Sewage & biohazard · Emergency service
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in Illinois
Sewage backups, contaminated floodwater and other biohazards are Category 3 losses. They need protective equipment, removal of porous materials that were touched, cleaning and disinfection of everything else, and careful drying.
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in Illinois: local conditions
Partner coverage for sewage and biohazard cleanup in Illinois includes 56 ZIP codes. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
Intense rain overwhelms combined sewers in Chicago and older suburbs, backing water and sewage into basements. Backwater valves and overhead sewers are common fixes. Power outages during storms stop sump pumps exactly when they're needed. Battery backups help.
In Chicago: Intense rain overwhelms the combined sewer system, sending water and sewage into basements. Backwater valves and overhead sewers are common fixes. In Rockford: The Rock River and Keith Creek flood low-lying areas during heavy spring rain and snowmelt. In Aurora: Heavy rain overwhelms sump pumps and floods finished basements. In Joliet: Heavy rain overwhelms sump pumps and floods basements.
Chicago bungalows, two-flats and older suburban homes nearly all have basements, many of them finished, which raises the cost of any water loss.
Illinois doesn't license general contractors statewide, but roofers are licensed by the state and many cities, including Chicago, license contractors locally. Ask for local licenses and insurance.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Illinois
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup at a glance
- Category
- Sewage & biohazard
- Emergency service
- Yes, call for fastest response
- Typical first step
- Protect people and contain the area
- Area
- Illinois
Other risks in Illinois
Frozen pipes
Polar-vortex cold, like the January 2019 event, freezes pipes in exterior walls, garages and crawlspaces.
Signs you need sewage & biohazard cleanup
- Water or waste coming up through floor drains, toilets or tubs
- A strong sewage smell in a basement or bathroom
- Floodwater that entered the home from outside
How the work is done
Protect people and contain the area, then Remove contaminated water, then Remove porous materials, then Clean and disinfect, then Verify and rebuild. See the full sewage & biohazard cleanup process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Illinois quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of sewage & biohazard cleanup cost factors.
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup questions
Is sewer backup covered by insurance in Illinois?
Usually only with a sewer or drain backup endorsement. Many Chicago-area homeowners add it because basement backups are so common.
Do Illinois contractors need a license?
There's no statewide general contractor license, but Chicago and many suburbs require local licensing, and roofers need a state license.
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A small backup on a hard, non-porous floor sometimes can be with gloves, boots and disinfectant. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or other porous materials needs professional cleanup.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backups?
Usually only with a sewer or drain backup endorsement. Flooding from outside needs a flood policy.
Cities in Illinois
Other services in Illinois
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in Illinois, or see sewage & biohazard cleanup nationwide.
Related services
Sewage backup cleanup
Sewage cleanup treats the water as Category 3 (grossly contaminated): crews in protective gear remove it, discard porous materials it touched, clean and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry the structure.
Learn more
Biohazard cleanup
Biohazard cleanup removes and disposes of blood, bodily fluids and other potentially infectious material, then cleans and disinfects the area so it's safe to use.
Learn more
Flood damage cleanup
Flood cleanup treats outside floodwater as contaminated: it removes water and mud, cuts out wet drywall and insulation above the waterline, sanitizes, and dries the structure.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.