Category 3 water
Sewage Backup Cleanup in Atlanta, GA
Sewage is not a mop-and-fan job. We contain it, remove what it soaked, disinfect what stays and dry the structure so your home is safe to use again.
When the main line clogs or heavy rain overloads the sewer, water comes up through the lowest drain in the house: a basement floor drain, a shower or a downstairs toilet. That water is Category 3 under the IICRC standard, meaning it can carry bacteria and viruses, and it soaks into everything porous it touches. Sewage backup cleanup in Atlanta has to start quickly, because contamination spreads on shoes and into drywall, and the smell settles into the house the longer it sits.
Our crew wears protective gear and sets up containment so nothing tracks into clean rooms. We extract the water, then remove the porous materials it reached: carpet and pad, drywall to a point above the wet line, insulation and soaked contents. Framing, slab and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, HEPA air scrubbers run, and the structure is dried. When one family's drain backed up on a Sunday, our crew was at the house within a few hours. Lower-level losses also follow our basement flood cleanup steps.
A plumber needs to clear the line before we finish, and we can recommend one. Many homeowner policies cover sewer backup only through a separate endorsement, so check yours or ask us to help you read it. We document what was removed and why, with photos and readings, and can bill your carrier directly when coverage applies. More on our insurance page.
Call us right away if
- Dirty water is coming up from a floor drain, shower or tub
- Toilets gurgle or several drains back up at once
- There is a sewage smell in the basement or lowest level
- Carpet near a downstairs bathroom is wet after heavy rain
- Water is leaking from the cleanout or around the main line
- A backup reached carpet, drywall or stored belongings
Right now, if it's safe
- Stop using water in the house. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher until the line is cleared.
- Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system away from the area.
- Do not walk through the water. If you must, wear rubber boots and gloves and wash up right after.
- If water is near outlets or appliances, shut off that area's breaker only if you can reach it dry.
- Skip the household fans and bleach. Fans spread contamination, and bleach will not make soaked carpet safe.
How we handle sewage backup cleanup
- 01
Contain and protect
The crew puts on protective gear and sets plastic containment so contamination stays in the affected area.
- 02
Extract the water
We pump and extract sewage water and solids, keeping traffic out of the clean parts of the house.
- 03
Remove porous materials
Soaked carpet, pad, drywall, insulation and contents that cannot be cleaned are bagged and disposed of properly.
- 04
Clean and disinfect
Framing, slab and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected while HEPA air scrubbers clean the air.
- 05
Dry and verify
We dry the structure to standard and confirm the area is clean, dry and odor-free before any rebuild starts.
Why Atlanta calls Mitigate First
Treated as Category 3
We never dry sewage in place. What it soaked gets removed, and what stays gets disinfected first.
Fast on weekends
Backups do not wait for Monday. A family whose drain backed up on a Sunday had our crew at the house within a few hours.
Removal backed by photos
Your adjuster sees exactly what was removed and why, with photos and readings, so the claim does not turn into a debate.
5.0 on Google
Real reviews from people we have helped
I had a great experience with Mitigate First. They were professional, responsive, and easy to work with throughout the process. It’s not always easy to find a company you can trust when dealing with water damage, but they made the experience much less stressful. I really appreciate their hard work and would definitely recommend them to anyone in need of their services
Called Mitigate First for a flood restoration job and they were on-site fast, walked me through exactly what needed to happen, and had the water out and the space dried properly without any surprises. Pricing was fair and clear up front — no padding, no change orders. Would use them again and already have them saved as my go-to.
Had a leak in my bathroom, and Mitigate First came out immediately and was great! Levi and Moysh were awesome! They are super knowledgeable and professional, and helped me through the whole process. Definitely recommend!
Questions
Sewage Backup Cleanup FAQ
Is a sewage backup dangerous?
It can be. Sewage can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites, and dried residue can still be a hazard. Keep people and pets away and avoid touching anything it reached. Professional cleanup means protective gear, containment, removal and disinfection.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backup in Atlanta?
Often only if you have a water backup or sewer backup endorsement, which many standard policies leave out. It depends on your policy and the cause. We document the loss carefully and can work with your carrier directly either way.
Can carpet be saved after a sewage backup?
Generally no. Carpet and pad that absorbed Category 3 water are removed and disposed of, because they cannot be reliably disinfected. Tile, sealed hard flooring and some furniture can often be cleaned. We go through it with you item by item.
Can we stay in the house during sewage cleanup?
It depends on the size and location. If the backup is contained to a basement and the rest of the house has working plumbing, many families stay. If it reached living areas or your only bathroom, staying elsewhere for a few days is the safer call.
What makes sewage back up into a house?
Common causes are tree roots in older clay or cast iron lines, grease and wipes clogging the main, a collapsed pipe, and heavy rain overloading the city sewer. A plumber with a camera can tell you which. We handle the cleanup while they fix the line.
Related
Other ways we can help
Sewage Backup Cleanup across Georgia, including these metro Atlanta cities:
Answering now, 24/7
Day or night, one call gets it handled.
Talk to a real person right now, anywhere in Georgia. Free on-site assessment, and we work directly with your insurance company.