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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

What Should You Do When There's Sewage In Your Basement?

9/14/2020 (Permalink)

brown raw sewage in shower of basement due to a backup from the drain Sewage can even come up through the shower drain in your basement.

Here at SERVPRO of Meriden, we've seen a lot of downright gross things. Our experiences have let us become the experts in cleaning up sewage. Here, we will share what we know on what you should do when you have a sewage backup in your basement.

Need immediate assistance with sewage cleanup in Meriden, Wallingford, Southington or the surrounding areas? Call SERVPRO of Meriden 24/7 - 800-734-3213

How to Handle Raw Sewage in A Basement

NEVER come in contact with sewage water.

Water from sewer backups, toilet overflows, or drain backups is considered black water, meaning it is contaminated water that can make you seriously ill and can pose of health risk if you come in contact with it or ingest it.

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

If you do need to enter the area affected, you should be wearing the proper protective equipment to ensure your safety. If cleaning up a small amount of sewage yourself, be sure to be wearing rubber gloves, a mask, and coveralls if you have them. Do not doubt the seriousness of the bacteria and viruses that may be present is sewage water.

Turn off the water.

Don't flush any toilets, run sinks, or drain tubs if possible. Using water may make your backup worse.

Clear the backup.

Before you can start cleaning up sewage, you want to make sure whatever caused the backup or overflow is resolved so it doesn't happen again. You may need to use a plunger to unblock the drain or call a plumber to snake out the blockage.

Call your insurance company.

Sewer backups aren't always covered unless you have an additional policy covering it. In our experience, many sewage backups in basements are covered by homeowners insurance. If there was nothing you could have done to prevent the backup and it came through some sort of drain in the basement, it will likely be covered.

Open windows and doors.

Let your home or business air out by opening windows and doors to the outside. This will help with some of the odor and ventilate the area.

Call a sewage cleanup service.

Using restoration services after a sewage backup is usually the best option to take in the long term, especially when you file a claim with insurance and the cleanup will be covered. Water damage restoration companies can make sure that all contaminated water is removed, your basement is properly sanitized, and that the drying process is completed to prevent mold growth.

Can You Cleanup Sewage By Yourself?

You should be weary of cleaning up a sewage backup by yourself. It's possible to make yourself ill, not properly clean and sanitize affected areas, and if water damage isn't attended to properly mold may begin to grow in your basement. If properly protected, a homeowner could clean a small sewage backup.

But, if you don't use a sewage backup cleanup service like SERVPRO of Meriden, you may also not be able to get rid of any unwanted odors in a timely manner. SERVPRO uses specialized equipment such as air scrubbers to ensure any contaminates are taken out of the air and no longer produces odors or a risk to your health.

Need Help? Call SERVPRO of Meriden - 800-734-3213

SERVPRO of Meriden is a 24/7 damage restoration company specializing in fire, water, mold and COVID-19 services. Whatever your damage, we will work hard to make it "Like it never even happened."

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