Fouled sewer lines can leak out sewage; a thick, dark substance that forms. Sewage water is a dangerous health hazard and unsanitary; which contains contaminants like pathogens, viruses and bacteria. These dangerous contaminants may present risks of serious illness if animals or humans suffer exposure. Quick repair is key if you have sewage backup anywhere in your home or business . Quickly repairing this will prevent the hazardous waste water from lingering in occupied areas. To stop a hazardous condition occurring in your home or business, being aware of what leads to the sewer problems could be extremely helpful. We’ve put together a list of items to aid in preventing and handling home or business sewage blockages:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess rains can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the water can swell into the connected sewer lines putting your home or business in possible risk of water backflow. Surging rivers and streams, hurricanes and other relevant events can force flood and sewage waters to mix and present serious health related problems. You should be immensely cautious when walking in this type of water, and even stay watchful after the water recedes and dries up. It’s possible for the organic matter to become aerosolized and respirable, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To prevent contact or risk of inhaling these contaminants, legitimate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Tree Roots – Trees can have long 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 keenly 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 Pipes – Older and aging sewage structures are susceptible to breaking down and cracking, inducing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood 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 pipes or drain pipes become clogged, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A fine example is: if a single toilet causes a sewage blockage, the adjacent pipes connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also suffer backflow flooding.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Older sewage systems have a tendency to suffer damage and crumble, leading to sewer water influx and flooded homes or businesses full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the chance is greater that you’ll experience failing sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and sudden rainfall can defeat your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewer pipes 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 problems. Regional flood waters from events like rising 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 difficulties. Use extreme caution when wading in this type of water, but also stay cautious when it dries. The dried organic waste can turn aerosolized and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be used at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling contaminated air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Sewer Lines – A fouled pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one toilet becomes fouled, the sewage backup can spread into the sewer pipes and affect all connected toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can cause damage to water and sewer pipes. The roots from big trees can maneuver into and around the pipes and damage them excessively. If the roots around your property are not the cause, roots from nearby trees can extend under property lines and damage your sewer pipes, causing a sewage problem. Be super aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes leading to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s sewage cleaning and sanitation process in Post Falls, ID

The PuroClean process for cleaning and remediating Category 3 water, which is sewer and polluted water backup cleaning and restoration identified by IICRC industry regulations, consisting of:

1. Ensuring safety for all personnel and occupants by placing strict rules on site access to remediation personnel only in order to prevent health related occurrences.

2. Health & safety survey and complete building assessment.

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

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

4. Establish engineering controls, critical barriers if required to prevent cross-contamination.

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

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

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

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

8. Implement cleaning procedures and use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

10. We recommend using a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to perform clearance testing to ensure the site is returned to a safe pre-loss state for health and safety.

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

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

13. All demo materials removed from the building

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Post Falls, ID!

Call the PuroClean specialists for sewage abatement, cleaning and remediation. Whether it’s from a stopped up toilet, flood waters or sewage drain backups to tackle the problem for your home or business. PuroClean uses the newest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleansing tools to completely and effectively clean and remediate all affected objects and structures.

The professional nature of our sewage removal and cleaning solutions, the expeditious way in which we deliver them, and the compassion we demonstrate throughout the whole process make PuroClean your ideal damage restoration and remediation company. We will strive 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.

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