How To Clean Up After a Fairview Sewer Backup

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

Make sure to turn off the electricity to avoid shocks or fires.

Sewage Cleaning Process

A toilet overflow can be terrible already, but in the case of a clogged pipe and sewage backup, it's much more severe. In addition to potentially causing extensive water damage and secondary damage, sewer water is also extremely unsanitary. You must get the sewage cleaning process underway immediately to avoid as much loss as possible.
Whether hiring water damage cleanup experts or doing it yourself, here's the typical cleaning process after a water disaster involving sewage:

1. Wear Personal Protective Equipment
It's essential to wear PPE while you're handling the cleanup process. The most critical PPE are rubber boots, coveralls, gloves, a respirator and goggles.

2. Shut Off Utilities
Utilities must be shut off before the work begins. This includes electricity, gas and water. If you can't safely navigate to the breaker box or gas shutoff, a professional should be called out to do it. Electricity can flow freely and dangerously through a room where electronics are in the same area as the standing water.

3. Extract Standing Water
A wet/dry vacuum can be a tremendous help during the initial phase of the sewage cleaning process. It can safely, quickly and efficiently extract standing water and smaller debris.

4. Remove Contents
Remove as many belongings as possible from the affected area. Then, separate salvageable items from unsalvageable. Anything that can't be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and entirely dried within 48 hours may have to be disposed of. Carpet and upholstered furniture are commonly unsalvageable after this type of disaster. Sections of drywall also typically have to be cut out and replaced.

5. Clean and Disinfect
Use a low-suds detergent to clean the area as thoroughly as possible. Don't forget tiny crevices and higher areas where dirty water could've splashed. Then disinfect everything with a sanitizing solution.

6. Dry
Finally, it's critical to dry the entire area and all contents fully within 48 hours; mold can begin growing quickly. Open windows and doors and use dehumidifiers, fans, heaters and exhaust ventilation fans to remove the humidity.
When your Royal Pines, NC, home sustains damage from a toilet overflow, you must begin sewage cleaning immediately. Quick remediation helps to avoid extreme damage.