A Little Backed Up? We Can Help! SERVPRO of Paradise Valley Handles Toilet & Sewage Backup that Occurs in Scottsdale, AZ

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Toilet & Sewage Backup, Cleanup & Restoration in Scottsdale, AZ

Sewer backup is an unfortunate incident that can cause a lot of stress and disruption to your daily life… It may not be as destructive as a fire or a flood, but it presents a variety of health hazards and sanitation issues that can result in considerable property damage and serious personal injury. 

Depending on the severity of the backup, you may be able to take some steps to mitigate the damage, save your belongings, or even handle the problem yourself. Keep in mind that sewage cleanup is a “gross” and “dangerous” job and is not for the faint of heart… But somebody’s got to do it!

Steps To Take After A Sewage Backup

Regardless of whether you intend to hire a professional or attempt to clean it up yourself, there are some important precautionary measures to take as soon as you notice the problem:

• Evacuate children, seniors, and pets. Stay out of the affected area(s) until they have been thoroughly cleaned. Close doors or limit access to affected areas.
• Open windows to ventilate the area.
• Move & transport uncontaminated items out of the affected area.
• If the affected areas OR items are bigger than what you feel you could comfortably handle by yourself, notify your insurance company. Take several pictures of the spill, as well as the water damaged items and structural materials before the cleanup begins (you could use them as proof for your insurance claim).
• If the clog is still present, contact a licensed plumber to clear your plumbing lines.

How to Clean Up Sewage Backup

As discussed above, cleaning up sewer backup is a difficult, unpleasant, and comes as a risk to your health. Calling a professional like SERVPRO of Paradise Valley is highly recommended. Outlined below are a few basic tips we recommend you follow to assist you through this process:

• Wear personal protection equipment (PPE) – rubber gloves, boots, protective eyewear, and a facemask. Make sure your skin doesn’t come in direct contact with the wastewater as sewage spills contain contaminants that can cause serious infections.
• Close the doors between the contaminated area and the other rooms in your home to prevent tracking sewage water and debris into clean areas and to ensure that airborne sewage-contaminated matter won’t be blown into other spaces.
• Remove the sewage water as soon as possible.
• Shovel dirt, soil, and debris into strong plastic bags and dispose of them immediately.
• Take all items from the affected area to an isolated space with a concrete or tiled floor that can be easily sanitized afterward and keep them there until the plumbing problem is fixed. Discard anything that has been soaked with contaminated water right away; (documenting with photos if filing and insurance claim.)
• Remove any saturated carpeting, flooring, insulation, wall paneling, drywall, baseboards, etc. and dispose of them in a safe and appropriate manner.
• Wash & wipe down all the stud walls, floors, and surfaces in the affected area. Use appropriate bactericidal disinfectants.
• Remove any excess water and let the area air-dry (open the windows if the weather is dry and sunny or run dehumidifiers in the room if it’s cold or rainy outside). Keep in mind that it’s very important to dry out the wet area within 24-48 hours after the accident in order to reduce the risk of mold growth.
• Take care of the contaminated items.
• Discard any consumable goods (foods, drinks, spices, etc.) and porous materials (rugs, curtains, upholstery, mattresses, clothes, stuffed toys, books and other paper products, etc.) that have been in direct contact with sewage water.
• Have contaminated items of high sentimental or monetary value professionally inspected – the experts have advanced equipment, specialized cleaning products, and rich experience in dealing with contaminated content, so they will be able to sanitize and restore any salvageable belongings of yours.
• Have upholstered furniture and carpets that have been only slightly affected by the wastewater professionally cleaned.
• Wash all affected items (including furniture and appliances) with antibacterial cleaning products, rinse them well, and take them outside to dry in the sunlight.
• Place all items from the affected area outside to air out.

These steps are only listed as a high-level outline of how-to cleanup after a sewage backup.

For ANY questions, comments, or concern, please don’t hesitate to call or email us at office@SERVPROparadisevalley.com or (602) 341-6737.

For more information on handling waste for you, family or workers, please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/sanitation-wastewater/workers_handlingwaste.html