Sewer Backup in Bend, OR
Sewage in a tub, shower or floor drain is urgent. Here is what to do and what a plumber will do about it.
Sewage is coming up: what to do right now
Stop the water
No sinks, showers, laundry or flushing.
Protect people
Keep children and pets away from the wastewater.
Find the cleanout
Uncover it so the plumber can start fast.
Call and photograph
Phone the line, then document the damage.
Handling a sewage spill safely
While you wait for the plumber
- Wear rubber gloves and boots if you must enter the area, and wash well afterward.
- Keep food, dishes and children away from the contaminated floor.
- Open windows if the weather allows, to ventilate the smell.
- Do not run the dishwasher or washing machine, since they push more water into the blocked line.
- Do not use household bleach mixed with other cleaners, and avoid touching electrical outlets in wet areas.
- If anyone feels ill, contact a doctor. We do not give medical advice.
Common causes of a sewage backup
| Cause | How it shows up | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Blockage in your lateral | Lowest drains back up first | Machine or jetting through the cleanout |
| Roots in the line | Repeat backups, slow drains before it happens | Cut roots, then repair or replace the damaged section |
| Collapsed or offset pipe | Backups return soon after clearing | Camera and repair or replacement |
| Problem in the public main | Neighbors have backups too | Call the sewer utility, and your plumber can confirm |
| Overloaded line after heavy use | Backup during laundry or large gatherings | Clear and reduce load, then inspect for restrictions |
If neighbors on your street are also affected, the problem may be in the public main, not your lateral. A quick call to the sewer utility is worth making.
Your side of the line and the city's side
When sewage backs up, the first question is where the blockage sits. A plumber can answer that with a camera or by running a cable from the cleanout. If the obstruction is in the city main itself, it is the city's to clear, and the sewer utility should be notified. A blockage anywhere in the service between the main and your house is the owner's, according to the City of Bend's standards.
If it is on your side, the plumber clears the line and tells you what caused it. Roots and a collapsed joint need further work after the emergency is over, such as sewer lateral repair, and a camera inspection records the condition.
Septic systems have a different path. A backup in a home on septic may mean a full tank or a failed drain field, which is a separate licensed trade. The plumber can clear the house drain, and a septic professional handles the tank.
Cleanup and insurance
Sewage in a building is contaminated water, and cleanup follows specific health practices. Plumbing fixes the cause. Drying and sanitizing floors, walls and contents is handled by structural drying and restoration, which is a separate service and a separate dispatch.
For insurance, take photos before anything is moved. Many standard policies exclude sewer backup unless a backup endorsement was added, so ask early. Save the plumber's invoice and the camera video, since both document the cause.
Lower the odds of a repeat
Habits and checks that help
- Keep grease, wipes, paper towels and feminine products out of drains and toilets.
- Have the main line cleared and scoped if the toilets gurgle after laundry.
- Cut back or remove trees and shrubs that grow close to the lateral.
- Keep the cleanout uncovered, labeled and capped.
- Ask your insurer about a sewer backup endorsement before you need it.
- Save camera footage from any past inspection, so a future plumber can compare.
What decides the cost of clearing a backup
The cost of clearing the blockage is separate from cleanup and repairs. Ask for the findings in writing for your claim.
Sewer backup response across the area
The emergency line covers Bend, Redmond, Sisters and the surrounding area, including the 97756 addresses in Redmond. A plumber who keeps coming back to the same backup should recommend hydro jetting or sewer line replacement rather than another quick clear.
If several homes along a street such as those near Drake Park back up at once, the cause may sit in the public main, so call the City of Bend as well as a plumber. A backup in just one house usually points to the private line from the home to the main.
Sewer backup questions in Bend
Yes. Sewage inside the house is a health hazard and gets worse with every use of water. Stop running water and call.
Yes. The emergency line is answered 24 hours a day, on weekends and on holidays.
If neighbors are affected too, or the plumber finds the blockage in the main itself, it is likely the city's. A blockage anywhere in your service line is the owner's to clear. Report a main blockage to the sewer utility.
The plumber clears the blockage. Cleanup, drying and sanitizing is a separate service that deals with the contamination.
Only if your policy includes backup coverage, which is usually an added endorsement. Check your policy and document everything.
A partly blocked main cannot handle sudden volume. A drain that works most of the time but backs up under load usually has roots or a belly.