The first hour
Stop all water use
Every flush, shower, dishwasher and washing machine cycle upstairs sends more water down the same blocked line, and it comes out in the basement. Tell everyone in the house.
Check with neighbors
If houses on both sides are backing up too, the public main may be the problem. If it is only your house, the blockage is likely in your own lateral.
Call the right party
For a suspected public main problem, contact the City of Englewood utilities department; for your own line, a plumber with a camera and cable. In neighboring towns, the sewer provider may be a separate sanitation district, so check your sewer bill.
Photograph before cleanup
Take wide shots and close-ups of the drain, the water line on walls and anything it touched. Note the time it started.
Notify your insurer
Ask specifically whether your policy has a water backup or sewer backup endorsement. Many standard policies do not cover backups without one.
Why older Englewood laterals back up
Many homes built in Englewood before the 1960s were connected with clay tile or cast iron sewer pipe. Clay joints let tree roots in as the decades go by, and the large street trees on older blocks are thirsty. Cast iron scales and corrodes from inside, narrowing the pipe. Add wipes, grease or a heavy rain that pushes groundwater into cracked joints, and the line can slow to a stop.
In many Colorado cities, the property owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the public main, often including the connection itself. Ask the city utilities department exactly where that responsibility starts and ends for your address before hiring anyone to dig.
What sewage contact usually means for basement materials
| Material | Usual outcome after sewage | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet and pad | Removed and discarded | Porous; cannot be reliably cleaned of sewage |
| Drywall and insulation | Cut out above the water line | Wicks contaminated water upward |
| Wood framing | Cleaned, treated and dried if sound | Solid lumber can usually be saved |
| Concrete slab and walls | Cleaned, disinfected and dried | Not porous enough to warrant removal |
| Upholstered furniture, mattresses | Usually discarded | Contamination soaks into padding |
| Hard plastics, metal, glass | Often cleaned and kept | Non-porous surfaces can be disinfected |
Questions for the cleanup provider
- How will you separate the contaminated area from the rest of the house during removal?
- What personal protective equipment will workers wear, and what should household members avoid?
- Which materials do you plan to remove, and can I see them before they are discarded for my claim?
- What will you use to clean and disinfect the slab and framing?
- Will you provide moisture readings showing the area is dry before rebuilding?
Common questions
Can I clean up a small floor drain backup myself?
A tiny amount on bare concrete with no finished materials involved is sometimes handled by owners using gloves, boots, eye protection and disinfectant. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or stored belongings is better handled by a provider equipped for sewage.
General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.