Older side sewers
Roots and age crack the pipe from your house to the street, causing backups.
Kenmore sits at the north tip of Lake Washington, where the Sammamish River meets the lake and seaplanes take off from Kenmore Air Harbor. Homes climb the hills in Inglewood, Arrowhead and the Moorlands, and many date to the 1950s through the 70s, with basements and older sewer lines. When water or sewage comes up through a floor drain, our emergency crews answer 24 hours a day and arrive the same day.
Stop using water in the house: no flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Keep kids and pets away and do not touch the water. Then call us. Sewer water is Category 3 water, which means it carries germs, so cleanup needs protective gear, removal of soaked materials and sanitizing. See sewage backup cleanup.
Roots and age crack the pipe from your house to the street, causing backups.
Many hillside homes have lower floors against wet soil.
Water runs downhill toward homes in Inglewood and Arrowhead.
Low areas near the river mouth stay wet in long storms.
Older tanks in basements leak onto carpet and storage.
Wooded lots keep roofs and walls damp all winter.
| Type | Example in a Kenmore home | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Clean (Category 1) | Broken supply line, water heater leak | Fast extraction and drying |
| Gray (Category 2) | Washer or dishwasher drain water | Extraction, cleaning and drying; some materials removed |
| Black (Category 3) | Sewer backup, outside flood water | Soaked materials removed, area sanitized; see sewage cleanup |
| Any type left too long | Water sitting 2 or more days | Higher mold risk; see mold remediation |
Sewer backups are unpleasant, but they can be cleaned up safely. Here is what we do.
Our crew wears protective gear and seals off the area so germs do not spread through the house.
We pump out the water and remove soaked carpet, pad and the lower part of wet drywall. Porous items that touched sewage usually cannot be saved.
Hard surfaces are cleaned and sanitized, then dried. We finish with odor removal.
A plumber clears or repairs the side sewer. Ask about a backwater valve to help stop future backups.
Never flush wipes, grease or paper towels, even if the label says flushable.
If your home is older, ask a plumber about a camera inspection of the side sewer.
Watch for slow drains and gurgling in basement fixtures. They are early warnings.
Keep storage boxes off the basement floor, on shelves or in plastic bins.
Ask your agent about sewer backup coverage on your policy.
Test your sump pump before the rainy season.
We tell you what to stop using and how to stay safe.
Kenmore is a short drive from Kirkland on Juanita Drive or I-405.
Clean, gray or black water decides the plan.
Water out, soaked materials removed, surfaces cleaned.
Daily readings until dry.
Drywall, flooring and finishes restored.
Independent restoration company. Not affiliated with these manufacturers.
We also serve the areas around Kenmore.
A restoration company like ours cleans, sanitizes and dries the area. A plumber clears or repairs the sewer line.
Yes. It carries bacteria and viruses. Keep people and pets away and let trained crews with protective gear clean it.
Many policies only cover sewer backups if you added that coverage. Check your policy or ask your agent.
Usually not. Carpet and pad soaked by sewage are normally removed and replaced for safety.
Usually the same day, often within a couple of hours.
A valve on your sewer line that lets waste flow out but helps stop it from flowing back into the house. A plumber can install one.
Call (425) 592-3603 for 24 hour water damage help in Kenmore. See all service areas or our homepage.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week: (425) 592-3603