The Danger and Causes of Sewer Backups

One of the most challenging and dangerous clean-up processes of any water damage restoration companies is sewer water damage. It requires proper and thorough cleaning; making sure that everything that has contact with the water is cleaned, sanitized and disinfected more than once. For some companies, porous materials such as walls, floors, subfloors, carpets, and cabinet that touched the water have to be disposed. Proper disposal of those affected materials is needed to avoid biohazard situations.


The Danger of Sewage Water

Sewage contains contaminated water that carries bacteria, virus, and pathogens. This type of water is categorized under the 3rd category. Category 3 is considered as the dirtiest type of water damage that can carry different kinds of illnesses to those who had contacted it or were exposed to it. The worse scenario is those who had contacted with the water might be put into a critical situation.

Here is the type of bacteria that are present in sewage and what can they do to harm your body;

• E. Coli – Causes abdominal cramping, diarrhea and occasionally death.
• Acanthomoeba – Causes eye, nose, throat and ear infections.
• Salmonella – Causes abdominal cramping and diarrhea
• Heliobacter Pylpri – Leads to an increased chance of ulcers
• Hepatitis – Causes liver infection and liver failure
• Leptospirosis – Creates muscle aches and vomiting

It is highly recommended that you should never get in contact with the sewage water to avoid acquiring serious illnesses. Call a professional for clean up services.

What Causes Sewer Backups?

There could be a number of reasons that causes sewer backups. The most common one is the obstructions in the sewer line. This happens due to improper flushing of products that claim to be flushable such as wipes and sanitary napkins. Hair, grease and other items that cannot be broken down can also add up to the cause of sewer backups. What else can be the reason for sewer backups?

• Tree roots that grow into pipes and create holes or cracks.
• Broken or collapsed sewer lines due to deterioration and age
• Problems with municipal sewer such as blockages and deterioration.

With proper usage and regular maintenance, sewer backups can be prevented. However, there are some causes that might be uncontrollable, thus a professional help is really needed.

What To Do If A Sewer Backups

In some cases, a pipe can burst outside. Though there could still be bacteria or viral pathogens present in the sewer lines, it is way better than having the sewer backups through your toilet or other lines inside your home. This type of scenario might seem horrible for you. But don’t worry. There are professionals that can handle this situation.

Once you determined that there is water backup, check your sinks, toilet and other pipelines. You can minimize the backups by turning off your water supply. Moreover, if it is in the toilet, close the door to avoid you from inhaling the pathogens from sewage water. Avoid having contact in contaminated area. If necessary, evacuate your area until a professional fixes the problem.

Leave This Problem To The Professional

When it comes to sewage damage, it is highly recommended to call a professional for sewage cleanup services. They are equipped with state-of-the-art techniques and machines to fully remove sewage water in your home and to make sure that your home is free from any bacteria and viruses. Time is very vital in the process. The longer the sewage sits in the affected areas, the more serious the situation is going to be.