Blocked sewer lines can leak out sewage; a thick, dark water 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 illness if animals or humans are exposed to them. Timely repair is key if you have sewage backup anywhere in your home or business . Quickly repairing this will prevent the dangerous waste water from staying in occupied areas. To prevent a hazardous condition occurring in your home or business, knowing what causes the sewer problems could be beneficial. We’ve put together a list of items to aid in preventing and dealing with home or business sewage backups:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

  • Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can infiltrate your home or business when either your drain lines or the main sewer line becomes clogged. For example, if one commode creates a sewage blockage, the drain connected to that toilet, or the mainline of more toilets, will likely also be obstructed.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can grow into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by growing around it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the problem, roots from nearby trees can reach your sewer line and damage it, forcing a sewer backup. Always be aware of roots where your mainline to the street or septic system is located.
  • Defective Sewer Lines – Aging sewage systems may break down and crack, creating sewage backups and flooded homes and basements. The older your neighborhood is, the greater possibility of these types of problems.
  • Extreme Weather – Heavy amounts of rain can overburden your city’s storm sewer mains. If the public storm sewers can’t handle excess rainfall, the water can make its way into attached sewer lines, which will put your home or business at risk of water backflows. Area-wide flooding waters from events such as rising rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other isolated events can also mix with sewage waste and other chemicals and contaminants that can cause health-related issues. Extreme caution is needed when trying to walk in these waters, and even when the water recedes and begins to dry out. Dried out organic matter can then become aerosolized and become respirable. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to avoid contact and risk of breathing in this harmful matter.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Honolulu, HI

Our methods for Category 3 water (also known as sewer and contaminated water backup) cleanup, following the IICRC industry standards, consists of:

1. Ensure all employees and occupants stay safe by restricting access to the site to restoration employees only in order to prevent any health-related issues.

2. Health and Safety survey and assessment of the workplace.

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

4. Create engineering controls, firm barriers if required to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Removing any type of potential safety risks if at all possible.

6. Disposal, removal of bulk water, soil, 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:

  • Carpet, rugs, pad, or underlayment
  • Padded and upholstered objects
  • Drywall materials
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Hardwood flooring

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

9. Manual cleaning of all remaining structure material

10. A third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to perform clearance testing, to ensure the building is returned to a pre-loss condition for health and safety.

11. All materials damaged by water to be dried and returned to pre-loss condition

12. After completion of remediation – Cleansing of all equipment used

13. All materials from demolition process removed completely

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Honolulu, HI, Call PuroClean!

PuroClean technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning methods to effectively restore and clean the damaged building materials and belongings from your dwelling or business. If a sewage drain pipe backup from blockage happens, call our professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services.

We have proved time after time that our work and our specialists are top quality, efficient, and work with care and empathy for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning firm and we pledge to do whatever needs to happen to save and restore all properties in the communities we serve.

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

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