Extra Steps of Sewage Cleanup

8/15/2018 (Permalink)

Sewer cleanup poses some unique challenges for a home repair in Kansas City, KS. Not only does the residential cleanup team have to worry about removing standing water and drying out your house, but there may be an added worry of bacteria and other contaminants. What extra steps does this type of cleanup require?

• Identify the source: A flooded toilet can pose different problems than water from a sewer main. Both water sources will fill your home with what is essentially dirty water, but the level of contamination is different. Toilet water could be considered a category two flood because it is contaminated with urine, bacteria and other viruses, but does not contain feces. However, if the water comes from beyond the toilet bowl, it may be category three water because of the added feces, chemicals and microbes.
• Use special equipment: Because of the potential of bacteria and other contaminants being in the water, a sewer cleanup requires the use of some special equipment. Workers coming into contact with the water need to wear gloves, special suits, goggles and masks to protect themselves. A regular wet vac may not be enough to get rid of the standing water either. If the sewage contains sludge, your team of experts may need to use a trach vac because it can suck up liquids and solids.
• Disinfect the area: When dealing with dirty water from a sewer backup, the entire affected area has to be disinfected after the water is removed. If this step is skipped, your home may be dry but full of extra bacteria. Most building materials and belongings touched by category two or three water has to be thrown out rather than repaired.

Sewer cleanup often follows a lot of the same path as any residential water damage repair. However, the water may contain certain chemicals and bacteria that make the cleanup process a little more in depth. Visit http://www.SERVPROkcmidtown.com for more information on water damage.