Biohazards of DIY Sewer Backup Cleanup

A waste pipe backup creates a nightmarish scenario for homeowners. Regardless of how flooding occurs, you face an overwhelming and toxic mess. Contact with the materials backflowing into your home exposes occupants to significant hazards detrimental to health and safety when attempting do-it-yourself cleanup. Additional complications include content and appliance damage within the affected space, paired with the necessity of completing the job within an extremely tight timeframe to avoid microbial proliferation.

Time Is Not on Your Side When Avoiding Sewage Hazards

Dodging the dangers of sewage-contaminated fluids requires following precise safety protocols set by the IICRC and state and local regulatory agencies. You do not have the luxury of learning how to clean and disinfect as your Charlotte sewage removal event unfolds. Injury, illness, and even death could result for you or your family due to mishandled sewage. Mold and other microbes also increase within 24 hours of saturation. Rely on the well-equipped team from AdvantaClean of York County and South Charlotte. We have the preparation, certification, and experience to provide safe sewage removal services immediately.

Dangers Inherent in Sewage 

Consider the various ways inappropriately removed sewage can cause adverse health effects. One homeowner cannot carry out the appropriate phases and tasks of a sewage recovery job to avoid these dangers. Unless you are in the sewage removal business, simply having the supplies, equipment, and other resources to keep everyone safe on hand pre-emergency is highly unlikely. Even then, you need a team of workers to complete all aspects of sewage mitigation and remediation:

  • Containment of the area with 1.6 polyethylene and a negative pressure air scrubbing system featuring HEPA filtration is vital. During Category 3 (black) water removal, surface cleaning, and disinfection, human pathogens such as bacteria and viruses could become airborne and circulate within HVAC systems, repeatedly reinfecting occupants unless containment protocols are in place.

  • Chemicals and known toxins, such as lead and asbestos, can also mix into the hazardous “stew” of a storm-related sewer backup. Breathing and skin contact with these is exceedingly dangerous.

  • Safely wading into the contaminated water presumes current possession of and proper use of PPE, including at a minimum, per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

  • Goggles

  • Protective face masks or splash-proof face shields

  • Liquid-repellent coveralls

  • Waterproof gloves

  • Rubber boots

  • Pre-event vaccinations for tetanus and possibly polio, typhoid fever, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B

  • Saving sewage-saturated contents is a huge challenge, but we have resources that can salvage many items, disinfecting, drying, and restoring them for future use. Most appliances and heating and cooling systems can return to safe operation when cleaned and disinfected by our experts. Our pack-out team and contents restoration crews can do amazing things if you contact us early in the crisis.

Safe and effective sewage removal requires a coordinated certified technician team from AdvantaClean of York County and South Charlotte. We adhere to the IICRC standards and use up-to-date containment and disposal strategies to keep residents safe and contents cleaned, disinfected, and secured. One call to (803) 325-2100 ensures recovery from sewage backups and backwash.

Schedule an Appointment or Call (803) 325-2100

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