Sewer Backup in Sarasota: Should You Call the City or a Plumber First?

If your property receives sewer service from the City of Sarasota, call City Utilities at 941-263-6884, option 2, when you are unsure who is responsible for a blockage. One clogged fixture or bathroom group usually points to private plumbing. When all or most fixtures back up, the public system may be involved, making a call to the serving utility especially important.

Properties outside Sarasota city limits may be served by Sarasota County, another municipality, a private utility or a septic system. Check the utility name on the property's bill before calling.

Quick decision guide: who should you call?

This table is a routing tool, not a diagnosis. The utility or plumber may redirect the call after learning more about the property and affected fixtures.

What should you do immediately during a sewer backup?

Stop adding water to the drainage system.

• Do not flush toilets.
• Stop running sinks, showers, dishwashers and washing machines.
• Keep people and pets away from wastewater.
• Do not open a cleanout cap while standing directly over it.
• If wastewater is approaching electrical equipment, avoid the area and contact the appropriate emergency professional.

Continuing to use water can increase the amount of wastewater entering the home, even when the original clog is elsewhere.

If wastewater is actively entering the house and the problem is within private piping, request after-hours emergency plumbing service. For a suspected public-line problem, use the serving utility's emergency process.

How can the affected fixtures help locate the blockage?

One sink, tub or toilet is affected

A clog limited to one fixture often sits in the fixture trap or nearby branch drain. A plunger or properly used hand tool may clear a simple obstruction, but repeated clogs can indicate a deeper problem.

One bathroom group is affected

When a toilet, sink and tub in the same bathroom drain poorly together, the shared branch line may be obstructed. This is generally private plumbing.

The lowest drain backs up when another fixture runs

Water appearing in a shower, tub or floor drain when a toilet flushes or a washing machine drains suggests a blockage downstream of both fixtures. Stop using water and call for diagnosis.

All or most fixtures are affected

A whole-house backup may be in the building sewer, sewer lateral or public main. City of Sarasota Utilities encourages its sewer customers to call 941-263-6884, option 2, so staff can use the affected-fixture pattern to help determine whether City piping may be involved. The City's initial investigation is available to its sewer customers without charge.

Who owns the sewer line in Sarasota?

Responsibility depends on the system and the location of the failure. In general, the property owner maintains the private plumbing and private sewer piping, while the utility maintains its public infrastructure. The exact boundary should be confirmed with the serving utility rather than assumed.

The City of Sarasota will investigate a possible blockage in City piping for its customers. If the blockage is in City pipelines, City crews clear it. If it is in customer piping, the customer is advised to call a plumber.

The City also states that a customer who calls a plumber before giving the City an opportunity to investigate should not assume the City will reimburse the plumbing bill — even if the public line is later found to be involved.

What if the property is outside Sarasota city limits?

Do not use the City number automatically. Look at the water and sewer bill, closing documents or utility account to identify the provider.

Sarasota County Utilities directs customers to call 941-861-6790 to report sewer leaks, sewer backups and sewer emergencies. Do not use the City number unless the property receives City of Sarasota sewer service.

Other providers operate separately:

• Bradenton, Venice and other municipalities have their own customer-service and emergency processes.
• Some communities use private utilities.
• A home on septic needs a septic-system assessment as well as a plumbing diagnosis.

When calling a plumber, state whether the home uses municipal sewer or septic and identify which fixtures are affected.

When should you call a plumber without waiting?

Call a licensed plumber when:

• the problem is limited to one fixture or fixture group;
• the utility has determined its line is clear;
• the property has recurring slow drains or backups;
• roots, cast iron, offset joints or a damaged private sewer line are suspected;
• you need the private line cleaned or inspected;
• the serving utility instructs you to contact a plumber.

Depending on the problem and condition of the line, a plumber may use drain-cleaning equipment, hydro jetting or a sewer camera. A camera does not clear a blockage; cleaning may be required before the pipe can be inspected properly.

Read more about professional drain cleaning and sewer camera inspections.

What information should you provide on the phone?

Giving a clear symptom history can speed up routing and diagnosis:

• Which fixtures are slow or backing up?
• What is the lowest affected drain?
• Does using one fixture cause water to appear in another?
• When did the problem start?
• Has the line been cleaned before?
• Is there a sewer cleanout, and is wastewater visible near it?
• Is the property on municipal sewer or septic?
• Did the backup begin during heavy rain?

Can chemical drain cleaner fix a sewer backup?

Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a system that is backing up. It is unlikely to resolve a main-line obstruction and can leave corrosive material sitting in pipes or wastewater that a technician must handle.

The bottom line

Use the fixture pattern and utility jurisdiction to make the first call. One fixture or bathroom group usually points to private plumbing; a whole-building backup may involve the utility system. Stop water use immediately and identify the serving utility before deciding whom to call first.

If the blockage is in private piping, Pro-Plumbing Works provides drain cleaning, sewer-camera inspection and sewer-line repair throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Call 941-894-1127 or request service online.

Frequently asked questions

Will the City of Sarasota clear a sewer blockage for free?

The City states that it investigates possible blockages in its piping for City sewer customers and clears a blockage found in City pipelines. Private piping remains the customer's responsibility.

Why is sewage coming up through the shower?

The shower is often one of the home's lowest drain openings. A downstream blockage can cause wastewater from another fixture to emerge there.

Can heavy rain cause a sewer backup?

Heavy rain can coincide with public-system or private-drainage problems, but the timing alone does not locate the blockage. Stop using water and have the responsible line diagnosed.

Should I open the outside sewer cleanout?

Opening a pressurized or backed-up cleanout can release wastewater. If you are uncertain, leave it closed and wait for the utility or plumber.

Does a sewer camera clear a clog?

No. A camera helps inspect accessible pipe conditions. The obstruction may need to be cleared before the camera can provide a useful view.

What if my Sarasota property uses a septic system?

Do not call the City about a private septic failure. Stop water use and describe whether the problem affects one fixture or the entire house. A plumber can evaluate building drains, while septic-tank or drainfield problems may require a qualified septic professional.

Sources

• City of Sarasota Utilities — Sewer Services
• Sarasota County Utilities — Sewer Leaks and Sewer Emergencies