Sewage and Septic Backup Cleanup in Escondido, CA

Sewage that comes up inside a home carries bacteria, so everything it touches is treated as contaminated. In Escondido, whether the cause is a clogged lateral or a problem farther along, the cleanup steps look the same.

Who is responsible for the pipe

Each building reaches the public sewer main through its own sewer lateral. Under Escondido Municipal Code Section 22-165, the owner maintains that lateral, including the stretch under the sidewalk and street. When a backup occurs, the City inspects the public main at no charge, and if the main is clear, the blockage is most likely in the lateral. A plumber's camera inspection shows where it is blocked.

What the cleanup involves

• Plastic containment keeps the contaminated area sealed off
• Carpet, pad and soaked drywall below the water mark are removed
• Hard surfaces are cleaned, then treated with an antimicrobial
• HEPA air scrubbers filter the air during demolition
• Structural drying begins once everything contaminated is out

Anything porous that sewage reached, such as carpet, pad, insulation and the bottom of the drywall, cannot be made safe by cleaning, so it is cut out and bagged. Hard surfaces such as tile, concrete and sealed wood are washed and treated. The cuts are set above the visible water mark, because moisture wicks higher than the stain, much as in a storm flood cleanup job.

Keeping a backup from repeating

The City asks residents not to flush wet wipes, even products labeled flushable, and not to pour grease down drains. A plumber can camera the lateral and clear or repair it. After that the crew restores the area, and structural drying confirms the walls and floors are dry.