Sewer Backup
Warren, MI & Macomb & Oakland County
Sewage backing up into your basement floor drain, tub, or toilet is a health emergency — not a plumbing inconvenience. Stop using water. Call Bison. We respond within the hour with Picote HD camera on the truck, so you know the cause before we clear the line.
A sewer backup is raw sewage flowing backward through your drain system and surfacing in basement floor drains, tubs, toilets, or floor-level fixtures. Stop using all water immediately. Every gallon you run adds to the sewage volume entering your home. Call Bison at (586) 784-4281 — 24/7, respond within the hour. On arrival, Picote HD camera confirms the cause — main line blockage, root intrusion, or combined sewer overflow — before the line is cleared. Part of Bison’s Drain & Sewer Services.
Sewage Is Backing Up Right Now — Do This First
- Stop using all water in the home. Do not flush toilets, run the washing machine, use the dishwasher, or turn on any faucet. Every gallon of water you add flows toward the blockage and adds to the sewage volume entering your living space.
- Keep people and pets away from the affected area. Raw sewage contains E. coli, hepatitis A, and other pathogens. Do not walk through it, and do not let children or animals near the contaminated area.
- Do not attempt to clean up raw sewage yourself without proper personal protective equipment — gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection at minimum. Professional remediation is required after the line is cleared.
- Call Bison Plumbing at (586) 784-4281 — 24/7 emergency line, response within the hour. Have your address and a brief description of which fixtures are affected ready when you call.
- Call your homeowner’s insurance provider to report the event and document the damage. Take photos of the affected area before cleanup begins. Most standard policies require immediate notification for water and sewage damage claims.
What Causes Sewer Backup in Macomb & Oakland County Homes
Not every sewer backup has the same cause — and the cause determines the fix. Bison’s Picote HD camera confirms which situation is in play on arrival:
Main Sewer Line Blockage
Grease buildup, tree root intrusion, or debris accumulation blocking the main lateral. The most common cause in pre-1980 homes with aging clay or cast-iron pipe throughout Warren, Royal Oak, and Sterling Heights. Main line cleaning or hydro jetting resolves it when no structural damage is present.
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
Ferndale’s combined sewer system — where sanitary wastewater and stormwater share the same pipe — can overflow during heavy rain events, pushing sewage backward into connected homes. This is a city infrastructure issue that affects entire neighborhoods simultaneously during major storms.
Tree Root Intrusion
Silver maple and willow roots enter clay pipe joints and grow to fill the pipe diameter — creating a blockage that worsens gradually until a heavy water use event triggers the backup. Camera footage confirms root mass location and whether structural repair follows cleaning.
Structural Pipe Failure
A collapsed or severely offset pipe section in aging clay or cast-iron lateral creates a permanent blockage point. Camera confirms whether trenchless lining or pipe bursting is needed to restore flow after clearing the immediate backup.
Municipal Sewer Surcharge
During major storm events, the municipal sewer system can become overwhelmed — backing up into private laterals connected to it. If multiple neighbors are experiencing backup simultaneously, a municipal surcharge event is likely. Document and report to Macomb County Public Works.
Failed or Improper Backwater Valve
Homes without a functioning backwater valve have no mechanical protection against municipal surcharge events. A backwater valve allows flow in one direction only — preventing city system pressure from entering the private lateral during overflow events.
Health Hazard: Raw Sewage Exposure Risks
Raw sewage is classified as a biohazard. It contains a range of harmful pathogens that pose real health risks through direct contact, inhalation of aerosolized particles, and contact with contaminated surfaces. Children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised people are at highest risk.
- E. coli and Salmonella bacteria
- Hepatitis A virus
- Norovirus and rotavirus
- Giardia and Cryptosporidium parasites
- Hydrogen sulfide gas (toxic at elevated concentrations)
- Leptospira bacteria (leptospirosis)
Do not attempt to clean up sewage-contaminated areas without professional remediation equipment. Porous materials — carpet, drywall, insulation, wood framing — that have been in contact with raw sewage typically require removal and replacement, not cleaning.
Bison’s Sewer Backup Restoration Path
Bison’s emergency response follows a consistent four-step path — from clearing the active backup to confirming the pipe is structurally sound before closing the job:
Camera on Arrival — Confirm the Cause
The Picote Solutions HD camera runs from the cleanout access point on arrival — confirming whether the backup is caused by a blockage, root intrusion, structural failure, or municipal surcharge. The cause determines the clearing method and whether structural repair is needed after clearing.
Clear the Line — Method Selected by Footage
Soft blockage: cable rooter service. Grease wall or root debris: hydro jetting. Municipal surcharge event: line cleared and backwater valve installation discussed. Structural collapse: trenchless repair assessment before clearing a pipe that may be further damaged by pressure.
Post-Clearing Camera Verification
After clearing, the camera runs the section again — confirming complete clearance and assessing pipe wall condition with the debris removed. If structural damage is identified that requires repair, you receive a written quote with camera footage documentation before any next step is required.
Repair or Rehabilitation If Needed
If camera footage confirms structural damage requiring repair, Bison presents the appropriate solution: spot sewer line repair, CIPP trenchless lining, or full lateral replacement for severe collapse. Written quote with footage provided before any work proceeds.
Sewage backing up right now?
Stop using water. Call Bison. We’re on the way within the hour — 24/7, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Why Sewer Backup Is So Common in Pre-1980 Macomb & Oakland County Homes
The housing stock across Warren, Ferndale, Royal Oak, and the surrounding communities was built primarily between the 1940s and 1970s with clay and cast-iron sewer laterals that are now 50–80 years old. The combination of Michigan’s hard water depositing mineral scale on pipe walls, the annual freeze-thaw cycle opening joint gaps in clay pipe, and mature silver maple and willow root systems throughout residential streets creates predictable backup risk in homes that have never had their main sewer line inspected or serviced.
Ferndale’s combined sewer infrastructure adds a layer of risk that doesn’t apply in other communities — where heavy rain events that overwhelm the city system can push sewage into private homes citywide, regardless of individual pipe condition. Homeowners in Ferndale specifically benefit from backwater valve installation as a mechanical protection against CSO events. A Picote camera inspection after any backup event confirms whether your private lateral contributed to the backup or whether it was purely a municipal event.
Related Services
Emergency Plumbing
24/7 emergency plumbing response for any urgent plumbing situation — sewer backup, burst pipe, flooding, and more.
Diagnostic Camera Inspection
Picote HD camera inspection confirms the cause of backup and whether structural repair is needed after clearing.
Main Sewer Line Cleaning
Full sewer lateral cleaning — rooter service and hydro jetting — to clear the blockage causing backup and prevent recurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sewer Backup
Stop using all water in the home immediately — do not flush toilets, run the washing machine, or use any sink or shower. Keep people and pets away from the affected area. Do not attempt to clean up raw sewage without proper protective equipment. Call Bison at (586) 784-4281 for 24/7 emergency response, then contact your homeowner’s insurance provider to document the damage.
The most common causes in Macomb and Oakland County are: main sewer line blockage from grease buildup or tree root intrusion in aging clay or cast-iron pipe; combined sewer overflow during heavy rain events (particularly in Ferndale); structural pipe failure — collapsed or cracked section; and municipal sewer surcharge during major storm events when the city system is overwhelmed and backs up into connected private laterals.
Yes. Raw sewage contains E. coli, hepatitis A, norovirus, Giardia, hydrogen sulfide gas, and other pathogens that pose real health risks through direct contact, inhalation, and contact with contaminated surfaces. Children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised people are at highest risk. Seal off the affected area and arrange professional remediation after the line is cleared.
Standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover sewer backup damage unless you have added a specific sewer backup endorsement or water backup rider. Some policies cover damage to personal property but not the sewer line repair itself. Contact your provider immediately after a backup event to document the damage and determine what coverage applies.
Bison answers 24/7 and responds within the hour for active sewer backup emergencies. On arrival, a Picote HD camera confirms the cause — blockage, root intrusion, structural collapse, or municipal surcharge. The clearing method is selected based on footage: rooter service or hydro jetting for blockages, or a trenchless repair assessment if structural damage is found. Post-clearing camera confirms the line is fully open before the job closes.