When sewer lines become blocked, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health hazard, and is extremely unsanitary as it consists of contaminants like pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that can present 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 avoid 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

  • Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can back up into your home or business when either your drain lines or the main sewer line gets clogged. For example, if one toilet creates a sewage backup, the drain leading to that toilet, or the mainline of more toilets, will likely also be clogged.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can grow into pipes and cause holes or damage the sewer line by encircling it. Even if the roots on your property are not the issue, roots from nearby trees can reach your sewer line and damage it, forcing a sewer backup. Always be aware of roots where your sewer lines to the street or septic system is placed.
  • Aging Sewer Lines – Older sewage systems could break down and crack, causing sewage backups and flooded homes and basements. The older your neighborhood is, the greater chance of these types of issues.
  • Heavy Rainfall – Heavy amounts of rain can overburden your city’s storm sewer lines. If the public systems can’t handle large amounts of rainfall, the water can make its way into attached sewer lines, which can leave your home or business at risk of water backflows. City-wide flooding waters from events like rising rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other micro events can also mix with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful bacteria that can lead to health-related issues. Extreme caution is needed when trying to walk in these waters, and even when the flood recedes and begins to dry out. Dried out organic materials can then become aerosolized and present the possibility of breathing it into your lungs. Proper PPE should be worn to stop any contact and the danger of breathing in this harmful matter.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Las Vegas, NV

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

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

2. Health and Safety survey and assessment of the jobsite.

3. Ensure all restoration employees are supplied with and use the required personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes, but isn’t limited to the following:

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

4. Put into place established engineering controls, critical barriers, to alleviate cross-contamination.

5. Eliminating any and all lingering safety risks if possible.

6. Eradication of bulk water, soil, and contaminates.

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

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

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

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structure items

10. A clearance inspection 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 the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry standards

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

13. Elimination and disposal of all demo materials removed from the site

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Las Vegas, NV, Call PuroClean!

What happens if a sewer line backup occurs in your house or business? The perfect answer is: Contact PuroClean! Simply because PuroClean technicians are your ideal professionals for sewage abatement 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 high goals of our sewage abatement and cleaning services along with the rapidity in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we demonstrate throughout the process make us your complete water damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean promises to do whatever it takes to save, clean and restore all properties that lie within our service neighborhoods.

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

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