Toilet and sewer line backups may result in sewage entering your basement or other areas of your home or business. This dark, thick water is very hazardous and contains quite a lot of dangerous contaminants. These contaminants consist of pathogens, bacteria and viruses and present health risks and illness dangers if humans or animals experience exposure. Repairing these problems ASAP is highly important, as is removing sewage from your home or business. Having information of what may cause sewer blockages may help you avoid a hazardous situation in your home or basement. Following is a list of things that may aid in stopping sewage backups that may occur in your home or business:

Sewage Backup Causes

  • Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can infiltrate your home or business when either your drain lines or the main sewer line gets clogged. For example, if one commode creates a sewage backup, the drain connected to that toilet, or the mainline of more toilets, will likely also be obstructed.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can move into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by growing around it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the problem, roots from adjoining property can reach your sewer pipe and damage it, causing a sewer backup. Always be watching for roots where your sewer lines to the street or septic system is located.
  • Damaged Sewer Lines – Older sewage systems may break down and crack, creating sewage blockages and flooded homes and basements. The older your neighborhood is, the greater chance of these types of incidents.
  • Heavy Rainfall – Sudden large amounts of rain can overburden your town’s storm sewer mains. If the public systems can’t handle excess rainfall, the water can make its way into attached sewer lines, which can leave your home or business at risk of water backflows. Area-wide flooding waters from events like rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, and other micro events can also combine with sewage waste and other chemicals and contaminants that can cause health-related issues. Extreme care and safety is needed when wading in these waters, and even when the sewer water recedes and begins to dry out. Dried up organic matter can then become aerosolized and present the possibility of breathing it into your lungs. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to prevent contact and risk of breathing in these contaminants.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Queens, NY

Our methods for Category 3 water (also known as sewer and contaminated water backup) cleanup, following the IICRC industry standards, consists of:

1. Ensuring safety for all personnel and occupants by placing strict rules on site access to remediation personnel only in order to prevent health related occurrences.

2. Health & safety survey and complete building assessment.

3. Ensure proper personal protection equipment (PPE) is being utilized by all restoration personnel. This may include but is not limited to:

  • Rubber boots with steel toes and shank
  • Full-face respirator
  • Full body suit protection
  • Nitrile and cut resistant gloves

4. Put engineering controls in place, as well as critical barriers if needed to stop any cross-contamination from occurring.

5. Eradicating any type of potential safety risks if at all possible.

6. Disposal, removal of bulk flooding, soil, and contaminates.

7. Remove and dispose of all contaminated porous and semi-porous materials that are not able to be restored, which could include but is not limited to:

  • Carpet, rugs, pad, or underlayment
  • Padded and upholstered items
  • Drywall materials
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Wooden flooring

8. Cleaning procedures implemented, as well as the use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

10. We suggest using a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to conduct clearance testing to ensure the site is returned to a safe pre-loss condition for health and safety.

11. All materials affected by the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry standards

12. After completion of remediation – Cleaning of all equipment used

13. All demo materials removed from the building

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Queens, NY, Call PuroClean!

PuroClean technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning procedures to effectively restore and clean the unsound building materials and belongings from your dwelling or business. If a sewage drain line backup from blockage happens, call our technicians for sewage removal and cleaning services.

PuroClean has proved time after time that our services and our technicians are top quality, efficient, and work with care and grace for all involved. We are your ideal damage restoration and cleaning group and we pledge to do whatever needs to take place to rescue and restore all homes and businesses in the communities we serve.

*Not all PuroClean offices provide sewage cleanup and sanitation cleaning services.

I am beyond impressed by the quality of service I received from this company. From day one, David, Junior, Danny, and Yetsy proved to be some of the kindest, most professional, prompt, accommodating, and honest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. David’s consistent communication and remarkable ability to manage a team put me completely at ease throughout the entire process. The team was fast, efficient, reliable, and truly went above and beyond to get the job done right. I am so grateful for the time, effort, and care they put into helping me, and I would entrust them with any project in the future. If you are in need of a team of superheroes, these are your people!
Annalise Woolley
September 14, 2025
Outstanding service from Puroclean. Fast and friendly and professional!
Ryan Korkos
September 8, 2025
I am beyond impressed by the quality of service I received from this company. From day one, David, Junior, Danny, and Yetsy proved to be some of the kindest, most professional, prompt, accommodating, and honest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. David’s consistent communication and remarkable ability to manage a team put me completely at ease throughout the entire process. The team was fast, efficient, reliable, and truly went above and beyond to get the job done right. I am so grateful for the time, effort, and care they put into helping me, and I would entrust them with any project in the future. If you are in need of a team of superheroes, these are your people!
Annalise Woolley
September 14, 2025

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