Sewer and Basement Backup Help in Milwaukee
When it rains hard in Milwaukee, some basements take on water through the floor drain. The cause is usually in the pipe between the house and the street, and that pipe belongs to the owner.
Why it happens after storms
Sanitary sewers are meant to carry wastewater only. When rain gets into them through cracked laterals, foundation drains tied into the sewer, or downspouts that were never disconnected, they fill, and the lowest opening on the system is often your floor drain. In parts of the city near downtown and in much of Shorewood the sewers are combined by design, carrying sewage and storm water in one pipe, which makes heavy rain an even more direct risk for basements there.
What to do while it is happening
- Stop using water upstairs: no laundry, dishwasher, showers or flushing.
- Keep out of standing water near electrical equipment.
- Photograph the water level and anything damaged, before cleanup.
- Call your insurer early; sewer backup cover is often a separate rider.
Finding the cause
A camera inspection of the lateral is the starting point. It shows whether the line is cracked, root-filled, offset or sagging, and whether anything else is tied into it. A clean, sound lateral that still backs up in storms points to the sewer main being overwhelmed, which is when a backwater valve becomes the conversation. A broken lateral points to repair first, because a valve on a failing pipe protects nothing for long.
Backwater valves
A backwater valve is a one-way flap in the building drain that closes when the sewer pushes back. Installing one in an older Milwaukee basement means cutting the concrete floor, excavating to the drain, setting the valve with access for maintenance, and patching the floor, so it is quoted as a project. One thing to plan for: while the valve is closed, water you run in the house has nowhere to go, so the household has to stop using water during a storm. Our backwater valve guide covers who benefits and what to ask.
MMSD Pipe Check, and city lateral programmes
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District runs Pipe Check, which offers financial incentives for sewer lateral repair and for taking clear water out of the sanitary system, such as disconnecting foundation drains, adding sump pumps and removing downspouts. The incentive is paid by MMSD to a Pipe Check approved contractor, so the plumbing company has to be one of those for you to benefit. Eligibility has included one- and two-family homes in the MMSD service area. The City of Milwaukee also runs lateral work with MMSD for some owner-occupied properties with code violations. Check current terms with MMSD and the city before any digging.
Water came up through the floor drain? Call once it stops and ask about a camera inspection.
Common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup?
Often only if you added a sewer or water backup rider. It is a separate line on most policies. Check before the next storm, not after.
Will a sump pump stop a sewer backup?
No. A sump pump handles groundwater from foundation drains. A sewer backup comes through the drain system, and a backwater valve is what addresses that.
Is the lateral under the street my responsibility?
The lateral from your house to the sewer main is the property owner’s to maintain. Work in the street or right-of-way needs the right permits, which the plumbing company arranges.
What is the MMSD Pipe Check programme?
An MMSD incentive for sewer lateral repair and clear-water disconnection, paid through approved contractors. Ask the company quoting you whether they are on the approved list, and check eligibility with MMSD.
Other plumbing help in Milwaukee
- Plumber in Milwaukee, WI
- Emergency Plumber in Milwaukee
- Drain Cleaning in Milwaukee
- Water Heater Repair in Milwaukee
- Water Heater Installation in Milwaukee
Also serving
Sewer & Basement Backups is available beyond Milwaukee, across Wauwatosa , West Allis , Bay View and Riverwest .
Ask about sewer & basement backups
Say what is happening and a local plumbing company will get back to you, often the same or next day for repairs. Answered Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm · emergencies: call and say so first Or call (414) 533-6106 — for anything leaking right now, calling is faster.