How Expert Sewage Cleanup Shields You from Health Risks

8 min read

Sewage leaks and spills can happen despite our best efforts to prevent such a calamity. The risks are even higher in properties whose sewage pipes have been neglected for many years. The consequences can devastate health and property, so professional sewage cleanup is necessary if a sewer leak occurs.

What to Expect from Sewage Cleanup Services

If you notice a blockage or backflow in your sewage line, call the professionals to prevent further damage to your property and protect your family’s health. DIY sewage cleanup and repairs can stop leaks and slow the spread of bacteria, but it’s still necessary to call the professionals if you want a thorough cleaning.

Here are the things professionals do that make their presence a must when dealing with sewer line damage and leaks:

1. Investigate and Locate Leaks: It’s often difficult to pinpoint the exact location of sewer line leaks because sewer pipes can be buried one to six feet underground (they go deeper in cold climates to prevent freezing in winter). Companies offering professional sewage cleanup services have sophisticated equipment for locating sewer line defects. This enables them to fast-track the repairs and cleanup because they know precisely where to patch things up and how to do it.

2. Ensure Everyone’s Safety: Established sewer repair companies invest in quality protective clothing and equipment to protect their technicians from the effects of exposure to toxic gasses and contaminated sewer water. More importantly, they educate customers on preventing contamination inside their household and provide guidelines for ensuring the family’s well-being.

3. Facilitate Proper Sewer Waste Extraction: The most important reason for calling professional sewage cleanup is these companies have high-powered extraction pumps and transport vehicles that can handle and remove large volumes of sewage waste. Wastewater removal is not something anyone can DIY safely.

These companies also facilitate the disposal of contaminated objects like carpets, upholstery, wooden furniture, etc. So if there is a need for sewage water extraction, don’t delay and call the professionals immediately.

4. Thorough Cleaning and Disinfection: The second most important reason for calling professionals in light of a sewage leak is they have the means to clean and disinfect the property. Restoration 1 of New Rochelle, for example, can perform thorough cleaning and disinfection services for residential and commercial properties contaminated with sewage waste materials. We also have drying and dehumidifying equipment to help dry the contaminated areas quickly and thoroughly.

Restoration 1 is known for our Keep It Clean Program, a comprehensive property cleaning treatment using EPA-approved disinfectants and industry best practices for residential and commercial disinfection services. We are well-equipped and can meet high cleanliness and sanitation standards for healthcare facilities. After we repair damaged sewage lines, we ensure every client’s home or commercial property is thoroughly cleaned and safe to live or work in.

5. Expert Property Restoration: Sewage leaks sometimes result in cosmetic and structural problems that compromise the property’s curb appeal and structural strength. The advantage of hiring sewage cleanup companies is that they typically refer clients to restoration companies if they do not provide property restoration services themselves. For us at Restoration 1 of New Rochelle, we offer a comprehensive service that includes sewage line repair, sewer cleanup, and restoration services.

It’s important to note that restoring a house or building is a must because doing so maintains the property’s market value and protects inhabitants from potential health and safety risks (i.e., black mold infestation, rotting wood floors, or foul odors).

The Benefits of Expert Sewage Cleanup from Licensed Professionals

Many property owners are inclined to clean up after a sewage leak by themselves to save on costs. But this isn’t always the best idea. Sometimes, the nature of the damage would require equipment and expertise that only professionals have. Moreover, hiring reputable companies offers more benefits than attempting a DIY sewage cleanup.

• Hiring Professionals is Safer for You

Most people use bleach as a household disinfectant without first learning how to use it correctly and safely. So, on top of failing to disinfect surfaces contaminated with sewer water, DIY-ing with bleach can put people at risk of chlorine gas exposure, leading to eye irritation, coughing, difficulty breathing, and a burning feeling in the chest. Direct exposure to high concentrations of liquid chlorine can also cause skin inflammation and blisters.

Electrocution is another safety concern that most people overlook when dealing with sewage leaks. The damage from sewage backups that flood bathrooms can reach electrical lines, appliance cables, power cords, and fixtures connected to the main power supply. Being near flood water can be extremely dangerous, so it’s best to leave everything to sewage cleanup experts who know how to avoid electrocution.

• Professional Cleaners are Best Equipped to Disinfect Your Home or Property

It’s a given that professional cleaners have the tools and access to disinfect products widely used in medical facilities, laboratories, and other places where sanitation is the top priority. Sewage water is a biohazard, and without proper equipment and cleaning agents that can effectively kill pathogens, your household can be exposed to parasites, fungi, and harmful bacteria like E. coli and rotavirus.

• Hiring Professionals is More Cost-effective in the Long Run

Saving a couple hundred dollars by attempting a DIY cleanup can cost you more in the coming months or years. Here are two scenarios to demonstrate this:

• The average household cleaning product may not be enough to kill the harmful bacteria and pathogens from the sewers. You can use up an entire bottle of floor cleaner, and the smell of sewer water will still linger in the bathroom.
• Cleaning after a sewage leak without the appropriate equipment can waste more water than necessary. You could use gallons of clean water rinsing soap suds and only achieve a surface-level clean.

Paying for a professional sewer cleaning service saves more money because trained professionals get the job done correctly the first time. Cleaning companies also use high-pressure washers that consume water efficiently, using fewer liters of water to expel sewer waste embedded in tile grout. More importantly, entrusting the cleaning to them will save you thousands of dollars in medical treatment for health issues due to sewer water contamination or prolonged exposure to pure bleach.

• Professionals Help Minimize Property Damage.

Sewer line damage can be bigger than you think. If one of your downstairs toilets backed up and spewed sewer water, the reason can be as simple as a clogged pipe in your yard or as complex as having a section of the municipal sewers crushed by growing tree roots. This is why hiring professionals for sewer cleanup and repairs is so important: they’ll discover the cause of the sewer damage and fix it to prevent repeats and avoid escalations that could significantly destroy your property.

• Professional Cleaning Services Prevent Mold

Hiring sewage cleaning experts can save your property because they can prevent mold from taking over the structure. There is always a possibility of mold emerging after an indoor flood (microbial growth can start within 72 hours of mold spores coming into contact with damp surfaces). Still, the risk is even higher if black water floods a property. It creates an ideal environment for mold to grow rapidly – damp, humid, and with an abundance of bacteria and organic matter to feed on.

Cleaning experts anticipate the dangers that can follow a sewer line leak, including mold infestations. If you hire a trusted company like Restoration 1, you can rest assured that mold prevention and disinfection are part of our SOP.

Protect Your Health and Property by Trusting the Experts

Sewage spills can cause terrible health problems for residents or tenants in affected properties. In addition, they can cause structural damage if the black water isn’t removed and the damaged sewage infrastructure isn’t repaired immediately. To avoid contamination, health problems, and property devaluation, contact a professional cleaning service specializing in sewer leak cleanups.

Trusting the professionals will solve more than one problem at once:

• Your home or property will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• Any superficial or structural damage will be repaired.
• Your household won’t be exposed to health hazards like sewer gasses, bacteria, parasites, and mold.

Restoration 1 of New Rochelle is just a phone call away. Call us if black water enters your home or property because of a sewer line issue. Our cleaning team will disinfect your home while our restoration crew can inspect the damage and do repairs if necessary. Fill out our contact form or call us at (914) 353-4274.