What does sewage backup cleanup cost in Ontario?

Three separate bills

After a sewage backup people tend to think of one cost. There are usually three, often paid by different parties:

1. Clearing or repairing the drain, by a plumber or drain company
2. Cleaning up and drying the building, by a restoration contractor
3. Rebuilding what was removed, and preventing a repeat

We publish no prices, because the range is too wide for a figure to mean anything. This guide sets out what each bill is made of.

Bill one: the drain

Clearing a blockage. A drain machine or water jetting to restore flow. The simplest and cheapest outcome.

Camera inspection. A video of the line to find out why it blocked. Worth paying for every time, because it tells you whether this will happen again.

Repair. If the pipe is cracked, collapsed or full of roots:

• Spot repair of one section
• Lining the pipe from inside
• Replacing the lateral by excavation or pipe bursting

These are priced by length, depth, access and what lies above the pipe: lawn, driveway, porch, street. Work beyond the property line involves the municipality. See tree roots in the sewer line.

In most Ontario municipalities the homeowner is responsible for the pipe up to the property line. Call your municipality when a backup happens. Many will check the public side without charge.

Bill two: the cleanup

Sewage is treated as grossly contaminated. What it touched decides the work.

What drives the cost

Area affected. One floor drain’s worth around the drain, or the whole basement.

Surfaces. Bare concrete can be cleaned and disinfected. Carpet, underpad, laminate, drywall, insulation, panelling and particleboard are removed.

Height. How far up the walls it reached, plus the extra height sewage wicks inside drywall.

Time. Sewage left for a day or more soaks further in and contaminates more.

Contents. Upholstered furniture, mattresses, cardboard boxes and soft goods that were wetted are discarded. Hard items are cleaned and disinfected. Sorting and listing takes labour.

Mechanical equipment. A furnace, water heater, washer or dryer that sewage reached has to be assessed by a licensed technician.

Heating ducts. Floor registers and ducts that took in sewage need cleaning or replacing.

Access and disposal. Carrying contaminated waste up stairs, bagged, and disposing of it properly.

What the work includes

• Protective equipment and isolation of the area
• Extraction of sewage and removal of solids
• Removal and bagging of contaminated porous materials
• Washing of remaining surfaces to remove soil
• Disinfection, with proper contact time
• Drying with dehumidifiers and air movers until readings are normal
• Photographs and an inventory for the insurer

Bill three: rebuild and prevention

Rebuild. Insulation, drywall, flooring, baseboards, doors and paint, and any bathroom or cabinetry that was affected. In a finished basement this is commonly the largest cost.

Backwater valve. A valve on the main drain that closes when flow reverses. Installation means breaking the basement floor at the drain, fitting the valve with an access cover, and restoring the concrete. It needs a plumbing permit. Cost depends on the depth and location of the drain and what flooring is above it. See backwater valves in Ontario.

Sump pump with battery backup, where ground water is part of the problem.

Downspout and weeping tile disconnection from the sanitary sewer, where the municipality allows or requires it.

Many Ontario municipalities offer subsidies towards backwater valves, sump pumps and disconnection. Amounts and rules change, and some programs require approval before the work begins.

What insurance pays

Sewer backup coverage is not part of a standard home policy. It is an endorsement. If you have it:

• Cleanup, drying and rebuilding are commonly covered up to the endorsement’s limit
• Damaged contents are covered
• Additional living expenses apply if the home cannot be lived in
• The deductible for sewer backup may be higher than your standard one
• The limit may be lower than the cost of a finished basement. Check it.

Generally not covered: repairing or replacing the drain pipe itself, which is treated as maintenance. Some insurers offer separate service line coverage for that.

If you do not have the endorsement, the cleanup is at your own cost.

See sewer backup insurance in Ontario.

Can the municipality be made to pay?

Municipalities in Ontario are generally not liable simply because the public sewer backed up during a storm. A claim against a municipality usually depends on showing negligence, such as a known blockage that was not dealt with. Notice periods for claims against municipalities are short. Report the backup promptly, in writing, and speak to your insurer or a lawyer if you believe the municipality was at fault.

Why not just clean it yourself?

A small spill on bare concrete can be handled by a careful householder with waterproof boots, gloves, eye protection, detergent and disinfectant.

Beyond that, the saving is false. The cost of a sewage job is mostly in removing and replacing contaminated materials. Leaving carpet or drywall that sewage soaked does not avoid that cost. It postpones it and adds odour, mold and a health risk in the meantime.

What makes it cost less

• Stop using water the moment a backup starts
• Call the same day
• Keep basements finished with materials that can be cleaned: tile or sealed concrete floors, and walls kept off the slab
• Store belongings in plastic bins on shelves
• Install a backwater valve
• Have the lateral camera-inspected before it fails

Reading a quote

It should state:

• That the water is Category 3, and why
• The areas and materials to be removed, with heights
• The cleaning and disinfection method
• Drying equipment and expected days
• How contents will be handled
• Whether the rebuild is included
• Disposal

See how restoration companies charge.

More: sewage backup cleanup.