Sewage Backup in Oakland, CA
Sewage backing up? This is a health hazard — act now.
Alameda County15 plumbers available
Best Sewage Backup Pros in Oakland
#1Strong Hire
Total Underground Construction
5Sewage Backup: 90/100
“they took the extra steps to drive out that night to get the sewer line in a passable condition for the few days until the start of the project so we would not be without water and this was all done free of charge with the project.”
#2Conditional Hire
Star Rooter & Plumbing Inc
4.7Sewage Backup: 88/100
“Josh and his team came and replaced ALL the pipes with copper pipes, all the way to the street water line. Water pressure has significantly improved.”
#3Strong Hire
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Hayward
4.9Sewage Backup: 85/100
“Due to the accumulation of matter over the years it was a bit more difficult and after using the cable (snake) to break through and then utilizing the hydro-jet he completely cleared my drain.”
All Sewage Backup Pros in Oakland
Total Underground Construction
5·6 reviews·
8 mi awayGoogle Verified
+4 more
Top pick5.0Google
Strengths
Sewer line replacement praised in 4 reviews
Honest cost guidance — Joe told one caller how to DIY-fix a sink…
Same-day arrival cited 3 times
Concerns
Only 14 reviews analyzed and 6 Google reviews total
Star Rooter & Plumbing Inc
4.7·166 reviews·
13 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+6 more
Solid pick4.7Google
Strengths
Sewer-lateral and water-line specialty: 2 reviewers describe…
Whole-house repipe with copper (1924 duplex, all galvanized…
Free estimate included full crawlspace inspection + free camera…
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Hayward
4.9·39 reviews·
18 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Top pick4.9Google
Strengths
Sewer lateral / hydro-jet specialty: 2 reviewers describe…
Pricing called 'competitive and reasonable among the estimates I…
Tech Vito included customer 'in every decision' on a complex…
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
4.9·238 reviews·
In OaklandGoogle Verified
+2 more
Avoid4.9Google
Strengths
Same-day and after-hours arrivals on sewer emergencies
Sewer mainline diagnostics: 12 sewer mentions plus…
Concerns
31 of 100 analyzed reviews are 1-star
Dispatcher named James called out as rude and unwilling to locate…
Pricing pushback on big sewer jobs: a $10K quote reduced to $8K…
Dispatch reliability: themeCounts.slow_response=3 with a…
Fito Plumbers Inc.
4.8·97 reviews·
14 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Top pick4.8Google
Strengths
Friday-evening renter water-heater call answered at 8pm, crew…
Sewer-lateral replacement completed in 2.5 days with daily…
Beat competing bids and provided quick service
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
The Plumbing Ministry
4.5·76 reviews·
8 mi awayGoogle Verified
Avoid4.5Google
Strengths
Trenchless sewer-lateral replacement is the clear specialty…
Owner Louis returns Saturday-night calls personally;
Yard left clean each day during multi-day sewer-lateral jobs…
Concerns
Two separate Yelp reviewers allege botched sewer-lateral jobs and…
Crew reportedly didn't return to finish a clogged sewer main,…
Office phone coverage is thin: one reviewer waited 5 hours for a…
themeCounts.expensive=4 and surprise_fees=1;
The Plumbing Two
4.9·58 reviews·
12 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+4 more
Top pick4.9Google
Strengths
True 24-hour emergency response
Communication discipline
Repeat-customer trust
Concerns
Finish-work polish noted as weak in one 3-star
Works Plumbing Repair & Drain Cleaning
4.8·642 reviews·
16 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Top pick4.8Google
Strengths
Handled warranty paperwork on a water heater repair so the…
Sewer cam inspection led to full cast-iron-to-ABS pipe…
Manager/estimator came out personally during a job to explain a…
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
Big Smile Plumbing
5·99 reviews·
In OaklandGoogle Verified
+4 more
Top pick5.0Google
Strengths
Sewer-lateral and water-heater work singled out for clean…
Weekend and short-notice arrivals: one reviewer reports cast-iron…
Pricing called out 16 times in serviceMentions.plumber-cost with…
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
24/7 Rooter & Plumbing
4.7·926 reviews·
8 mi awayGoogle Verified
+5 more
Solid pick4.7Google
Strengths
Sub-hour arrival cited in 2 of 5 sampled reviews (Edwin within an…
Same-day water heater replacement completed in 3 hours…
Weekend / after-hours emergency capability documented (7:30pm…
Concerns
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
Gladiator Rooter and Plumbing
4.6·90 reviews·
8 mi awayGoogle Verified
Proceed with care4.6Google
Strengths
Sub-hour weekend arrivals on backed-up sewers: techs…
Significantly underbid competitors on big jobs: one main…
Same-day responsiveness when other companies fail
Concerns
Diagnostic-first job scope on one repair cut a large ceiling hole…
Faucet-repair workmanship cited as weakest spot
Premium hourly rates on emergency calls: one homeowner cites…
Pro Rooter Inc
4.1·25 reviews·
7 mi awayGoogle Verified
+4 more
Avoid4.1Google
Strengths
Hector Jr. and Richard named in 5-star reviews for thorough…
Sewer pipe replacement praised
Concerns
Repeated no-shows and ignored callbacks across 4 separate reviews…
Surprise upcharge — agreed $300 sewer drain became $400, and…
Plumber arrived without trade tools and tracked debris through…
No-show pattern across years
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
4.8·2.6k reviews·
In OaklandGoogle Verified
+2 more
Avoid4.8Google
Strengths
Same-day and emergency capacity at scale
Mainline sewer-line and toilet emergencies cleared inside 1 day…
Concerns
32 of 100 analyzed reviews are 1-star with reviewConsistency…
Pricing on contracted big jobs is a recurring complaint
Dispatch reliability inconsistent: 7-11pm emergency window…
JC Plumbing & Rooter
4.9·115 reviews·
12 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+5 more
Top pick4.9Google
Strengths
Navien/Bradford-White tankless water-heater work is the clear…
Reviewers report final bill came in below initial quote (one case…
Communication is detailed: customer was shown how to descale…
Concerns
One reviewer reports $335 quote to unclog a hair-clogged shower…
A T Weber Plumbing
4.2·30 reviews·
In OaklandGoogle Verified
Proceed with care4.2Google
Strengths
Furnace, sewer-lateral, and gas-line capability cited by repeat…
Pricing called out as fair on furnace and HVAC work…
Fast same-window arrivals on furnace failures
Concerns
Deposit taken in September with no work started by January after…
Scheduling and dispatch reliability is the weak spot:…
Phone/dispatch interactions flagged as rude on initial intake…
Common Sewage Backup Scenarios
Stop Using All Water
Every flush and drain use adds to the backup. Stop all water usage in the house immediately until the blockage is cleared.
Avoid Contact
Raw sewage contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Don't wade through it or touch it without protective gear. Keep children and pets away.
Ventilate the Area
Open windows and doors near the affected area. Sewage gases (methane, hydrogen sulfide) are hazardous in enclosed spaces.
Call a Plumber Immediately
Sewage backup is a true emergency. Most emergency plumbers can respond within 30-60 minutes. Do NOT attempt to clear a main sewer line yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes sewage to back up?
Common causes: main sewer line clog (tree roots, grease, debris), collapsed or bellied sewer pipe, city sewer main backup, or heavy rainfall overwhelming combined sewer systems. In Oakland, tree root intrusion is one of the most common causes.
Is sewage backup dangerous?
Yes — raw sewage is a serious health hazard containing bacteria (E. coli, salmonella), viruses, and parasites. Do not touch sewage without protective gear. After cleanup, the area needs professional sanitization to prevent illness and mold.
How much does sewage backup repair cost in Oakland?
Emergency sewer line clearing: $200-$800. If the backup revealed a broken or collapsed sewer line, repair costs $1,500-$10,000+ depending on the method and extent. Professional cleanup and sanitization adds $1,000-$5,000 for significant backups.
Does insurance cover sewage backup in CA?
Standard homeowners insurance in CA typically does NOT cover sewer backup damage. You need a separate sewer backup endorsement ($40-$100/year). If you don't have it, you'll pay for cleanup and repair out of pocket. Check your policy now — before the next incident.
Other Services in Oakland
Drain Cleaning Water Heater Repair Burst Pipe Repair Repiping Bathroom Remodel Plumbing Sewer Repair Sewer Line Replacement Toilet Repair Faucet Repair Garbage Disposal Repair Sump Pump Repair Gas Line Repair Slab Leak Repair Water Line Repair Kitchen Remodel Plumbing Hydro-Jetting 24-Hour Plumber Same-Day Plumber Affordable Plumber Licensed Plumber Plumber Cost Clogged Drain No Hot Water Water Leak Low Water Pressure Frozen Pipes All Emergency Plumbers
Sewage Backup in Nearby Cities
Are You a Plumber?
Get listed on Fast Plumber Near Me and connect with homeowners who need emergency plumbing help right now. Free basic listings available.