When a sewer line is obstructed, the sewage that is thick and dark can be dangerous to your health. This sewer waste is extremely unsanitary, containing contaminants like bacteria, viruses and pathogens. All of these dangerous germs can pose a serious health risk and lead to many illnesses if humans or animals suffer exposure. If it happens that you suffer a sewage backup on the premises of your home or business, or a toilet backup in either location, repairing either one is of the highest importance. Having this filthy sewer waste in your home is not safe and should be removed quickly. Also, to know what is causing the sewer obstruction may aid in stopping this potentially hazardous situation. To help you in managing sewage backups in your home or business, following is a list of things that can help:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess rains can overwhelm your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the waste can expand into the connected sewer lines bringing your home or business in possible compromise of water backflow. Surging rivers and streams, hurricanes and other related events can force flood and sewage waters to mix and present serious health related dangers. You should be immensely cautious when walking in this sort of water, and even stay watchful after the water recedes and dries up. It’s probable for the organic matter to turn aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could inhale it into your lungs. To stop contact or risk of breathing in these contaminants, appropriate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Roots from Trees – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer pipes and crush or damage them. Damage to pipes and a sewer backup can also be induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your premises. Be acutely aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer pipes that lead to the central sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Lines – Older and aging sewage structures are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing sewer backups, flooded basements along with entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood or dwelling may raise the threat of this type of catastrophe occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your house or business’s main sewer line or drain pipes become clogged, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A good example is: if a single commode causes a sewage blockage, the drains connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Aging sewage systems have a tendency to fail and crack, leading to sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the chance is greater that you’ll experience damaged sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Heavy Rain – Heavy and sudden downpours can overpower your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewer mains can’t deal with excess waters, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow difficulties. Area flood waters from events like surging rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any rainy weather events can cause clean water to blend with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health consequences. Use extreme carefulness when wading in this type of waste, but also remain cautious when it dries. The dried organic matter can turn aerosolized and turn respirable. The right PPE needs to be worn at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling polluted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Pipes – A clogged pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one commode becomes fouled, the sewer water backup can spread on to the sewer pipes and disturb all attached toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can be harmful to water and sewer pipes. The roots from large trees can grow into and around the pipes and damage them excessively. If the roots on your property are not the problem, roots from nearby trees can grow under property lines and harm your sewer line, causing a sewage issue. Be extra aware of all tree roots near your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes leading to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Gilbert, AZ

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. Ensure the safety of all personnel and non-personnel by restricting onsite access to restoration personnel only to prevent health-related issues

2. Assessment of the area and Health and Safety checks.

3. Ensure all restoration personnel are equipped with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This can include but is not limited to:

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

4. Use established engineering controls, critical barriers, to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Removing any type of probable safety risks if at all possible.

6. Bulk water, soil, and contaminates removal

7. Removal of all contaminated porous and semi-porous materials which are not restorable, which can be but are not limited to:

  • Hardwood flooring
  • Padded and upholstered items
  • Gypsum board
  • Carpet, rugs, pad, or underlayment
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment

8. Implement cleaning methods and utilization of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Full physical cleaning of all structure items that remain

10. A clearance test by a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to safeguard that the building is returned to a pre-affected condition for health and safety.

11. All materials affected by excess waters are to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry condition

12. Post remediation cleanup of all equipment used

13. Disposal of all remaining materials removed from the project

For the Perfect Professional Gilbert, AZ Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

What do you do if a sewer main backup occurs in your dwelling or business? The perfect answer is: Call PuroClean! Simply because PuroClean technicians are your absolute professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services. With state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems, we efficiently restore, remediate and completely cleanse the affected parts in your home or business.

The quality of PuroClean’s sewage removal and cleaning services, the expeditious way in which we deliver them, and the compassion we demonstrate throughout the whole 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 provide sewage cleanup and sanitation cleaning services.

"Coming back from a vacation is always a little depressing, but coming back to water damage in your home is a nightmare. We got very lucky to have Chad and Avelina with PuroClean to clean up the mess. [...]

GILBERT FAMILY RETURNS FROM VACATION TO FIND HOME FLOODED...
Gilbert, Arizona

Trusted people. -Tiscar Valles Chandler, AZ


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