plumber handles the line.

It depends on where the backup happened. If it's limited to a basement or one bathroom and we can seal it off, many families stay. If it reached main living areas, bedrooms or the only working bathroom, staying somewhere else for a few days is usually easier and safer. We'll give you an honest recommendation once we see the extent of the damage.

By removing what's causing it. The smell comes from contaminated materials and residue, not just the air. We remove soaked carpet, pad and drywall, clean and disinfect hard surfaces and framing, and run HEPA air scrubbers while we work. Drying the structure completely matters too, because damp materials hold odor. Once the source is gone, the smell goes with it.

Yes. We clean up backups in apartment buildings, duplexes and houses split into units, which are common in the neighborhoods around WVU. In these buildings, sewage often reaches more than one unit, so we check the units above, below and next door. We coordinate access with the property manager and keep documentation organized by unit to help with each claim.

Yes. Sewage brings moisture and organic material, and if it soaks into drywall, wood or insulation and isn't removed and dried quickly, mold can follow. Humid summers make that happen faster. That's why we remove contaminated porous materials and dry the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers instead of just wiping the surface. If mold has already started, we handle remediation too.

Don't pour grease down the drain, and only flush toilet paper. Wipes labeled flushable still cause clogs. If big trees grow near your sewer line, have a plumber check it for roots, especially in an older home with clay pipes. Ask a plumber whether a backwater valve makes sense if your basement drain sits low. Landlords should give tenants clear rules about what not to flush.

Yes. We clean up sewage backups in offices, shops, restaurants and other commercial spaces. Restaurants are especially prone to grease clogs, and a backup can shut a kitchen down. We contain the affected area, clean and disinfect, and work in sections where we can to keep part of the business running. We document everything for your commercial insurance carrier.

Yes. Our phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call (304) 395-3925 and a member of our team will pick up. We'll ask what's happening, tell you how to keep everyone safe and limit the damage, and get our crew scheduled for your Morgantown property.