How to clean up a sewage back up or sewer back up

Sewage Damage and Sewer Backup Concerns When Cleaning

Servicing Baltimore and the states of Maryland and Washington DC with Sewage Backup and Sewer Backup.

Many homeowners have come home late night to hear a gurgling sound and constant  running of water in their basement. When they go to the basement they see what looks like a flood including toilet paper, feces and other items that may not be distinguishable. At this point many homeowners have no idea what to do when the sewer backs up and feel overwhelmed and confused. Below are some suggestions on what homeowners and property managers can do to solve a Sewer Backup and correctly clean up Sewage Backup.

1. Clean It Yourself- Probably the most obvious choice that homeowners make when seeing sewage damage. Interestingly most homeowners and property managers believe that the sewage and the sewer water are not as serious because the sewage water that is floating in the effected area is just the remains of the occupants, The fact is that when a sewer line is backed up, it is the collection of not only the home or tenant space, but the accumulation of other home’s sewage in the neighborhood. So when a sewer line backs up in a house or building it is usually a collection of many people’s possible diseases and other illnesses. Please also be advised that although the water may look clean without any signs of sewage, the fact that the water came from a sewer line makes the water damage unhealthy and therefore a sewage damage issue.
2. Non IICRC Trained Sewage Clean Up Companies- There are many companies in the yellow pages and internet that offer sewage cleanup from sewer backup. These companies or clean up crews do not realized that just coming with an extractor and some disinfectant does not guarantee that the effected are is healthy and safe.What these companies fail to realize or understand is that sewage and sewer water will travel into and under flooring , walls, appliances, vanities and toilets. All these items must be addressed and are usually ignored by untrained and non IICRC certified sewage cleanup companies. What makes it worse is that the occupants of these homes and buildings are in real danger and pose possible health risks.
3. Choosing a IICRC certified sewage clean up company- IICRC certified sewage cleanup companies have been trained and certified to correctly clean sewage backup situations. These technicians should do the following:

1. Extract the Sewage Water- and any sewage debris and either dispose it at a legal county or state approved site. The other issue is that the company has to be licensed to transport sewage and sewer water from the home to the approved  site. The other option and much easier is to have the sewage water dumped back into the toilet and down the septic or sewer system. This is legal and will not break and laws. Please beware that if the company of choice extracts and dumps any sewer water or sewage outside of the home or building will be breaking state health codes. Not only will the company get in trouble, but so will the homeowner or property owner as they hired the company.
2. Remove and Dispose of any Absorbent Materials and Flooring- Carpet, furniture,towels and any items that have absorbed the sewage water. Walls are also included as absorbent materials. You may think or be advised that the walls just need to be cleaned only and sprayed with a disinfectant. No one can guarantee that any absorbent materials ( also called hydroscopic ) are 100% cleaned and useable. All items must be bagged correctly and assured that nothing leaks.
3. IICRC Certified Clean Up Procedures- These procedures include but not limited to power washing and using disinfectants that are IICRC approved to assure that the effected areas are safe.

SI Restoration sewage  cleanup services are available in the following Maryland areas  : 

Towson          

Pikesville 

Catonsville 

Bel Air 

Baltimore City 

Baltimore County 

Dundalk 

Essex 

Laurel 

Parkton 

Westminster 

Aberdeen 

Hyattsville 

Burtonsville 

Bowie 

Chevy Chase

Elkton 

Gaithersburg 

Rockville 
Germantown 

Hampstead 

Manchester 

Mount Airy 

Sykesville 

Takoma Park 

Upper Marlboro