24/7 emergency response, certified technicians, and clear insurance documentation support — from first call to final restoration.
Sewage backups are one of the most hazardous water emergencies a home or business can face. Unlike clean water, raw sewage carries bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other pathogens that classify it as Category 3 "black water" under IICRC standards. Whether the cause is a backed-up main line, a failed septic system, a toilet overflow, or storm-driven flooding common along the Grand Strand, contaminated water needs to be handled quickly and correctly to protect your family, your employees, and your property.
Clean Sweep Enterprises has provided certified disaster restoration to coastal South Carolina since 1991. As a woman-owned, IICRC-certified company, we treat every sewage loss as a biohazard event: containing the affected area, extracting contaminated water, removing unsalvageable porous materials, and disinfecting every surface that came into contact with the spill. Our technicians follow established health and safety protocols and document the entire process so the job is done right the first time.
We answer the phone 24/7, because sewage damage only gets worse and more expensive the longer it sits. From the moment we arrive, we work to stop the spread, dry the structure, and restore a safe, sanitary environment. We also coordinate directly with your insurance carrier and document the loss thoroughly so you can focus on getting back to normal.
What Our Sewage Cleanup Service Includes
24/7 emergency response and biohazard containment
Contaminated (Category 3) water extraction
Removal and disposal of unsalvageable porous materials (carpet, pad, drywall, insulation)
Antimicrobial cleaning and EPA-registered disinfection of affected surfaces
Structural drying and dehumidification to prevent mold
Deodorization and air scrubbing with HEPA filtration
Sanitization of HVAC and hard surfaces in the affected zone
Documentation and direct billing coordination with your carrier
Common Causes
Sewer line backups
Septic system failures
Storm-driven sewer surcharge
Toilet & drain overflows
Our Process
1
Biohazard containment & PPE setup
2
Contaminated material removal
3
Hospital-grade disinfection
4
Deodorizing & restoration
Cost & Timeline
Typical cost: $2,000–$10,000 depending on contamination & area affected. Timeline: 2–5 days for cleanup; longer with structural repairs. See the full Sewage Cleanup cost guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
It is genuinely dangerous. Raw sewage is classified as Category 3 "black water" and can carry E. coli, hepatitis, parasites, and other pathogens. We strongly recommend keeping people and pets out of the affected area and calling a certified professional. Porous materials that absorb sewage usually cannot be safely cleaned and must be removed, and proper disinfection requires the right equipment and protective gear.
If it is safe, stop using water that drains into the affected line (toilets, sinks, washing machine) so you do not add to the backup. Keep everyone away from the contaminated area, shut off electricity to that zone if you can do so safely, and avoid tracking the water into clean parts of the home. Do not run your HVAC if it may circulate contaminated air. Then call us at any hour and we will guide you through the next steps.
It depends on your policy. Many standard homeowners policies exclude sewer and drain backups unless you carry a specific backup-of-sewer-or-drain endorsement, while sudden internal failures may be covered differently than flooding from outside. We document the source and extent of the loss thoroughly and coordinate directly with your carrier so the claim is supported. We always recommend confirming your specific coverage with your agent.
Containment, water extraction, removal of contaminated materials, and disinfection are often completed within one to three days for a typical residential loss. Structural drying usually adds another two to four days depending on saturation and humidity, which can run higher in our coastal climate. Any reconstruction, such as new flooring or drywall, is a separate phase scheduled after the structure is dry and verified sanitary.
Yes. Odor is a sign of remaining contamination or moisture, so eliminating it is part of doing the job correctly. After removing affected materials and disinfecting surfaces, we use HEPA air scrubbers and professional deodorization to neutralize odors at the source rather than mask them. If an odor lingers, it usually means moisture or contamination remains, which we identify and address before completing the work.
A sewage loss is a biohazard event, so it requires more containment, personal protective equipment, EPA-registered disinfectants, regulated disposal of contaminated materials, and more thorough sanitization than a clean-water loss of the same size. Porous materials that might be dried and saved after a clean leak typically have to be removed and replaced after sewage contact, which adds removal, disposal, and reconstruction costs.
