Toilet and sewer pipe backups could result in sewage entering your basement or other parts of your home or business. This dark, thick water is extremely hazardous and contains many dangerous contaminants. These contaminants are made up of pathogens, bacteria and viruses and present health risks and sickness dangers if humans or animals experience exposure. Fixing these problems ASAP is highly important, as is getting rid of the sewage from your property. Having knowledge of what may lead to sewer blockages may help you prevent a hazardous situation in your home or basement. Following is a list of things that may aid in stopping 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 waste can swell into the connected sewer lines putting your home or business in possible risk of water backflow. Rising rivers and streams, hurricanes and other similar events can cause flood and sewage waters to blend 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 be aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could inhale it into your lungs. To protect from contact or risk of breathing in these contaminants, legitimate PPE should be used at all times.
  • Roots from Trees – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer lines and crush or impair them. Damage to pipes and a sewer backup can also be caused by tree roots that aren’t even on your land. Be keenly aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer lines that lead to the main sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Pipes – Older and aging sewage systems are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood or house 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 clogged, sewage may back up inside the building. A fine example is: if a single commode causes a sewage backup, the adjacent pipes connected to that toilet, or the main drain lines 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 sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the chance 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 sewer pipes can’t deal with excess waters, 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 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 ailments. Use extreme carefulness when wading in this type of waste, but also remain cautious once it dries. The dried organic waste can turn aerosolized and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be worn at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling tainted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Pipes – A fouled pipe or sewer line can cause sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one commode becomes blocked, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer lines and influence all attached toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can be harmful to water and sewer lines. The roots from big trees can make their way into and around the lines and damage them tremendously. If the roots around your property are not the problem, roots from nearby trees can cross property lines and harm your sewer line, causing a sewage issue. Be extra aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes that run to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s sewage cleaning and sanitation process in Silver Spring, MD

The PuroClean method for cleaning and remediating Category 3 water, which is sewer and tainted water backup cleaning and restoration identified by IICRC industry standards, consisting of:

1. Ensure all personnel and occupants remain safe by limiting access to the site to remediation employees only in order to stop any health-related problems.

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

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

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

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

5. Preventing all potential dangers and safety risks if possible.

6. Disposal, removal of bulk flooding, 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:

  • Gypsum board (drywall)
  • Carpet, rugs, pad, and/or underlayment
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Padded and upholstered belongings

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

9. Manual cleaning of all remaining structure areas

10. A clearance inspection by a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to assure the building is returned to a pre-loss condition for health and safety.

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

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

13. All materials from demolition process removed completely

For the Perfect Professional Silver Spring, MD Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

What happens if a sewer main backup occurs in your house or business? The correct answer is: Contact PuroClean! For the simple fact that PuroClean technicians are your ideal professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services. With state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems, we efficiently restore, fix and completely clean the affected parts in your home or business.

We have proved time after time that our work and our technicians are top quality, efficient, and work with care and empathy for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning group and we pledge to do whatever needs to be done to rescue and restore all homes and businesses in the communities we serve.

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

PUROCLEAN HAS TRAINED

Over 20K

INDUSTRY EXPERTS
through our franchise network

WE ARE THE EXPERTS

150 CEs Nationwide

We’ve trained over 20k industry experts through the Puroclean franchise network

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