Sewage backing up right now: what to do first
A backup is both a mess and a health risk. These steps keep it from spreading until a plumber arrives.
Do not flush, run the washer or use the dishwasher. Every gallon you add has nowhere to go but the lowest drain.
Raw sewage carries bacteria. Keep children and animals away and wear gloves and boots if you must enter.
Store-bought drain cleaners cannot fix a broken pipe, and they leave a hazard in the standing water that we then have to handle.
Photograph the backup and any damage for your insurer before cleanup starts.
If your neighbors also have backups, the blockage may be in the City main rather than your line. The City of Tavares lists an emergency sewer line on its Wastewater Division page, and calling it as well is a good idea.
Symptoms that point to a damaged sewer line
One slow drain is usually local. These signs, especially in combination, suggest the main line out of the house.
- Gurgling from a toilet or tub when another fixture drains
- More than one fixture backing up at the same time
- Sewer smell in the yard or garage
- A wet or sunken patch in the lawn above the line
- A cleanout cap that is wet or has water standing in it
- Repeated clogs that come back a few weeks after cleaning
Backup in more than one drain? Stop the water and call, we pick up at any hour.
Call (855) 575-2890What damages a sewer line
Roots are a common suspect. Fine roots enter through tiny joint gaps, grow into a mat, and trap paper and grease until the line clogs again and again. Each time the line is cleared the roots return, and each time they pry the joint a little wider.
Other causes are physical. Clay and old concrete pipe crack and shift, cast iron rusts through from the inside, and plastic pipe can sag where backfill settled, leaving a belly that holds water and waste. A heavy vehicle crossing a shallow line can finish off a weak pipe.
Cast iron and older homes
Cast iron drain pipe is common in much older homes, and it corrodes into a rough, scaly interior that catches debris long before it leaks. A camera shows the scale, and a cracked or flaking section can often be replaced in sections with modern pipe rather than redoing the whole run.
City sewer or septic: which one is yours?
Not every property near Tavares is on the City sewer. The City runs a wastewater system with 70 lift stations monitored 24/7/365 and a water reclamation facility on Woodlea Road, while some homes outside its service area use a septic tank. The repair is different for each, so ask the City which applies to your address.
On a city sewer connection, where your responsibility ends varies by property, so ask the City of Tavares which part of the lateral is yours. On septic, we repair the house plumbing and the line to the tank. Pumping a tank and rebuilding a drainfield generally belong to septic contractors, and we tell you plainly if your problem sits there.
How we find the break before we dig
A sewer camera on a flexible cable runs through the line and shows cracks, offsets, roots and bellies on a monitor. A locator at the surface marks the depth and path of the camera head, so the repair starts at an exact spot rather than a guess. If a line is full of waste, the camera cannot see through it, so it may need cleaning with a cable or a hydro jet first.
For a longer look at what the camera shows and where its limits are, see our sewer inspection page. For lines that are only clogged, hydro-jetting can clear grease and roots without any digging.
Repair options and when each fits
| Method | Best when | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair by excavation | One short section is cracked or offset | Digs a trench, and the surface needs restoring |
| Pipe lining (cured in place) | Pipe is cracked or rooted but still continuous | Needs a cleaned line, narrows the pipe slightly, and cannot fix a collapse or a deep belly |
| Pipe bursting | Whole run is failing and replacement is needed | Needs entry pits, and a nearby utility or tree can limit it |
| Open-trench replacement | Pipe has collapsed or has steep bellies | Most disruptive, but gives a fully new line at the right slope |
The right choice depends on the camera findings, the depth of the pipe and the surface above it.
Trenchless or trench: how the options compare
Trenchless methods save lawns, driveways and tree roots, and they often finish faster. They are not a cure for every problem. A collapsed pipe, a large belly or a line that does not run continuously must be dug out.
Why we call before anyone digs
Dial 811 for Sunshine 811 before any excavation so buried utilities are marked. Permit rules vary, so ask the City of Tavares Building Division at 201 E. Main Street, or your town's building department, whether your repair needs one. Plumbing in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, and our plumbers work to it.
What drives the cost of a sewer line repair
A sewer repair can be a small spot job or a long replacement, so the price is set after the camera work. Five factors matter most.
A short section close to the surface is a smaller job than a long run under a driveway.
Lining, bursting and trench replacement differ in equipment, labor and surface restoration.
Lawn is easy to restore. Concrete, pavers, trees and fences add time and cost.
Clay, cast iron and PVC need different fittings, and a badly corroded line may need more than a patch.
A full line must be cleared before it can be inspected or lined.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude wear and tear and tree-root damage to sewer lines. Some carriers offer optional sewer or service-line coverage, so ask yours. Cleanup of a sudden backup inside the home is sometimes covered.
A phone call starts the process, and the plumber gives the price before touching a pipe.
When a backup comes from the line, not the drain
A backup that comes through the lowest drain in the house, such as a shower or floor drain, is usually a main line problem. Cleaning gets it moving again, and the camera shows why it clogged. If it clogs again soon after, the pipe itself is the cause and repair is the lasting answer.
Sewer repair around Tavares
The City has described a planned collection-system rehabilitation in its CRA district, which points to City mains being reviewed. That work covers City mains and not the line on your property, so a private line failure is still yours to repair.
We serve Leesburg and Umatilla as well as Tavares. If the line is only blocked, drain cleaning may be enough, and the camera visit tells us which it is.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The line is open 24/7 for sewage backups and failed lines. Stop using water, keep people and pets out of the area, and call. A licensed plumber is sent as quickly as the schedule allows, and the price is explained before work starts.
Several fixtures backing up together, gurgling in a tub when a toilet flushes and a wet cleanout all point to the main line. A single slow sink is usually a local clog. A camera inspection confirms where the problem is.
Yes. Roots are drawn to moisture and enter through hairline cracks and joints. Over time they form a mat that catches waste. Cutting them clears the line for a while, but a damaged joint usually needs lining or replacement to stop it for good.
No. A line that is cracked but still continuous can often be lined or burst. A collapsed pipe, a large belly or a line with fittings that cannot be reached needs excavation. The camera findings decide.
Call the City if neighbors are also affected or if the problem seems to be at the street main. Call a plumber if the problem is inside the house or on your own line. If you are not sure, call us and we will help sort it out.
Ask the City of Tavares, since its sewer service does not cover every property. If you pay a sewer bill, you are likely on the City system. If you have a tank and a drainfield, you are on septic.
Often not for wear or root damage. Optional sewer line coverage exists with some carriers. Sudden damage inside the home may be covered, so take photos and call your carrier before cleanup.
Sewage in the house is a health problem, so call tonight instead of waiting for morning.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.