Fouled sewer lines can leak out sewage; a thick, dark substance that forms. Sewage water is a dangerous health hazard and unsanitary; containing contaminants like pathogens, viruses and bacteria. These dangerous 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 repairing this will prevent the dangerous waste water from staying in occupied areas. To stop a hazardous condition happening in your home or business, knowing what leads to the sewer backups could be beneficial. We’ve created a list of things to aid in preventing and dealing with home or business sewage backups:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

  • Heavy Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the water can expand into the attached sewer lines bringing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Growing rivers and streams, hurricanes and other relevant events can force flood and sewage waters to mix and present genuine health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when wading in this type of water, and even stay cautious after the water recedes and dries up. It’s probable for the organic matter to turn aerosolized and respirable, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To prevent contact or risk of inhaling these contaminants, appropriate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Tree Roots – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer lines and crush or impair them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your property. Be very 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 structures are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, inducing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your region or dwelling may raise the chance of this type of catastrophe occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your house or business’s main sewer line or drain pipes become blocked, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A good example is: if a single toilet causes a sewage blockage, the drains connected to that toilet, or the main drain lines of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Older sewage systems have a propensity to fail and crack, leading to sewer water influx and flooded homes or businesses full of sewage. If your home or region is older, the likelihood is greater that you’ll experience failing sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and sudden downpours can overpower your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewer lines can’t deal with excess downpours, water can backup and progress into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow problems. Local 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 consequences. Use extreme caution when moving on foot in this type of water, but also stay cautious when it dries. The dried organic matter can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be utilized at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling contaminated 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 blocked, the sewer water backup can spread on to the sewer lines and affect all attached toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can wreak havoc on water and sewer lines. The roots from large trees can make their way into and around the lines and damage them excessively. If the roots on your property are not the cause, roots from closely located trees can cross property lines and damage your sewer line, causing a sewage issue. Be extra aware of all tree roots near your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes connected to your septic tank.

Our Warrenton, VA sewage cleanup and sanitation process

PuroClean’s process for cleaning and restoration of Category 3 water, aka sewer and contaminated water backup clean up following 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 problems.

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:

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

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

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

6. Disposal, removal of bulk sewage water, soil, and contaminates.

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

  • Carpet, rugs, pad, or underlayment
  • Padded and upholstered furniture
  • Gypsum board
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Wooden flooring

8. Cleaning processes put in place and the use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleansing of all remaining structures

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 affected by the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry standards

12. Post restoration cleaning of all equipment used

13. Disposal of all demolished materials removed from the building

Call PuroClean for your Professional Warrenton, VA Sewage Cleanup Needs!

When a sewage drain line backup happens in your home or business, contact the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal and cleaning services. Our employees use state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to effectively remediate the damaged building materials and contents.

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

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

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