Signs you need a crew now
- Water or sewage coming up floor drains, tubs, or toilets
- Several drains backing up at the same time
- Gurgling pipes when you flush or run water
- A sewage smell indoors - even without visible water
What happens when you call
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Tell us what happened. 30 seconds - where it's coming up and how much.
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You're connected with a local restoration crew while you're on the line.
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The crew confirms timing and sets your arrival time with you directly.
Why this one can't wait
Sewage is what crews call category-3 "black water" - it carries bacteria and viruses, and everything porous it touches (carpet, pad, drywall, upholstery) has to go. The longer it sits, the deeper it wicks.
Certified crews contain the area, remove what can't be saved, and disinfect to IICRC standards - then dry and restore. This is not a mop-and-bleach job.
Local to Suffolk County
Boston winters write the playbook: ice dams pond meltwater under roof shingles until it finds the ceiling, and deep freezes burst pipes in triple-decker walls that were never insulated to modern standards. The housing stock is old - original galvanized lines, plaster walls that hold moisture - and spring thaws push groundwater into stone-foundation basements.
Northern policies cover sudden freeze-burst pipes as long as the home was reasonably heated - and ice-dam water damage to the interior is typically covered even though the roof maintenance itself may not be. Sewer and sump backup need their own endorsement.
Serving Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Newton, Brookline, and all of Suffolk County.
Sewage backup questions
Is it actually dangerous?
Yes - treat it like the biohazard it is. Keep people and pets out of the area, don't run fans across it, and wash up if you've had contact.
Is a sewage backup covered by insurance?
Only with a sewer/water-backup endorsement - a cheap add-on many policies skip. The crew checks your coverage situation with you before work starts.
Can the carpet be saved?
No - carpet and pad touched by sewage are removed by rule. Hard surfaces underneath are disinfected and usually fine.
Is ice dam damage covered in Massachusetts?
Interior water damage from an ice dam is typically covered; repairing the roof and gutters themselves often isn't. Review your policy, including endorsements. Photograph the ceiling staining and the dam before it melts.