When sewer lines become blocked, the thick, black water that forms as sewage is a health risk, and is tremendously unsanitary as it contains contaminants such as pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that may pose a risk of extreme sickness illness if exposed to people or animals. If you have a sewage backup in your basement, or your toilet has backed up, you will need to fix it quickly, or you will end up with dirty water all over your floors. Knowing the cause of sewer backups, however, may help you prevent a hazardous situation in your basement, home or business. Following is a list of items that may help to prevent and deal with sewage backups:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

  • Blocked Drain Pipes – Sewage backs up into your home or business when your drain pipes or main sewer pipes become blocked. For example: if one bathroom starts a sewage backup, the attached drain and/or numerous toilets and the main line may become clogged.
  • Imposing Tree Roots – Trees with large strong plentiful roots have the capacity to grow into and around pipes, even demolishing sewer lines. Tree roots can reach a long distance and damage your pipes, causing a sewer backup. Keep an eye out for roots near your sewer mainline or septic tank area to prevent damage.
  • Aging & Damaged Sewer Lines – Aging sewer lines, pipes, drains and septic systems can fail by slowly cracking and crumbling over time – leading to sewage backups, water filled homes, and basements full of sewage. Keep in mind the age of your home and community and search for these potential problems.
  • Large Rainfall Amounts – Large amounts of rain can overcome your main storm and sewer lines. If it turns out that your public sewers can’t handle large rainfall levels, the water can backflow its way into the sewer lines linked to the mainline, and place your home or business in a likely dangerous possibility of sewer backup. There is a risk of severe health issues when in and around flooding waters in your region that occurs from flooding in rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other related weather, when water blends with sewage, contaminants and chemicals. When wading in these waters use extreme caution, and also when the water decreases and starts drying. Organic matter that is dried out can then turn aerosolized and present a threat of inhaling in these contaminants. Be sure to use proper PPE to protect against these dangerous risks.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Fayetteville, NC

Our cleaning and remediation procedures for Category 3 water (which describes sewer and contaminated water backup) according to the standards put in place by the IICRC industry are:

1. To protect the safety of all occupants and personnel by limiting jobsite access to restoration and cleanup personnel only to help stave off any health related occurrences.

2. Health and Safety survey and assessment of the entire work premises.

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

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

4. Create engineering controls, firm barriers if needed to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Eradicating all potential hazards and safety risks if possible.

6. Clearing the site of all bulk water, soil, and contaminates.

7. Eradication and disposal of all contaminate affected porous and semi-porous items that is not restorable – which can be but is not limited to:

  • Gypsum board (drywall)
  • Carpeting, rugs, pad, and/or subflooring
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Padded and upholstered objects

8. Cleaning processes put in place and the use of EPA certified biocides and antimicrobials

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structure items

10. A third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to perform clearance testing, to ensure the building is returned to a pre-loss condition for health and safety.

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

12. All equipment used on the project to be cleaned after restoration completion

13. All materials from demolition work removed completely

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Fayetteville, NC!

Contact the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal, cleaning and restoration. Whether it’s from a blocked toilet, flood waters or sewage drain backups to tackle the problem for your dwelling. PuroClean uses the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleansing tools to completely and effectively clean and restore all affected items and structures.

The quality of our sewage removal and cleaning solutions, the expeditious way in which we deliver them, and the compassion we demonstrate throughout the entire process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration and remediation company. We promise to do whatever it takes to restore and rescue properties in all the communities we serve.

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

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