1. Call and plan
The team asks what happened, where the sewage is and who uses the space, then plans the right crew and equipment.
University City, Philadelphia, PA · Philadelphia County
Sewage in a University City basement, garage or crawl space is a biohazard, not a mop-and-bucket job. Call (877) 812-4220. Cleanup technicians remove the sewage, bag the soaked materials and disinfect hard surfaces.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Sewage damage cleanup covers the liquid, the stains and the germs it leaves in flooring, walls, insulation and stored items. Porous materials that soak up sewage usually cannot be made safe and are removed.
Homeowners and businesses in University City and across Philadelphia County can get sewage removal done safely with help from University City Biohazard Cleanup Help. Cleanup technicians follow bloodborne pathogen rules, bag waste for proper disposal and keep you informed throughout.
About 83% of homes in Philadelphia were built before 1980, and older clay or cast iron sewer pipes crack and clog with roots over time. With roughly 51 inches of annual rainfall in University City, saturated ground and storm runoff add pressure to sewer pipes, a common cause of basement and crawl space backups.
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in University City usually includes:
The team asks what happened, where the sewage is and who uses the space, then plans the right crew and equipment.
Sewage is removed from the floor and low areas, and debris, trash and soiled belongings are cleared out.
Porous items soaked by Category 3 water are removed, and the crew sorts belongings into keep and discard with the owner.
Remaining surfaces are washed and disinfected, and odor is removed at its source rather than covered up.
Sewage & biohazard cleanup in University City, Philadelphia, PA typically costs $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the size of the affected area and the materials involved.
Whether the area has finished surfaces or bare concrete affects the work. Sealed floors disinfect easily, while wood and unsealed masonry need more attention.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $7.50 - $7.50 per square foot |
| Most homeowners | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $2,500 - $10,000 |
Figures are planning ranges from Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide, not a price for any specific University City property. Price drivers include square footage affected, category of water, porous materials that must be removed, drying time. Call (877) 812-4220 any hour.
Concrete is porous, so sewage soaks in. The surface is scrubbed, rinsed and treated with a disinfectant, and the wash water is collected rather than spread. Stubborn odor may need a second round of treatment.
Keep everyone out of the area, including pets, and stop using sinks, tubs and toilets that feed the pipe. Turn off power to wet areas only if it is safe. Then call a cleanup team and your insurer, and take photos before anything is moved.
Treat it as raw sewage. Keep people out of the bathroom, stop using the fixture and call for cleanup. The liquid can reach under flooring and into walls, so a crew checks beyond the visible puddle.
Small jobs may be finished in a day, while larger ones with tear-out, drying and odor treatment take longer. The time depends on the area affected and what had to be removed. The crew can tell you what to expect after assessing the space.
Common signs include a sewer smell in the yard or crawl space, soft or damp ground near the foundation, gurgling drains and slow drains in several fixtures at once. A plumber can confirm the leak. Once it is found, a cleanup team can take care of the contaminated soil, materials and odor.
Sewage can carry germs such as E. coli, norovirus, hepatitis A and Giardia. They spread through skin contact, splashes and hand to mouth contact. Washing well and wearing protection reduce the risk, but removal by a crew reduces it most.
See all biohazard cleanup services in University City, Philadelphia, PA →
Call University City Biohazard Cleanup Help at (877) 812-4220 any hour, including nights and weekends.
Call (877) 812-4220