Sewer Backing Up? What to Do Right Now
Stop using water, call your utility, then call us. Here is what to do, in order.
- Camera inspection first
- Written, itemized quotes
- Serving Larimer County
Sewage coming up through a floor drain, tub or toilet is stressful and unhealthy, and it gets worse every time water goes down a drain. Here is what to do, in order.
Call (970) 999-1365 once you have checked with your utility (step 3).
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Local rules on who owns the line, permits and inspections differ by town. Pick yours:
1. Stop using water
Do not flush toilets, run the dishwasher or washing machine, or shower. Everything that goes down a drain is trying to get out through the lowest opening in the house, which is usually the basement floor drain or shower. Ask everyone in the house to stop, and turn off automatic sprinklers if they drain into the system.
2. Keep people and pets away
Sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Keep children and pets out of the affected area, and do not walk through standing sewage in bare feet. If water is near electrical outlets, a furnace or a water heater, stay out of the room and do not touch switches while standing in water.
3. Call your utility to check the main
If the blockage is in the city’s main rather than your own line, the utility clears it.
- Fort Collins: call Fort Collins Utilities at 970-221-6700. If the blockage is in the city’s main, the city clears it and pays for cleanup of the affected area. If it is between the house and the main, the owner arranges and pays for the repair and cleanup.
- Loveland: call Loveland Water and Power, which maintains the sewer mains.
- Windsor: call Town of Windsor Public Works at 970-674-2400.
- Other towns and sanitation districts: call your town utility or district (for example the Boxelder Sanitation District or the South Fort Collins Sanitation District, if they serve your street).
If several neighbors are backing up at the same time, the main is the likely cause.
4. Call us if the main is clear
If the utility says the main is flowing, the blockage is in your service line. We clear it, then run a camera through the line to find out why it happened, whether that is roots, a broken section, a sag or a buildup of grease and wipes. Fixing the cause is what keeps it from happening again. About camera inspections.
5. Document everything for insurance
Before cleanup starts, take photos and video of the water, the damage and anything that got wet. Keep receipts. Call your insurer early. Many homeowners policies exclude sewer backup unless you added a water backup endorsement, so check your policy, and keep our camera video and invoice: insurers often ask for proof of the cause.
6. Clean up safely
A small backup on a hard floor can be cleaned with gloves, boots and disinfectant once the line is flowing. Wet carpet, drywall, insulation and anything porous that touched sewage usually has to be removed. For larger backups, a professional water damage and sewage cleanup company is the safer choice.
How to stop it happening again
- Fix the cause. Roots, a cracked or sagging section, or a collapsing line will back up again. Lining or replacing the damaged section is the permanent fix. Repair and replacement options.
- Clean the line properly. If grease or roots are the problem, hydro jetting clears the full pipe rather than punching a hole through the clog.
- Ask about a backwater valve. It lets waste flow out but closes if the main backs up toward the house, and it is worth considering for homes with basement fixtures.
- Watch what goes down the drain. No grease, “flushable” wipes, paper towels or feminine products.
Sewer backup FAQ
Who pays to fix a sewer backup in Fort Collins?
It depends on where the blockage is. If it is in the city’s main, Fort Collins Utilities clears it and pays for cleanup of the affected area. If it is in your service line between the house and the main, the repair and cleanup are the owner’s responsibility.
Is a sewer backup an emergency?
Yes, if sewage is coming into the house. Stop using water, call your utility to check the main, then call us at (970) 999-1365.
Will homeowners insurance cover sewage cleanup?
Only if your policy covers it, usually through a water or sewer backup endorsement. Document the damage before cleanup and call your insurer early.
Why does my basement drain back up when I do laundry?
A washing machine sends a lot of water down the line at once. If the line is partly blocked by roots, grease or a sag, that water has nowhere to go but up through the lowest drain.
Related services
Sewer or water line trouble?
Call for help with a sewer backup.
Camera inspection first, written and itemized quotes, and trenchless options where they fit.