How To Respond to Sewer Backups

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Wastewater from a toilet in Yardley, PA

When the sewer backs up, the resulting messes are some of the worst to clean up. In addition to unpleasant substances in the water, the situation is unsanitary and can lead to serious health hazards for you and your family. There are several crucial parts of a sewer cleanup job in Yardley,PA.

• Inspections
  
• Damage control
  
• Ventilation
  
• Contact Professionals
  
  

Establish Safety

Wastewater from a sewer backup or flooded toilet can carry many bacterial contaminants and pathogen hazards. In addition to the health risks posed by those contaminants, electrical wires and fixtures could lead to risk of electrocution. Keep children and animals away from the affected area and stay out of the area yourself as much as possible.

Prevent Further Damage

As quickly as possible, turn off any appliances causing water to flow into drains, including dishwashers, clothes washers, sinks, and hoses. Don't let anyone flush the toilets. If it's safe to do so, you may remove furnishings and possessions from the area before they are affected by the contaminated water. Belongings that have already been exposed should not be moved to clean areas of the home. Do what you can to prevent sewage from reaching into other rooms of your house.

Ventilation

Open and close doors and windows to ventilate the affected area outside. For example, open windows to allow fresh air in and sewage gasses out. Keep doors to other rooms closed to prevent gasses and smells from spreading throughout your home.

Contact Professionals

Flooding and sewer cleanup efforts generally require the input of many professionals. You'll need to call your insurance company and contact the sewer department in Yardley,PA. You may need to talk to officials from your municipal authority or health department. The help of water damage restoration professionals could be very valuable as well.

No one wants to handle sewer cleanup tasks but breaking the work into manageable tasks and involving the help of a professionals are great ways to reduce your stress. Remember prompt action is key to avoiding additional trouble.