Sewage Back-up Tips

Sewage damage, to say the least, is no fun at all. Sewage is one of the most dangerous substances to enter a home. Only a highly trained professional should attempt remediation. Here are some key things to know if a sewage disaster occurs in your home.

Health Risks

Sewage contains fungi, bacteria and viruses, many of which are disease-causing. This is why it is particularly dangerous for the very young or very old and those with compromised immune systems or respiratory problems. Here are some key principles regarding health risks as it deals with a sewage disaster and the resulting cleanup.

• All remediation workers must have updated vaccinations- in particular, a vaccination for Hepatitis B.
• Sewage is very dangerous for those with weakened immune systems: anyone over 60, pregnant women, anyone recovering from surgery, those on prescription drugs, anyone on chemotherapy and AIDS victims.

Sewage Cleanup

After a sewage loss occurs, residents should not stay in the home unless the contaminated area is completely sealed off and placed under controlled air flow. It’s important to make sure that cross contamination does not occur to unaffected areas.

Here are some sewage disaster cleanup tips.

• Only highly trained professionals should attempt sewage remediation work.
• Protective clothing such as rubber boots and waterproof gloves should be worn during cleanup.
• Contaminated materials, such as carpet, pad, upholstery, bedding, wicker, paper, fabrics, etc. should be washed in hot water (130?F/54?C) for at least 10 minutes.
• If materials can’t be washed, they must be contained and disposed of properly. This includes sewage-saturated drywall, insulation and other structural materials.
• After walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces are cleaned with soap and water they should also be disinfected.
• To ensure that the home or building is safe to re-occupy third party indoor environmental professional can provide post-remediation verification or clearance testing.