Emergency sewer service
Sewage coming up through a floor drain is no job for a plumber’s next opening. Call (618) 740-6058, day or night.
Do this first
Every gallon you send down comes back at the lowest drain in the house. Until the line is open, treat the plumbing as closed.
- Stop using water: no flushing, laundry or dishwasher
- Keep kids and pets clear of the water
- Stay out of standing water near outlets or appliances
- Call and say sewage is coming up, so that goes first in the notes
What happens when you call
An automated line picks up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It takes your name, the service address, a callback number, your email if you’d like to give it, what’s happening and how soon you need someone. Your details then go straight to the company, and a representative calls you as soon as possible.
We won’t promise an arrival time on this page, because that depends on the hour and on what’s already underway. The person who calls you back will.
Is it the city’s problem?
It’s worth a call to find out, particularly if neighbors are backed up too. Public works in Highland checks its own main before you pay anyone. The owner’s side is usually the issue when it’s only your house: Granite City’s page puts the lateral on the owner all the way to the main, and O’Fallon says its responsibility begins at the main.
About insurance
Check your policy before you need it. The Insurance Information Institute says a typical homeowners policy and flood insurance don’t cover sewer backups, and that the coverage is sold separately or as an endorsement. If you do have it, take photos before cleanup starts.
After the line is open
A backup has a cause. A camera run shows it, and a backwater valve may be worth a look if the sewer came up during heavy rain.
Related work
Emergency Sewer Service across 77 Illinois towns, including Granite City, Collinsville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Alton, O'Fallon, Godfrey, Belleville.
Answers
Emergency Sewer Service: common questions
What should I do if sewage is backing up into my house?
Stop using all water right away, and keep people and pets out of the area. Don’t touch standing water near outlets or appliances. Then call (618) 740-6058 and say sewage is coming up. Check with your sewer provider too, especially if neighbors have the same problem.
Who do I call when my sewer backs up at night?
For a backup in the Illinois Metro East, call us at (618) 740-6058. An automated line takes your details at any hour, then a representative calls you as soon as possible. If the street or neighbors’ houses are affected as well, call your sewer provider’s emergency number too.
Will homeowners insurance pay for a sewer backup?
Usually not unless you added it. The Insurance Information Institute says standard homeowners and flood policies don’t cover sewer backups, and coverage comes as a separate policy or endorsement. Ask your agent now, before the next storm. If you do have it, photograph the damage before anything gets cleaned.
Is a sewer backup an emergency?
Yes, when sewage is entering living space or the house can’t use its plumbing at all. Raw sewage carries real health risks, and damage spreads the longer it sits. A slow drain with no standing water can usually wait for a daytime visit, but mention what you see when you call.
How much does emergency drain cleaning cost?
You won’t find a price on this site or from the phone line, because the hour, access and the cause all matter. A representative can discuss the estimate when they call back. Ask about it directly before work starts, including whether the time of day changes anything.