Steps for Safely Dealing with Sewage Damage in the Basements of Newtown Square, PA, Homes

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Media removes sewage backups in the basement. Using the best equipment and cleaning techniques, the cleaning professionals leave the basement clean, sanitary, and odor-free.

SERVPRO of Media provides sewage backup and water damage restoration services 24/7, 365 days a week, including holidays. When a sewage backup occurs, beginning the cleanup process as soon as possible is crucial to maintaining a sanitary and safe environment.

When dealing with flooding or a sewage backup in the basement of a Newtown Square, PA, home, follow the safety precautions listed below.

1. Avoid contact with raw sewage.

A sewage backup in the basement is a very unpleasant and undesirable situation. Raw sewage has a foul smell that will eventually spread to the entire structure if preventative measures are not taken to reduce or restrict airflow. The smell of raw sewage is caused by hydrogen sulfide.

Do not allow sewage to come in contact with the mouth or eyes. Pay special attention to any open wound, such as a cut, scrape, or sore, and make sure that the wound is protected from exposure to the sewage.

2. Stop the flow of sewage and water into the basement.

Do not flush the toilet since each flush introduces more raw sewage to the basement. Shut off water to the entire basement if burst pipes are the source of the water intrusion. Clean water released through a tub overflow or a burst pipe can mix with raw sewage, elevating the risk hazard to a black water incident. Black water refers to water contaminated with raw sewage.

3. Wear personal protective gear (PPG).

Rubber gloves, long sleeves, a face shield or protective eyewear, and a mask are essential to preserving safety. Rubber boots or hip waders should also be worn.

4. Take special measures to prevent the spreading of raw sewage throughout the home.

Cross-contamination can expand a localized sewage spill into a whole-house disaster scene. An expanded contamination site enlarges the scope of the project and adds significant expense to the cost of the cleanup and restoration. Ways through which contaminated liquid and residue can be spread through the home include:

• Foot traffic from contaminated boots and shoes
• Paw traffic from household pets
• Touching doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, and toilet flush handles with contaminated hands or gloves
• Sharing cell phones or other devices

These and other touchpoints can elevate a minor, messy inconvenience into a major cleanup project that costs thousands of dollars to remediate.

5. Hire a reputable property damage cleanup and restoration professional to handle the sewage cleanup and restoration.

The service provider should be bonded, licensed, and insured, and technicians should have IICRC certifications. The right equipment, cutting-edge moisture detecting technology, advanced cleaning techniques, and high-quality cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing products are necessary if the disaster site is to be restored to an odor-free, sanitary, and safe condition.

6. Evacuate vulnerable adults, children, and pets from the home.

Do not re-enter the structure until the sewage has been removed and the cleaning and restoration professionals acknowledge the site is clean and safe. Re-entering the house before the sewage is cleaned up can lead to cross-contamination.

How to Be Prepared for Sewage Damage

Pre-qualify a dedicated cleanup and restoration professional before a disaster strikes. A worst-case scenario is making frantic phone calls to damage restoration companies at 1:00 am while raw sewage spills out of the toilet or floor drain into the basement. Add a plumber to the pre-qualification list. In most instances, a reputable cleanup and restoration company will be able to turn off the main water valve or shut off the valve to a supply line. The solutions for a sewage backup may be more complex and involved.

SERVPRO of Media has the experience, certifications, equipment, cleaning techniques, and EPA-approved cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing products to clean up and restore a basement sewage backup.

A Best-Case Scenario in a Bad Situation

After receiving cleanup services for wastewater that caused basement water damage, a satisfied SERVPRO customer wrote in an online review, “Dominick and his team were very respectful of my belongings, they had great customer service, they were always on time and communicated well when they would be arriving, they were extremely thorough with their cleaning and sanitizing of the basement that was affected by wastewater. I will be recommending them to my friends & family if anyone is in need of restoration or for any of their other services.”

For more information about SERVPRO of Media’s water damage restoration services, contact the team of damage restoration professionals by phone at (610) 566-5720. The office can also be reached by emailing office@SERVPROmedia.com