The primary cause of sewage water damage to a home is sewage backup. When public wastewater pipes are blocked, sewage water can overflow from city and residential plumbing pipes into your home.
Sewer backups should always be considered an emergency, as the water most likely contains viruses, bacteria, and organisms capable of causing serious illnesses. Likewise, water from a sewer line is the most difficult type of flood to mitigate. Our experts are certified, have the training, and equipment to promptly and safely restore your home.
Our primary objective is your protection and safety. In the case of a sewage cleanup or removal emergency, give us a call.
The Sewage Cleaning Process
During this overwhelming time, our aim is efficiency and safety, and here is how we accomplish this goal:
1. Upon arrival, our team will remove the sewage from all of your carpets, replacing the foam padding and insulation. Within a few hours your walls and carpets will start the drying process.
2. Our professionals will provide you with deep cleaning services to thoroughly disinfect your walls, floors, cabinets and other affected surfaces.
3. If you have furniture lightly damaged by sewer backup, we will clean and sanitize it as well.
In accordance with IICRC standards, sewage handling and removal should only be performed by trained and experienced technicians that are equipped with full protective equipment. We adhere closely, and our professionals will be wearing tyvek suits, gloves, and masks.
Your cleanup team consists of certified technicians that will have specialized equipment – air scrubbers and dehumidifiers – and will perform the cleanup according to IICRC industry standards.
Factors When Assessing Your Cleanup
Prior to and during the removal process, our technicians will consider several factors such as:
- Types of materials affected
- Extent of contaminated absorbent material
- Extent of damage
- Elapsed contact time
- Amount of ventilation available and needed
One critical consideration is the type of contaminated water. The level of contamination will determine the steps to properly remove, sanitize, and restore your home to its original and safe pre-sewage state.
3 Classifications for Contaminated Sewage Water
Clean Water – Clean water is from a clean source like a broken water supply line or leaking faucet. If not treated quickly, this water can turn into category 2 or 3, depending on length of time, temperature, and contact with surrounding contaminants.
- Water coming from a clean source, such as a broken water line
- Untreated, this water can degrade to category 2 or 3
Gray Water – Gray water is contaminated and could cause discomfort or illness. Examples include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with no feces; or dishwasher overflow.
- May contain bacteria, as well as viruses
- This water has the potential to quickly degrade to category 3
Black Water – Black water is heavily contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, contact should be strictly avoided. Examples of black water include flooding from rivers or streams, water from behind the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces.
- May contain untreated sewage, chemicals, microbes and pathogens
What Causes Backups, Blockages and Pipe Damage
There are four main causes for pipe blockages which lead to sewage water back up in your home. While some are easy to prevent, others are hidden and hard to detect before the damage occurs. Be aware, and take effort to reduce the following causes that you can:
- Solid Flushes – The most common cause for sewage water removal is when sewage backs up from a blockage in the pipeline between the city main and your home. This is usually caused by objects in the sewage system such as diapers, garbage, toys or other items that should not be flushed and do not naturally decompose.
- Structural Damage – Structural damage can develop in a home’s sewage system over time. Misaligned pipes, pipe collapses and cracks or holes in the line can lead to sewage overflow, requiring its removal and reconstruction of sewer lines.
- Root Infiltration – Tree roots can cause sewage backups by invading the water pipeline at its joints and growing throughout the pipeline. Tree roots are also capable of cracking and breaking sewage and water pipes, creating additional structural damage.
- City Sewer Main Backup or Surge – When backup occurs in a city sewage line, wastewater will normally overflow out of the lowest opening. In some homes, those with basements in particular, the surging wastewater may exit through the home’s lower drains and toilets.
Why Speed Matters Up and How We Can Help
In a sewage emergency, time is of the essence. The faster the response, the less damage your home is likely to suffer. Our certified professionals have the equipment and training to get your home back to normal efficiently. Swift action can keep a simple cleanup from becoming a major event. Call us 24/7 to assess, act and resolve your sewage and waste water situation.