Sewer Backing Up in San Antonio?

Do this now

1. Stop using water: no flushing, showers, dishwasher, washing machine or running taps. Every gallon you use has to go somewhere, and right now it's coming back up.
2. Keep children and pets away from any sewage. It carries bacteria.
3. Skip chemical drain cleaners. They won't clear a main line, and they make the job more dangerous for whoever opens it.
4. Find the cleanout, usually a capped pipe in the yard near the house. Knowing where it is saves the plumber time.
5. Take photos of any water or damage for your insurer before you start cleaning up.
6. Call (866) 228-6201 to reach a licensed local plumber.

Is it your line or the city's?

Where the sewage is showing up is the best clue.

• Coming up inside your house, in a tub, shower, toilet or floor drain: usually a blockage in your home's line. Call a plumber.
• Overflowing from a manhole, a street drain or the public sewer: report it to SAWS on its 24/7 water and sewer emergency line, 210-704-7297.
• Neighbors on the same street having the same problem at the same time: mention it when you report to SAWS, since it may point to a problem in the public sewer.

How to tell where the clog is

Which drains are affected tells you a lot about where the blockage is.

• One drain is slow but everything else works: the clog is usually close to that fixture.
• Several drains are slow, or a toilet gurgles when the sink drains: the main line is the likely problem.
• Water comes up in the shower or tub when you flush a toilet: the main line is blocked and wastewater is backing up to the lowest drain.
• Water is standing in the cleanout in the yard: the blockage is downstream of the cleanout, in the main line.

Tell the plumber what you've noticed when you call. It helps them bring the right equipment.

What a plumber will usually do

1. Find an access point, usually the outside cleanout.
2. Clear enough of the blockage to get water moving, with a cable machine, a jetter or both.
3. Run a camera through the line to see what caused the backup and check the pipe's condition.
4. Explain what they found and what it would take to keep it from happening again.

In an emergency, it's reasonable to approve the first step, clearing the blockage and running the camera, and decide on anything further once you've seen the footage.

Why backups happen after heavy rain

Heavy rain can push water into old, cracked sewer lines and overload them. If your line is already narrowed by roots or scale, it's often the first to back up. Downspouts or yard drains connected to the sewer line add more water. A camera inspection after the line is cleared shows whether cracks are letting water in. Our guide on why sewers back up after rain covers this in detail.

Other common causes in San Antonio homes

• Tree roots growing through joints in older cast iron or clay pipe.
• Grease from the kitchen that cools and sticks to the pipe walls.
• Hard-water scale narrowing older cast iron over the years.
• Wipes, paper towels and other items that don't break down.
• A sag in the line where water and debris collect.
• A cracked or collapsed section of pipe.

Before work starts

• Ask for camera footage before and after the jetting, so you can see the line was cleared.
• Get the scope, the price and the warranty in writing before work starts.
• If the jet stops at the same spot the camera did, ask what that means before paying for more work.
• On badly corroded cast iron or broken pipe, ask whether a repair makes more sense than jetting.
• Ask about after-hours charges if you're calling at night or on a weekend.

Even in an emergency, a short written scope protects you. A text message with the price for clearing the line and running the camera is enough to start.

Cleaning up safely

Sewage carries bacteria and should be handled carefully.

• Wear gloves and boots, and keep skin contact to a minimum.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area.
• Open windows if it's safe to do so.
• Throw away porous items that were soaked, such as rugs and cardboard, unless your insurer wants to see them first.
• Wash hard surfaces with hot water and detergent, then disinfect.
• For large backups, ask about a professional cleanup company. Your insurer may have recommendations.

Insurance and paperwork

Whether a sewer backup is covered depends on your policy. Many standard homeowner's policies treat sewer backup as an add-on, so check yours.

• Photograph the water, the damage and any affected belongings before cleanup.
• Keep the plumber's written report and the camera footage.
• Keep receipts for the plumber, cleanup and any repairs.
• Call your insurer as soon as you can.

Preventing the next backup

• Keep grease, wipes and food scraps out of drains.
• Make sure downspouts drain onto the ground, away from the cleanout.
• Keep the cleanout cap in place and easy to find.
• If roots or cracked joints caused the backup, ask about repair or a maintenance schedule.
• If backups happen during rain, ask whether a backwater valve suits your house.

If this isn't the first backup, our page on recurring clogs in older homes explains why clogs keep coming back and what to ask.

What to tell the plumber when you call

• Which drains are backing up, and which still work.
• Whether water is coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain.
• Whether you know where the cleanout is.
• Whether it's been raining, and whether this has happened before.
• How old the house is, if you know.

These details help the plumber bring the right equipment and get to work faster when they arrive.

After the line is clear

• Ask to see the camera footage and get a copy.
• Ask what caused the backup and whether it's likely to happen again.
• Run water slowly in a few fixtures to confirm everything drains.
• Keep the written report with your insurance paperwork.
• If roots, cracks or a sag were found, ask for written repair options before the next storm.

Who to call for what

• Sewage coming up inside your home: a plumber.
• Sewage overflowing from a manhole or the street: SAWS, 210-704-7297, 24/7.
• Water damage to floors, walls or belongings: your insurer, and a cleanup company if needed.
• Renting: your landlord or property manager, as soon as possible.

If you're renting

If you rent your home, tell your landlord or property manager right away and follow their instructions. Take photos of the backup and any damage to your belongings, and stop using water until the line is cleared. Your renter's insurance may cover damage to your own belongings.

Why a camera inspection matters after a backup

Once the line is flowing again, it's tempting to call it done. But the backup happened for a reason. A camera inspection after the line is cleared shows whether it was a one-time clog, such as wipes or grease, or a lasting problem like roots through cracked joints, a sag or a collapsed section. Knowing which one it is decides whether you need to do anything more, and it gives you the footage your insurer or a second plumber may want to see.

The bottom line

Stop using water, keep people and pets away from sewage, and call. Once the line is clear, ask for the camera footage and a written explanation of what caused the backup. That turns a stressful night into a clear next step, whether it's nothing more, a maintenance schedule or a repair.

If this is the second or third backup in a year, treat it as a sign of a lasting problem rather than bad luck, and ask for written options to fix the cause.