Why sewage needs a crew
Sewage carries bacteria and viruses that soak into anything porous. Carpet, pad, drywall and particleboard that sewage touched usually have to be cut out and replaced. Crews wear protective gear, remove contaminated materials, clean and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry what is left.
Keep kids and pets out of the area, and do not run the HVAC if the return is in or near the affected room.
Common causes
- Roots growing into an older side sewer, especially clay or concrete pipe.
- Grease, wipes and other things that should not go down a drain.
- A blockage in the main line between your house and the street.
- Heavy rain that overloads the system and pushes water back toward the lowest drains.
Your side sewer, the pipe from your house to the main, is usually the owner's responsibility. Depending on where you live, the main belongs to the City of Lynnwood or to the Alderwood Water and Wastewater District. If neighbors are having backups too, call the utility.
Sewage backups in Lynnwood homes
Backups show up most in older houses with original side sewers and in daylight basements where the lowest drain sits close to the level of the street main. When roots or a blockage close the line, the first place water comes up is the lowest fixture: a floor drain, a basement shower or a downstairs toilet.
In apartment and condo buildings, a clog in a shared line can push water up into a ground floor unit even though the people upstairs caused it. If that happens, tell your building manager right away and stop using water until the line is cleared.