RMO technicians setting up dehumidifiers and air movers in a water-damaged room

Sewage backup cleanup for Metro Detroit homes

Sewage is Category 3 water. Keep everyone out of the area, especially children and pets, stop using sinks and toilets, and call 248-845-0000. Our crew arrives in protective gear to remove it, disinfect and dry.

Call 248-845-0000 Request help

24-hour emergency hotline248-845-0000A person answers, day or night

What to do about a sewage backup, and how we clean it up

Stop using water: don't flush, run the dishwasher or do laundry, because every drain may feed the same blocked line. Keep children and pets away and close the door to the area if you can. Don't use household fans to dry it, since moving air can spread contamination. If sewage reached outlets or appliances, stay out until the power to that area is off.

Sewage carries bacteria, viruses and other contaminants, and the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard classes it as Category 3 water. Our crew sets up containment, often with negative air pressure, so the rest of the house stays separate from the work. Porous materials the sewage touched, including carpet and pad, drywall, insulation, upholstered furniture and cardboard, are removed, bagged and disposed of.

Next, hard surfaces and framing are cleaned to remove residue and then disinfected, and the area is dried. A plumber clears the blockage or repairs the line; we share what we saw and plan around their visit. When the area is clean and dry, RMO rebuilds what was removed, and your adjuster receives the photos, readings and itemized scope.

Protective equipment on every job
Respirators, gloves, boots and disposable coveralls protect the crew and keep contamination from being tracked through your home.
Contained, removed, disinfected
We seal off the work area, remove contaminated porous materials and disinfect the surfaces that stay.

RMO crew in high-visibility vests lined up in front of three RMO box trucks

What sewage cleanup includes

Assessment and safety plan
We find where the sewage came from, how far it spread and which materials it touched.
Containment
Plastic sheeting seals doorways and stairs, and HEPA air scrubbers keep air flowing into the work area rather than out of it.
Sewage removal
Liquid waste and solids are pumped and extracted, then disposed of properly.
Removal of porous materials
Carpet, pad, lower drywall, insulation and soft furniture that sewage reached are cut out and bagged.
Cleaning and disinfection
Floors, framing and every hard surface in the affected area are scrubbed and then disinfected.
Drying after cleaning
Dehumidifiers and air movers go in only after removal and cleaning, so drying doesn't spread contamination.
Odor control
Air scrubbing and deodorization deal with the remaining odor once the source material is gone.
Documentation and rebuild
Photos and an itemized list of removed materials go to your adjuster, and RMO rebuilds afterward.

RMO technicians setting up drying equipment and checking a wall with a moisture meter

Signs of a sewage backup

Dark water rising through a floor drain
Toilets or tubs gurgling or backing up
A sewage smell in the basement or bathroom
Water backing up when the washer drains
Several drains slowing down at once

Call 24/7: 248-845-0000

From your call to the last repair

One phone number and one accountable team, from the emergency to the finished repair.

See the full process

Call us, day or night
A person answers 248-845-0000 at any hour and asks a few quick questions, so the right crew and equipment roll.
On site in about 60 minutes
Across Metro Detroit, an IICRC-certified crew arrives, finds the source and makes the property safe.
Mitigate and document
We stop the damage, extract and dry, and record photos and moisture readings your insurer can use.
Restore and rebuild
Once everything is dry and clean, the same team handles the repairs, from drywall and flooring to finishes.

Why RMO for sewage cleanup

Procedures built for Category 3
Containment, protective gear, removal and disinfection follow ANSI/IICRC S500 for grossly contaminated water.
Clear guidance for your household
We tell you which parts of the house to avoid while we work and keep the work area sealed off from the rest.
From cleanup to finished room
RMO rebuilds the drywall, flooring and finishes we removed, so the job doesn't stall between contractors.

We will work with your insurance

We will work with any insurance carrier you use. We’ve done it on claim after claim, and we take pride in it: every job is documented from the first hour and priced line by line, and we work hard so your insurance covers the whole project.

Many of our clients have saved thousands of dollars this way, and many paid nothing beyond their deductible.

How we help with insurance claims

Examples of carriers our customers use. RMO is an independent company and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by these insurers.

Questions people ask us

Don’t see yours? A person answers 248-845-0000 around the clock.

Can we stay in the house during sewage cleanup?

It depends on how far the sewage spread. If the area can be closed off and you have a working bathroom elsewhere, staying is often possible. Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system away from the work area, and ask us if you're unsure.

Can carpet be cleaned after a sewage backup?

No, it has to be replaced. Contamination gets into the carpet backing and pad, where cleaning can't reach. Hard flooring like tile or sealed concrete can usually be cleaned and disinfected.

Who fixes the pipe that caused the backup?

A plumber clears the blockage or repairs the line. We can start removing sewage and protecting the house before the plumber arrives, and we'll share what we found to help them locate the cause.

We will restore your property