Emergency sewer line repair in Sarasota

Do this first

1. Stop using water. No flushing, showers, dishwasher or washing machine. Every gallon you send down has to go somewhere.
2. Keep people and pets away from sewage. It carries bacteria and other pathogens. Wear gloves and boots if you must go near it.
3. Watch for electrical hazards. If water is near outlets, cords or appliances, stay out of it and switch off power to that area at the breaker only if you can do so from a dry location.
4. Check whether it is the whole building. If most or all fixtures stopped at the same time, call your sewer utility now (numbers below). The blockage may be in their line.
5. Call us if the utility says the problem is on your side, or if it is clearly a problem in your own line.

Call your utility first if everything stopped

Public utilities clear blockages in their own pipes. If the problem is on their side, calling a contractor first can cost you money for work the utility would have done. The City of Sarasota states it is not obligated to reimburse a plumber called before the City.

Numbers as published on sarasotafl.gov and scgov.net, checked October 2026. Confirm on your bill or the utility's website.

What counts as a sewer emergency

• Sewage coming up through floor drains, tubs, showers or toilets
• No drains working in the building
• Sewage surfacing in the yard or flowing from the cleanout
• A sudden collapse or sinkhole along the sewer route
• A backup at a business, rental or multi-unit property affecting occupants

A single slow drain can usually wait for a scheduled visit.

What we do on an emergency call

1. Phone triage. We ask which fixtures are affected and where the property is, and tell you if it sounds like a utility-side problem.
2. Open the line. Through the cleanout, with a cable machine, to stop the backup.
3. Find the cause. Camera inspection once flow is restored, or as soon as practical.
4. Make it safe. If the pipe is broken, a temporary measure to keep the home usable until a permanent repair is scheduled.
5. Plan the repair. A written estimate for any permanent repair, priced the same way as non-emergency work.

Cleanup of sewage-contaminated floors, drywall and furnishings is restoration work, separate from sewer repair. If the backup reached living areas, contact your insurer and a water damage restoration company.

Common causes of emergency backups

• Wipes, grease or other material blocking the main line
• Roots that finally closed a partially blocked joint
• A collapsed or broken pipe
• A blockage in the public main backing up into connected homes
• Very heavy rain overwhelming parts of a sewer system

See sewer backup diagnosis if backups keep happening.

Hours and availability

We answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Arrival time depends on where you are and how many calls are open; we will give you an honest estimate when you call, not a promise we cannot keep.

Call (941) 231-3521

Where we do this work

We work across Sarasota and nearby Sarasota County communities, including downtown and the in-city neighborhoods, North Sarasota and The Meadows, Siesta Key, Gulf Gate and South Gate Ridge, Palmer Ranch and Fruitville and the Sarasota County side of Lakewood Ranch. The service area page lists every ZIP code we cover. If you are near the edge of that area, ask; we will tell you plainly whether we can reach you.