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The Cause And Impact Of Sewage Backup

Sewage backup can give rise to a number of problems, making your home practically uninhabitable. As a homeowner, you would need to know about some of the basics that would help you take a better decision when it comes to Los Angeles sewage backup cleanup.

Los Angeles Sewage Backup Cleanup

The Causes Of Sewage Backup

It is important to know about the possible causes of sewage backup so that you can take the right steps for cleanup and restoration. Here are some of the common causes of Los Angeles sewage backup cleanup.

  • Clogging of Pipes due to soap scum, hair, toilet paper, and the like.
  • The roots of trees in your backyard can reach the inside of your sewage pipe, thereby causing clogging.
  • As pipes age, they will degrade. This might cause a collapse. This might also cause sewage backup.
  • Sometimes sewage backup can also be caused by faults in the main sewer line.

No matter what the cause of sewage backup might be, our team will help you deal with the problem in a specific way that addresses the root cause.

The Effect Of Sewage Backup

Sewage backup can cause a number of health hazards as well as other risks. Here are some of the common risks that sewage backup can cause.

  • Sewage is full of disease-causing other toxic substances like fungi, protozoan, pesticides, and residuals from medications. According to the National Resources Defense Council, more than two million reports of illnesses are caused by sewage every year.
  • Sewage can cause structural damage to your home, just like in the case of water damage. However, they can leave dark and filthy-looking stains on the walls even when they are dried out.
  • Sewage water can also damage your underground cables and that might cause short circuits in your home. This would raise the chances of fire hazards.

Here is the timeline of the damage caused by the sewage backup

Time Lapsed After Backup Damage Caused
Immediately 1. Sewage overflow onto floors, carpets, and furniture.

2. Contamination of belongings, including personal items, electronics, and documents.

3. Foul odor and unsanitary conditions.

4. Health risks due to exposure to sewage-borne pathogens.

Within 24 Hours 1. Water saturation and damage to walls, baseboards, and insulation.

2. Potential structural damage to the property. 3. Mold and mildew growth begins in damp areas.

Within 48 Hours 1. Increased risk of mold and mildew spreading to other areas.
2. Continued deterioration of affected materials, including drywall, flooring, and furniture.3. Potential damage to electrical systems and appliances.
Within 72 Hours 1. Severe mold growth and spreading to other areas.
2. Irreversible damage to building materials, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
3. Escalating health risks due to prolonged exposure to mold, bacteria, and other pathogens.
Beyond 72 Hours 1. Continued deterioration of the property’s structural integrity.
2. Increased costs for remediation, repairs, and replacements.
3. Long-term health impacts for occupants due to prolonged exposure to contaminants.

 

Signs Indicating You Need Sewage Backup Cleaning Services

You must try to address the problem at a nascent stage and the key will be to identify the damage early on. Here are some indicators that you might need the service soon.

Foul odors

Bad smells indicate that you have a problem and sewage-related odors smell similar to mold & sulfur. A properly functioning sewer line should not smell bad.

Slow drains

The wastewater flowing away at a slower rate than usual indicates you may be suffering from this problem.

Clogged and overflowing toilets

Is the toilet starting to back up without any apparent cause? It indicates you have a sewer backup problem.

Bubbling and gurgling noise

Can you hear strange noises from your tubs & faucets and toilets? You can hear the noise because the water cannot flow in its original direction and you need a sewage backup cleaning service.

 

Things To Do To Deal With Sewage Backups

When you have a sewage problem at your home, there are a few things that you should do right away. The initial response is crucial for complete cleanup. Here are the steps that you need to take –

  • Wet-vacuum the affected area and remove the spillage as much as possible.
  • Give the floors and walls a nice wash with soap and standard disinfectant.
  • Try to flush out and disinfect the plumbing fixtures.
  • Steam cleaning or removing wet carpets or drapes.
  • Repair or remove the damaged wallboards or wall coverings.
  • Cleanup of ductwork.

If you are not feeling confident about it, then we suggest that you avoid doing any work yourself and give us a call right away. Not only do we help you with complicated tasks, but we also help you to deal with the total restoration process.

Our Los Angeles Sewage Backup Cleanup Services

At Done Right Restoration, we offer a wide range of services that helps you take care of all your sewage backup cleanup needs. Our sewage backup services will help you address all the issues related to sewage backup so that you have a completely clean and safe home.

  • Sewage cleanup
  • Complete structural drying
  • Decontamination of the area
  • Deodorization of the area
  • Debris removal

Based on the exact nature of your issue, you might be eligible to get insurance coverage for sewage backup problems. Our team will also help you with the insurance claims process and ensure that you get your claims processed on time and without any hassles

During the initial consultation, our team of experts will visit your home to assess the problem. Based on our assessment, we would recommend the list of services that you will need to completely protect your home and your loved ones from the hazards of sewage backup.

 

Our Los Angeles Sewage Backup Cleanup Process

We follow a tried-and-tested process of Los Angeles sewage backup. This helps us to reduce the time and cost of completing the process. Here is an overview of the process that we follow –

Sewage Backup Cleanup

Inspection

When you give us a call, the area damaged by sewage backup will be checked and thoroughly assessed. This would help us identify all the points of leakages as well as the extent of the damage.

Estimate

Based on the assessment, we would provide you with a detailed estimate of the costs. You will get to know the list of tasks that need to be performed and their individual costs. If insurance claims are to be made, then we would help you with that as well.

Prevent Cross–Contamination

Pathogens from sewage water can easily spread to other areas of the home. This is the reason why the area will be secured properly and all necessary steps will be taken to prevent cross-contamination.

Salvaging

All your valuables that can be salvaged will be removed from the affected area.

Draining The Water Out

If 24 hours have passed, significant amounts of water might have accumulated. High-power pumps would be used to drain them out.

First Disinfection

After draining the water out, the first round of disinfection will be carried out. This would arrest the growth and development of the pathogens.

Fixing The Leak

At this point, the point of leakages will be fixed and would be checked to make sure that there is no chance of further leakage anywhere else in the system.

Washing

At this stage, the affected area, although wet, would be thoroughly washed with industrial strength cleaner. The cracks and crevices are cleaned with the help of high-pressure cleaners.

Drying The Area

A setup of dehumidifiers and fans will be used to dry the area as quickly as possible.

Second Disinfection

At this stage, the second round of disinfectant is applied to make sure that all the surviving pathogens are completely eliminated.

Deodorization

Deodorization is an important stage in the cleaning process. We use a mild yet pleasant deodorizer to get rid of all the foul smells and odors.

Inspection

At the final stages of the process, the infected area will be inspected to ensure that there are no chances of further contamination.

Prevention

Before completing the work, we would put preventive measures in place so that you don’t have to deal with sewage backup or its consequences in the future .

Frequently Asked Questions

You should contact a professional restoration company immediately. Exposure to sewage damage can cause cross-contamination to unaffected areas of the home or building as well as severe health and safety hazards.

Hard surfaces/nonporous that can be cleaned with professional help. These include glass, plastics, metals, and varnished wood.  On the other hand, porous items, such as paper, cardboard, and untreated wood contents are typically disposed of, only after getting the owner’s consent.

In most cases, the backup would be fixed within hours. However, the entire process, which includes drying the affected areas and making necessary repairs, might take a few days.