Sewage cleanup
A sewage backup is a health problem before it is a property problem. The water carries bacteria and viruses, and porous materials it touches, like carpet, pad, drywall and insulation, cannot be cleaned and have to be removed. Hard surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected. Doing this properly is what makes the room safe to live in again.
What sewage cleanup covers
- Sewage and contaminated water extracted from floors, basements and crawl spaces
- Carpet, pad, drywall and insulation that contacted sewage removed and bagged
- Hard surfaces cleaned, disinfected and treated with an antimicrobial
- Odor treated at the source rather than covered up
- Structural drying after cleaning, monitored to dry standard
- Rebuild of the removed materials once the area is clean and dry
Where backups come from
A blocked main sewer line, a failed ejector pump in a basement bathroom, a septic system that is full, or a municipal sewer surcharging in a heavy storm. The plumbing cause has to be fixed by a plumber or septic company before cleanup is worth doing; otherwise it comes back. We coordinate so the cleanup starts as soon as the line is clear.
Keep out of it
Do not walk through it, do not run a household vacuum on it, and keep children and pets away. If it reached the HVAC return or a floor register, tell us; the duct side needs attention too.
Questions about sewage cleanup
Can the carpet be cleaned?
No. Carpet and pad that contacted sewage are removed. Cleaning cannot make them safe.
How long before I can use the room?
Removal and disinfecting is usually a day or two; drying a few days after that. The rebuild follows. We give you a timeline at the inspection.
The backup is in a finished basement. Is the whole basement affected?
Often only part of it. We map where the water traveled, which is usually further than it looks, and take out only what was touched.