Sewage & biohazard · Emergency service
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in Houston, TX
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 Houston: local conditions
Partner coverage for sewage and biohazard cleanup in Houston currently includes 168 ZIP codes: 77001, 77002, 77003, 77004, 77005, 77006, 77007, 77008, 77009, 77010, 77011, 77012, 77013, 77014, 77015, 77016, 77017, 77018, 77019, 77020, 77021, 77022, 77023, 77024, 77025, 77026, 77027, 77028, 77029, 77030, 77031, 77032, 77033, 77034, 77035, 77036, 77037, 77038, 77039, 77040, 77041, 77042, 77043, 77044, 77045, 77046, 77047, 77048, 77049, 77050, 77051, 77052, 77054, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77058, 77059, 77060, 77061, 77062, 77063, 77064, 77065, 77066, 77067, 77068, 77069, 77070, 77071, 77072, 77073, 77074, 77075, 77076, 77077, 77078, 77079, 77080, 77081, 77082, 77083, 77084, 77085, 77086, 77087, 77088, 77089, 77090, 77091, 77092, 77093, 77094, 77095, 77096, 77098, 77099, 77201, 77202, 77203, 77204, 77205, 77206, 77207, 77208, 77210, 77212, 77213, 77215, 77216, 77217, 77218, 77219, 77220, 77221, 77222, 77223, 77225, 77226, 77227, 77228, 77229, 77230, 77231, 77233, 77234, 77235, 77236, 77237, 77241, 77242, 77243, 77244, 77245, 77248, 77249, 77251, 77252, 77253, 77254, 77255, 77256, 77257, 77259, 77261, 77262, 77263, 77266, 77269, 77270, 77271, 77272, 77273, 77274, 77275, 77282, 77284, 77287, 77288, 77289, 77291, 77292, 77293, 77297, 77299, 77315, 77325, 77411. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
Brays, White Oak, Buffalo and Greens Bayous overflow in major storms, and flat streets flood in heavy rain even outside mapped floodplains. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 flooded neighborhoods across the city. Decades of groundwater pumping caused subsidence across the Houston area. Combined with shifting clay, that movement cracks older cast-iron and clay sewer lines under slab homes, which leads to backups and slow under-slab leaks.
Three-story townhomes put laundry and bathrooms above living space, so a single leak can run down through two floors. Older homes in the Heights are often pier-and-beam, where water collects in the crawlspace. Slab ranches near the bayous have the highest flood exposure.
Licensing in Texas: Texas doesn't license general contractors statewide, but it licenses mold assessors and mold remediation contractors through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for projects of 25 contiguous square feet or more.
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 Houston, TX
- 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
- Houston, TX
Other risks in Houston
Humidity and mold
High year-round humidity means wet materials grow mold quickly, and sweating AC ducts cause mold even without leaks.
Hurricane season
From June through November, tropical systems bring wind-driven rain, roof damage and power outages that leave homes without AC to control humidity.
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 Houston 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
Do I need a permit to repair water damage in Houston?
Cleanup and drying don't. Rebuild work involving plumbing, electrical or structure requires a City of Houston permit, and substantially damaged homes in the floodplain may face elevation requirements.
How fast does mold grow after a leak in Houston?
In Houston's humidity, mold can begin growing on wet drywall and wood within 24–48 hours, which is why drying should start the same day if possible.
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.
Related pages
Other services in Houston
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in nearby cities
More about water and storm damage in Houston, 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.