If you are suffering from a sewage spill, you already know it is disgusting and can permanently damage your property. However, you should also know how dangerous it can be. Sewage contains human waste and can carry various bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms that can affect you and anyone else exposed to it.
Cleaning a large sewage spill yourself can risk infecting yourself as well as others if the sewage is mishandled or if the cleaning is not performed correctly. So, if you have a sewage emergency, call a professional to safely remove the sewage, clean, and disinfect the exposed area.
When to Get Help
You may be wondering at what point you should call a professional to help with cleanup. Here are some reasons to call.
- The spill has spread. If the spill has spread to more than a single room, it is time to call a professional.
- The spill has reached the HVAC system. If there is a possibility sewage has made it into your HVAC system, it will need professional duct cleaning.
- Health Concerns: If anyone on the property has any health problems that may be aggravated by exposure to sewage, call for assistance.
- The spill has sat for more than a day. If the spill has had time to sit, bacteria and viruses will have had time to spread.
If any of these situations have occurred or if you just do not want to deal with sewage yourself, call a professional like us to do the cleaning
Types of Sewage Spills
There are two types of sewage spills greywater and blackwater. These are very different in danger and simplicity of cleanup. So, let’s describe these two.
Greywater: Greywater is wastewater that has not been in contact with fecal matter. Due to this, it typically carries less harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Greywater typically comes from sources such as sinks, washing machines, and showers. This type of sewage is becoming more common in modern water-efficient sewer systems because it can be used for certain applications with little to no treatment.
Blackwater: Blackwater is sewage that contains human fecal matter. This comes from toilet lines and is typically far more hazardous, so it must be treated by a waste treatment facility before being used for anything. Unfortunately, most of the time, a home or business sewage line will not separate sewage, so every line will become blackwater.
Clearly, a greywater sewage spill would be far less hazardous in most cases and requires far less intensive clean up. However, if the source is unknown, practice caution regardless.
What to Do First
If you have a sewage spill on your property, there’s so much to do it’s hard to decide what to do first. So, we’ll tell you some essential things to do immediately after a sewage spill.
- Protect any vulnerable people, including children or the elderly, by removing them from the property. In homes, you will also need to remove any pets to keep them safe.
- Next, put on some protective clothing, including eye protection.
- Shut off the electricity. This will make it safer to walk around.
- Open the windows and/or doors to air out.
- Shut off the water supply to your property. If you can’t safely do this, you may need to have your utility company do it.
- Shut off any contaminated area to try to prevent the problem from spreading.
- Contact your insurance company and take pictures of the damage to show them.
Why Hire a Professional
Although you could clean up the spill yourself, you risk exposing yourself to germs and bacteria that could make you very sick. Also, most people don’t have the expertise to determine what caused the sewage spill. Whereas professionals will have the equipment to safely and efficiently clean up the spill and find the cause. Then, they can help you avoid future spills.
In Summary
A sewage spill can be a stressful and stomach-churning experience. If your property suffers a spill, do not hesitate to call us. We are here to take the problem off your hands and return your property to pre-damage condition 24/7 all year round.
Contact Us
To contact us, call 1-800-847-0411, or you can connect with us for helpful tips and tricks on Facebook.