When sewer pipes become obstructed, the thick, black water that forms as sewage is a health hazard, and is extremely unsanitary as it contains contaminants such as pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that may pose a risk of severe illness if exposed to humans or animals. If you have a sewage backup in your basement, or your toilet backs up, you will need to repair it quickly, or you will end up with sewage all over your home or business. Knowing what causes 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:

Sewage Backup Causes

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the water can back up into the attached sewer lines putting your home or business in possible risk of water backflow. Swelling rivers and streams, hurricanes and other similar events can force flood and sewage waters to blend and present genuine health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when walking in this sort of water, and even stay vigilant 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 breathe it into your lungs. To stop contact or risk of inhaling these contaminants, appropriate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Tree Roots – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer pipes and crush or break them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your land. Be keenly aware of any tree roots that can sprawl into 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 breaking down and cracking, causing sewer backups, flooded basements along with entire home flooding. The older your region or dwelling may raise the threat of this type of damage occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your home or business’s main sewer line or drain pipes become blocked, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A fine example is: if a single commode causes a sewage backup, 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 crumble, leading to sewage backups and flooded homes or businesses full of sewage. If your home or region is older, the probability is greater that you’ll experience damaged sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and rapid rainfall can overpower your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewers can’t deal with excess rainfall, water can backup and progress into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow difficulties. Regional flood waters from events like surging rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any similar weather events can cause clean water to mix with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health problems. Use extreme caution when wading in this type of water, but also stay cautious once it dries. The dried organic material can turn aerosolized and turn respirable. Correct PPE needs to be used at all times to prevent contact and risk inhaling polluted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Sewer Lines – A clogged pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one commode becomes blocked, the sewage backup can spread into the sewer pipes and influence all linked toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can wreak havoc on water and sewer pipes. The roots from big trees can maneuver into and around the pipes and damage them tremendously. If the roots under your property are not the cause, roots from closely located trees can extend under property lines and harm your sewer line, causing a sewage complication. Be super aware of all tree roots near your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes connected to your septic tank.

Our Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL process for sewage cleanup and sanitation

PuroClean’s process for cleaning and restoration of Category 3 water, aka sewer and contaminated water backup clean up following the IICRC industry standards, is as follows:

1. To protect the safety of all occupants and personnel by restricting jobsite traffic to restoration and cleaning personnel only to help stop any health related problems.

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:

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

4. Implement established engineering controls, critical barriers, to alleviate cross-contamination.

5. Completely getting rid of any potential safety risks if possible.

6. Clearing the jobsite of all bulk water, 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
  • Gypsum board (Drywall)
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Padded and upholstered items

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

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

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. Drying of all items affected by the sewer water intrusion back to pre-loss dry condition

12. Post remediation cleanup of all equipment used

13. All materials from demolition work removed completely

Call PuroClean for your Professional Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Sewage Cleanup Needs!

PuroClean technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning methods to effectively restore and clean the affected building materials and contents from your dwelling or business. If a sewage drain pipe backup from blockage is your problem, call our technicians for sewage removal and cleaning services.

The high measure of our sewage eradication and cleaning services along with the speed in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we demonstrate throughout the process make us your complete flood damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean promises to do whatever it takes to save, clean and restore all properties that are within our service regions.

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

Water Damage Restoration by PuroClean

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