Got a Sewer Backup? Get Professional Cleanup Help
6/17/2022 (Permalink)
As a homeowner in Park City, UT, you want your home to be a safe and welcoming place. If you come into find the sewer has backed up, it means black water is seeping into the porous materials in the home and potentially spreading. Sewer cleanup requires extra attention to safety, which is why it’s best to call a water damage and restoration company to handle the mess.
Important Steps in the Cleanup Process
Sewer Backup Cleanup Process
Black water, classified as Category 3 by the IICRC, means that there are potential contaminants, bacteria, chemicals and microorganisms lurking within it. Even a flooded toilet may be in this category, so it’s important to not just dive right in.
Sewer Cleanup Process
When you hire a professional company, you get peace of mind that the entire problem will be handled by one trusted company. Trained and certified professionals will have the expertise, safety gear and industry-grade tools to get your home back to like new. While every situation has different degrees of severity, the cleanup process typically involves the following steps.
- Containment: Containing the affected area is the first vital step. This will help ensure that secondary damage doesn’t spread to other areas.
- Extraction: Standing water and waste will be extracted using high-grade pumps and other tools. The waste and contaminated water will be properly disposed of. Water-logged belongings will also be removed and taken off-site to be inspected for salvageability.
- Dry Out: Air dryers and movers, along with dehumidifiers, will be used to thoroughly dry the area.
- Clean, Sanitize, Deodorize: After the area is dry, the real cleaning process begins. An array of industry-recommended cleaning methods will be used to ensure peace of mind.
- Restoration: The final, and often longest step, involves restoring the property to preloss condition. This may include replacing drywall, carpeting, flooring and other structural components depending on the degree of damage.
Prevention Tips
Once you have dealt with a sewer issue, you don’t want a repeat situation happening. While there may not be much a homeowner can do if it was due to a city sewer issue, there are ways to minimize the risk in regard to your sewer line.
If it’s been a while since you have had your plumbing inspected, now is a perfect time. A professional plumber will inspect the valves and pipes to ensure they are working properly and have the know-how to detect potential problems.
The easiest way to keep your sewer working right is to practice good habits. Avoid flushing chemical products or any items other than waste and toilet paper down the drain. In the kitchen, ensure that grease is being properly thrown away and not going down the drain. This causes a buildup in the pipes that will eventually affect the main sewer.
While trees add to a property’s aesthetic, know where your sewer pipes are before planting. Tree roots will quickly make their way through older pipes, causing an eventual clog or collapse.
Sewer cleanup is a messy job and one that requires adhering to strict safety protocols. Instead of dealing with it on your own, it's best to consider hiring a professional to handle the job from beginning to end.