Toilet and sewer line backups can result in sewage entering your basement or other areas of your home or company. This dark, thick water is highly hazardous and contains many dangerous contaminants. These contaminants are made up of pathogens, bacteria and viruses and present health risks and illness dangers if people or animals experience exposure. Repairing these problems ASAP is imperative, as is getting rid of the sewage from your property. Having information of what may cause sewer blockages may help you avoid a hazardous incident in your home or basement. Please see this list of things that may aid in stopping sewage backups that may occur in your home or business:

Sewage Backup Causes

  • Heavy Rainfall – Excess rains can overwhelm your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the waste can expand into the connected sewer lines putting your home or business in possible risk of water backflow. Growing 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 highly cautious when walking in this type of water, and even stay vigilant after the water recedes and dries up. It’s viable for the organic matter to be aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To stop 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 break them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be caused 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 Lines – Older and aging sewage structures are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing 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 line or drain pipes become fouled, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A good example is: if a single commode causes a sewage backup, the lines 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 propensity to suffer damage and crumble, leading to sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the likelihood is greater that you’ll experience impaired sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Heavy Rain – Heavy and rapid downpours can defeat your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewer mains can’t deal with excess waters, water can backup and flow 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 similar weather events can cause clean water to merge with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health difficulties. Use extreme caution when moving on foot in this type of waste, but also remain cautious when it dries. The dried organic waste can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be utilized at all times to prevent 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 commode becomes fouled, the sewer water backup can spread on to the sewer pipes and affect all attached toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can wreak havoc on water and sewer pipes. The roots from huge trees can make their way into and around the pipes and damage them tremendously. If the roots around your property are not the problem, roots from closely located trees can cross property lines and harm your sewer line, causing a sewage complication. Be super aware of all tree roots that could affect your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes connected to your septic tank.

Our Macedonia, OH process for sewage cleanup and sanitation

Our cleaning and remediation procedures for Category 3 water (which describes sewer and contaminated water backup) according to the standards put in place by the IICRC industry are:

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

2. Health and Safety checks and assessment of the entire work premises.

3. Be thorough 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. Put engineering controls in place, as well as critical barriers if needed to stop any cross-contamination from occurring.

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

6. Clearing the work area 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 procedures and use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structure material

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

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

12. Post restoration cleaning of all equipment used

13. Disposal of all remaining materials removed from the project

For the Perfect Professional Macedonia, OH Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

What do you do if a sewer line backup occurs in your dwelling or business? The correct answer is: Call PuroClean! Simply because PuroClean technicians are your ideal professionals for sewage abatement and cleaning services. With the latest and greatest equipment and cleaning systems, we efficiently restore, fix and completely cleanse the affected parts in your home or business.

The high goals of our sewage eradication and cleaning services along with the rapidity in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we practice throughout the process make PuroClean your complete flood damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean pledges to do whatever it takes to save, clean and restore all properties that lie within our service neighborhoods.

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

"The technician was professional and very nice. He was prompt and I appreciate him keeping me updated."

ANN E.
North Royalton, OH

"Excellent, efficient and professional service. Highly recommend."

MARK M.
Ravennal, OH

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