When sewer pipes become blocked, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health danger, and is extremely unsanitary as it contains contaminants like pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that may pose a risk of severe illness if exposed to people or animals. If you have a sewer backed up in your basement, or your toilet has backed up, you will need to repair it quickly, or you will end up with dirty water all over your home or business. Knowing what causes sewer backups, however, may help you avoid a hazardous situation in your basement, home or business. Following is a list of items that may help to prevent and handle sewage backups:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can infiltrate your home or business when either your drain lines or the main sewer line gets clogged. For example, if one commode creates a sewage blockage, the drain leading to that toilet, or the mainline of many toilets, will likely also be clogged.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can grow into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by encircling it. Even if the roots on your property are not the problem, roots from adjoining property can reach your sewer line and damage it, forcing a sewer backup. Always be cognizant of roots where your sewer lines to the street or septic system is placed.
  • Damaged Sewer Lines – Older sewage systems may break down and crack, causing sewage backups and flooded homes and basements. The older your neighborhood is, the greater possibility of these types of issues.
  • Extreme Weather – Heavy amounts of rain can put a strain on your city’s storm sewer mains. If the public systems can’t handle large amounts of rainfall, the water can make its way into connected sewer lines, which can leave your home or business at risk of water backflows. City-wide flooding waters from events like rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, and other micro events can also mix with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful bacteria that can lead to health-related issues. Extreme caution is needed when wading in these waters, and even when the flood recedes and begins to dry out. Dried up organic materials can then become aerosolized and become respirable. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to avoid contact and the danger of breathing in these contaminants.

Our New Rochelle, NY process for sewage cleanup and sanitation

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

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

2. Inspection of the building along with 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:

  • Full face respirator
  • Nitrile and cut resistant gloves
  • Rubber boots with steel toes and shank
  • 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. Eliminating any and all lingering safety risks if possible.

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

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

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

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

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structure items

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

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

13. Elimination and disposal of all demo materials removed from the work areas

For the Perfect Professional New Rochelle, NY Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

If a sewage drain pipe backup takes place in your home or business, contact the PuroClean professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services. Our employees use state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to completely remediate the damaged building materials and contents.

The quality of PuroClean’s sewage removal and cleaning services, the expeditious way in which we deliver them, and the care we demonstrate throughout the whole process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration and remediation company. We promise to do whatever it takes to restore and rescue properties in all the areas we serve.

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

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