How much does sewage cleanup cost in Virginia?

There is no honest single price for sewage cleanup in Virginia, and a figure from a random website would not be one. The cost depends on how much sewage came up, how far it spread, what it soaked into and how much has to be torn out. The way to a real number is two or three itemized written quotes from licensed, experienced companies, after they have seen the damage.

What drives the cost

Area and depth. A small backup from a floor drain that reaches one room is a very different job from a basement that took in several inches. More area means more labor, more equipment and more disposal.

What the sewage reached. Hard floors such as tile and sealed concrete are cleaned and disinfected. Porous materials are another matter: The City of Salem lists removal of heavily-soiled permeable materials such as carpet or drywall as part of cleanup.^[1] Every square foot of carpet, pad, drywall or insulation that has to go adds removal and disposal cost, and then replacement cost.

Type of cleanup work. Salem describes cleanup as potentially including wet vacuuming, mopping, solids removal, using appropriate disinfectant cleaners, steam cleaning, sanitizing ductwork and flushing plumbing fixtures.^[1] Each line on a quote should map to one of those jobs. Ductwork sanitizing in particular is only needed if the system was affected.

Drying. Equipment is usually priced per piece per day, so a job that takes five days costs more than one that takes three. In its flood cleanup guidance, EPA warns that failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks,^[2] so drying is not a place to cut corners.

Access and timing. Emergency calls at night or on weekends often cost more, and a crawl space or finished basement takes longer to work in than an open garage.

Rebuilding. Cleanup quotes often stop at a bare, dry space. Drywall, flooring, trim, paint and cabinets are repairs, priced separately. Ask whether the quote includes them.

Fixing the cause. The plumber who clears or repairs the sewer line is a separate bill. Salem says the building owner is responsible for maintenance and repair of the sewer lateral on the owner's private property, as well as cleanup,^[1] and it advises contacting a licensed plumber when the problem affects only one building.^[1] If a backup affects several buildings, it is likely a problem in the public main, so call your water or sewer utility first.

Who pays

Standard coverage often does not. Salem notes that most homeowners' insurance will not pay for damage unless specific sewer backup coverage has been added to the policy, and that most homeowners' insurance will not pay for mitigation.^[1] The Virginia Bureau of Insurance says that standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage.^[3] For covered losses, it says most homeowners policies cover the reasonable costs of emergency clean-up and temporary repairs, and it advises taking photographs before you begin cleaning and repairing and keeping receipts for all of your clean-up expenses.^[3] Call your insurer before you sign a contract, since the Bureau also advises obtaining written estimates before repairs begin.^[3]

Getting a quote you can compare

Ask each company for a written contract. DPOR's guide says Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work, and that it should include the total price, when payments will be made, and whether there is a cancellation penalty.^[4] The same guide gives a rule of thumb of an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price.^[4] Also ask:

• what area and materials are included, by room
• how many pieces of drying equipment and for how many days
• what happens if hidden damage turns up, and who approves added work
• whether disposal, ductwork cleaning and testing after drying are included
• whether the quote includes rebuilding or only cleanup

If the price is far below the others, find out what was left out.

When to call a licensed pro

For the plumbing and for anything rebuilt. Virginia law says no person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under that chapter,^[5] and a Class C licence covers a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000.^[6] Plumbing repairs need a licensed tradesman.^[7] Check the licence before you pay a deposit.

For related pricing, see how much water damage restoration costs in Virginia and what happens during a sewage cleanup. Browse restoration services, read more restoration answers, or describe your job once and local businesses will quote it.