Obstructed sewer lines can leak out sewage; a thick, dark liquid that forms. Sewage water is a dangerous health hazard and unsanitary; which contains contaminants like pathogens, viruses and bacteria. These harmful contaminants may present risks of serious sickness if animals or humans are exposed to them. Quick repair is key if you have sewage backup anywhere in your home or business . Quickly taking care of this will prevent the hazardous waste water from lingering in occupied areas. To stop a hazardous condition happening in your home or business, knowing what causes the sewer incidents could be extremely helpful. We’ve created a list of items to aid in preventing and handling home or business sewage blockages:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Heavy Rainfall – Excess rains can overwhelm your town or city’s storm sewer system. If this happens, the water can expand into the connected sewer lines putting your home or business in possible compromise of water backflow. Surging rivers and streams, hurricanes and other relevant events can force flood and sewage waters to blend and present serious health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when wading in this sort of water, and even stay cautious after the water recedes and dries up. It’s viable for the organic matter to be aerosolized and respirable, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To stop contact or risk of breathing in these contaminants, appropriate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Roots from Trees – Trees can have long roots that grow into water or sewer pipes and crush or damage them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be caused by tree roots that aren’t even on your land. Be acutely aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer pipes that lead to the main 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 catastrophe occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your home or business’s main sewer pipes or drain pipes become fouled, sewage may back up inside the building. A fine example is: if a single toilet causes a sewage blockage, the lines connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also suffer backflow flooding.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Aging sewage systems have a tendency to suffer damage and crumble, leading to sewage backups and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or region is older, the chance is greater that you’ll experience failing sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and sudden rainfall can overwhelm your local storm sewer lines quickly. If these public sewer mains can’t deal with excess rainfall, water can backup and progress into connected sewer lines. This can put your dwelling at risk of backflow problems. Local flood waters from events like rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any rainy weather events can cause clean water to mix with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful toxins that cause serious health problems. Use extreme carefulness when wading in this type of water, but also remain cautious when it dries. The dried organic matter can turn airborne and turn respirable. The right PPE needs to be utilized at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling polluted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Pipes – A clogged pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one toilet becomes backed up, the sewer water backup can spread into the sewer pipes and affect all linked toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can cause damage to water and sewer pipes. The roots from huge trees can grow into and around the pipes and damage them excessively. If the roots around your property are not the culprit, roots from closely located trees can cross property lines and harm your sewer pipes, causing a sewage problem. Be extra aware of all tree roots that could affect your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes that run to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Temecula, CA

Our process for cleaning and restoration of Category 3 water, also known as sewer and contaminated water backup clean up according to the IICRC industry standards, is as follows:

1. To ensure the safety of all occupants and workers by limiting jobsite traffic to restoration and cleanup personnel only to help prevent any health related situations.

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

3. Ensure proper personal protection equipment (PPE) is being utilized by all restoration personnel. This may include 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. Engineering controls utilized and condemnatory barricades used (if needed) guarding against cross-contamination.

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

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

7. Removing any and all porous and semi-porous contaminated items that are unable to be saved, which includes but is not limited to:

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

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

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

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

11. All materials affected by excess waters are to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry condition

12. Post restoration cleaning of all equipment used

13. Disposal of all remaining materials removed from the site

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Temecula, CA!

PuroClean technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning procedures to effectively restore and clean the unsound building materials and contents from your home or business. If a sewage drain pipe backup from blockage happens, call our professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services.

PuroClean has proved time after time that our services and our technicians are top quality, efficient, and work with care and compassion for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning professionals and we pledge to do whatever needs to take place to rescue and restore all properties in the communities we serve.

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

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