Sewer backup emergency: what to do first
Sewage coming up through a tub, shower or floor drain is an emergency. Repair is available 24/7, and the dispatcher stays on the line with the next steps while a plumber heads out. Start with this list.
- Stop using every drain, toilet, washer and dishwasher. Each use sends more water into a line that is already full.
- Keep children and pets away from the wet area. Sewage carries germs, so wash hands after any contact and wear gloves for cleanup.
- Lift belongings off the floor and keep out of outlets and appliances near standing water.
- Do not use chemical cleaners. They can splash back and make the repair work riskier.
- Find the cleanout, a capped pipe outside or in the basement. Do not open the cap on a backed-up line, but tell the dispatcher where it is.
Call (970) 708-6013. Night and weekend calls reach the same dispatcher. A backup is cleared first, then the pipe is inspected to find out why it failed.
Why a sewer line fails and what the signs look like
A sewer line is a gravity pipe that runs from the house to the sewer main. It can fail in four ways. Roots grow into joints, soil shifts and cracks the pipe, a section sags and holds water, or the pipe collapses.
Repeat backups are the clearest signal, especially after a plumber has cleared the line. Slow drains in several fixtures at once, a gurgling toilet, sewage smells in the yard and a wet or sunken patch of lawn over the line all point to damage and not just a clog. A camera confirms it.
Repair, lining or replacement
The right fix depends on what the camera shows. Here is how the options compare.
| Option. | Best when. | What to know. |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair. | One cracked or offset section with sound pipe on both sides. | Needs a dig at that spot. |
| Pipe lining (trenchless). | Cracks or root entry along a pipe that is still round and in place. | Little digging, but the pipe must be clear and able to take a liner. |
| Pipe bursting. | A pipe past lining that can be replaced in the same path. | Needs access pits at each end. |
| Open-trench replacement. | Collapsed, bellied or heavily damaged pipe. | Most disruptive, but fixes the grade as well. |
Which one fits is a camera finding, not a guess. A sewer camera inspection before the quote shows the length, the location and the type of damage.
From the camera to a working line
Clear the backup.
The line is cleared first so the camera can travel and the house stops flooding.
Camera the full run.
A camera records the pipe from the cleanout to the sewer main and marks problem spots.
Locate and measure.
A locator marks the depth and position of damage on the surface.
Choose the repair.
The plumber explains spot repair, lining or replacement and what each involves.
Repair and re-camera.
After the work, a second camera pass confirms the pipe is sound and flowing.
Line keeps backing up after being cleared? Call the 24/7 line. A repeat backup usually means the pipe is damaged, not just clogged.
Call (970) 708-6013Roots and cracks: the spot repair question
A common call describes one cracked section with roots growing through it, and asks about a spot repair. That is often possible. The plumber cuts the roots out, finds the exact spot with the camera, then repairs only that section with a coupling, a sleeve or a short dig.
A spot repair works only if the rest of the pipe is in good shape. If the camera shows more cracks down the line, a single repair buys a few months. Lining or replacement is then the honest answer. Cleaning, such as hydro jetting, keeps roots and grease in check afterward.
Digging safely: call 811 first
Any repair that digs needs Colorado 811 first. The call is free, and it must be placed at least two full business days before digging so buried gas, power and water lines are marked. Do not dig until the locators have been out.
The pipe on your side of the sewer main connection is usually yours to maintain, and the main itself is the Town's. Because that boundary varies by lot, the Town of Johnstown public works office can confirm it for your address. Ask the Town of Johnstown building department about permit rules for the repair.
Older lots, new lots and septic
The original 1902 townsite around Parish Avenue carries the oldest lots in Johnstown, and an older line is more likely to have joint trouble or root intrusion than one laid recently. If your house is in that area, ask for a full camera run before agreeing to a quick fix.
Newer neighborhoods like Carlson Farms and Rolling Hills Ranch are more likely to have problems from settling, poor grade or debris than from roots. Some properties outside town limits may be on septic and not a sewer main. Check your closing paperwork or ask the county, and tell the dispatcher, because a septic system calls for different work.
What changes the price of sewer line repair
Sewer repair ranges from a small spot fix to a full replacement, so quotes depend on what the camera shows.
- Type of damage A cracked joint, a belly and a collapse each need a different repair.
- Length of pipe affected Fixing four feet costs less than replacing forty.
- Depth and access A shallow line in an open yard is simpler than a deep one under a driveway, tree or slab.
- Repair method Digging, lining and bursting each use different equipment and crews.
- Restoration Landscaping, concrete or pavement put back after a dig is a separate scope.
Most homeowners policies cover sudden accidental water damage, but not repair of a worn or root-damaged pipe, and some offer a separate sewer backup endorsement. Policies differ on these, so ask your insurer. After the camera run, the price is clear before work starts, and (970) 708-6013 is where to begin.
When it is a cleaning job and not a repair
Not every backup means a broken pipe. A line that is merely full of grease or paper can be cleared with a cable or a jetter, and sewer line cleaning covers that work. The camera is what tells the two apart.
Nearby towns such as Milliken get the same service from the same 24/7 line, so a call from there reaches the same dispatcher.
Sewer line repair questions from Johnstown homeowners
Yes. The 24/7 line at (970) 708-6013 takes sewer backup calls at any hour. Stop using water, keep people away from the wet area and describe what is backing up. The plumber clears the line first and inspects it next.
Sometimes. Pipe lining repairs cracks and root entry from inside with little digging, if the pipe is still round and in place. Collapsed or bellied pipe usually needs a dig. The camera shows which.
A clog clears and stays clear. A damaged line backs up again, sometimes within weeks. Multiple fixtures draining slowly, a gurgling toilet or a wet patch over the line are other signs. A camera confirms it.
It repairs or replaces a pipe with little or no trenching. Lining puts a resin-coated liner inside the old pipe. Bursting pulls a new pipe through the old path. Both need the right pipe condition.
They find tiny cracks and joints, then grow into thick mats that catch debris and widen the opening. The roots enter because the pipe was already imperfect, so cutting them is a temporary fix without a repair.
Usually the homeowner owns the pipe up to where it joins the main. The boundary varies by property, so check with the Town of Johnstown public works.
A septic home has a line from the house to the tank, not to a main. It can crack or clog too, but tank issues need septic service. Tell the dispatcher your system type on the call.