A sewage backup can be caused by a variety of issues, including leaking, blocked or broken sewer pipes, a major storm event or even an improperly installed sewer system. Not only do sewage backups stink, they also cause damage to your property and personal belongings, and can create unsafe living conditions for you and your family. If your home suffers a sewage backup, here are a few of things you need to do to keep you and your family safe and get your home back to normal.
Take safety precautions
Sewage backups bring germs and bacteria into your home that can pose a serious risk to your health. If you are dealing with raw sewage backup, or “black water”, it’s important that you wear protective equipment and clothing, including waterproof boots, gloves, and clothing that’s washable or disposable, when entering the area with the backup.
Even when dealing with backups from your bathtub or sinks, it’s important to take extra precautions and attempt to clean up the area as soon as possible as the “grey water” from these types of backups can turn to black water if not dealt with within 48 hours.
Regardless of the type of backup, before you do anything you should shut off electricity to the affected area and unplug any appliances.
Find out where the backup is coming from
As soon as you realize that you have a sewage backup, check all the sinks and toilets in your home to locate any potential blockages. If you can, avoid using any drains until the blockage is cleared and turn off the water supply if possible.
If the backup is from outside of your home, from storm drains or the sewer system, do your best to block its entry into your home by making sure doors and windows are sealed and any cracks are blocked up.
Call a professional restoration company
The longer sewage water sits, the more damage it can cause in your home, including structural damage, mould and contamination problems. This type of clean up is both incredibly messy and dangerous potentially hazardous depending on the type of backup, so it’s best to call a professional restoration company like RCC DKI when you have a sewage backup in Brooks, Lethbridge or Medicine Hat.
Even after the water and other debris has been removed, you must deal with drying, disinfecting and deodorizing the affected area. Our team is not only highly experienced, we also have the tools and know-how, to quicky and efficiently clean your home and belongings. This kind of clean-up takes more than just bleach.
Don’t wait
Unfortunately, when black water is involved it’s impossible to save everything, and many items with permeable surfaces will need to be tossed away. The more absorbent the item is, the harder it will be to clean and disinfect. Some items that you will most likely need to throw out include mattresses, clothing, and carpets.
However, the quicker you call us, the more things that can potentially be salvaged, such as your cabinets, vinyl upholstery, and hardwood floors. The quicker you have our team, or another trusted restoration professional, on site to help clean and disinfect your belongings, the more that can be saved. How quickly do we mean? The highest success rate for salvaging your belongings is when work begins within a few hours of the backup happening.
If you are looking for sewage backup services in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, or Brooks, contact RCC DKI today!