Toilet and sewer line backups may result in sewage entering your basement or other portions of your home or company. This dark, thick water is highly hazardous and contains quite a lot of dangerous contaminants. These contaminants are made up of pathogens, bacteria and viruses and cause health risks and illness dangers if people or animals become exposed. Repairing these problems ASAP is highly important, as is removing sewage from your premises. Having information of what may cause sewer backups may help you avoid a hazardous situation in your home or basement. Following is a list of things that may help prevent sewage backups that may occur in your home or business:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer system. If this happens, the water can swell into the connected sewer lines bringing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Rising rivers and streams, hurricanes and other similar events can cause flood and sewage waters to blend and present genuine health related problems. You should be highly cautious when wading in this sort of water, and even stay cautious after the water recedes and dries up. It’s probable for the organic matter to become aerosolized and respirable, meaning there’s a chance you could inhale it into your lungs. To protect from 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 damage them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your property. 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 Pipes – Older and aging sewage systems are susceptible to breaking down and cracking, causing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your region or dwelling may raise the threat of this type of catastrophe 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 building. A good example is: if a single toilet causes a sewage backup, the lines connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Older sewage systems have a propensity to fail and crack, leading to sewage backups and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or region is older, the probability is greater that you’ll experience impaired sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Heavy Rain – Heavy and rapid downpours can overwhelm your local storm sewer lines promptly. If these public sewers can’t deal with excess waters, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your dwelling 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 mix with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health consequences. Use extreme carefulness when wading in this type of water, but also remain cautious once it dries. The dried organic material can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be worn at all times to prevent contact and risk inhaling polluted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Sewer Lines – A fouled pipe or sewer line can cause sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one toilet becomes backed up, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer pipes and disturb all attached toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can be harmful to water and sewer pipes. The roots from big trees can maneuver into and around the pipes and damage them tremendously. If the roots on your property are not the cause, roots from nearby trees can extend under property lines and ruin your sewer line, causing a sewage problem. Be extra aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes that run to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Metairie, LA

The PuroClean method for cleaning and restoring Category 3 water, which is sewer and contaminated water backup cleaning and restoration as set forth by IICRC industry standards, consisting of:

1. Ensure the safety of all personnel and non-personnel by regulating onsite access to restoration personnel only to prevent health-related dangers

2. Health & safety survey and complete building assessment.

3. Be positive that all restoration specialists are equipped with the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes but is not limited to:

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

4. Create engineering controls, critical barriers if required to prevent 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:

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

8. Implement cleaning methods and use of EPA certified biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleansing of all remaining structures

10. It is recommended to schedule a third party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) for a safety clearance inspection to ensure the entire site is returned to pre-loss state for health and safety.

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

12. Post remediation cleaning of all equipment used

13. All materials from demolition process removed completely

For the Perfect Professional Metairie, LA Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

Call the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal, cleaning and restoration. Whether it’s from a clogged toilet, flood waters or sewage drain backups to manage the problem for your dwelling. PuroClean uses the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to completely and effectively clean and remediate all affected objects and structures.

The high measure of our sewage abatement and cleaning services along with the timeliness in which we complete the work, and the sheer compassion we demonstrate throughout the process make PuroClean your complete damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean promises to do whatever it takes to rescue, clean and restore all properties that lie within our service neighborhoods.

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

All of the employees were courteous and professional. I am meticulous about my home and am wary of letting anyone who I don't know in to do repairs. Michael's staff was HARD WORKING and TRUSTWORTHY [...]


Linda S.

Michael and his team are by far the best! Professional, courteous and responsive, we would not leave our home to anyone else. After having moisture issues in several rooms of our home, Michael and [...]


Margaret S.

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