Sewage Backup Restoration: Just Say No to Sewage Brewage

There are three things most people never want to come home to: a fire, a clown sitting on your sofa reading your copy of ‘Scientific America’, and a sewage spill. When you first encounter a sewage spill you may feel inclined to run screaming out the front door, or you may want to spring into action with a bucket and mop. However, a homeowner should do none of these things. Sewage must be handled by a trained professional, as it can cause a number of illnesses. Sewage is filled with a variety of viruses and bacteria. Certain biological agents in sewage include salmonella (not the fish) and E. coli—the purveyors of diarrhea, fever, cramps, and vomiting. The giardia parasite also likes to hang out in sewage and cause similar symptoms.  But viruses like Hepatitis A that cause severe abdominal pain, jaundice and liver disease also hold real estate in sewage.

After all family members and pets have been relocated to an uncontaminated area, the first thing you should do is call a sewage backup restoration specialist certified and trained to safely remove the sewage, fix the problem that caused it, and restore the home to its previous condition. Only a professional restoration company has the right equipment and training to remove all the sewage from the home without cross-contaminating other areas of the house and risking everyone’s health who lives within.

How can I Prevent a Sewage Spill

Let’s start with your pipes. Have a professional give them a thorough inspection looking for outdated materials such as clay or cast iron pipes, and have him look for any cracks or leaks that may be forming. A sewage pipe leak can be extremely serious and lead to a massive disaster. In fact a small sewage pipe leak in a Memphis neighborhood resulted in hundreds of gallons of raw sewage flooding a street and polluting people’s yards six weeks after the leak was first detected! This is why calling a sewage and water damage restoration company upon first notice of any pipe leak is of vital importance.

A sincere conversation can also prevent sewage spills from engulfing your home. Have a sit-down conversation with all members of your household and make sure they understand that the only thing that should be flushed down a toilet is human waste, plumbing-graded tissue paper, and perhaps a dead goldfish. Explain to them that harsh paper products like diapers, a lady’s unmentionable sanitary items, paper towels, love letters from unwanted admirers and all other paper items can cause sewage blockage and potentially cause a geyser of black water erupting from the toilet like a dirty Old Faithful. But no tourist will want to photograph this one!

Another thing you can do is check your yard to make sure no trees grow within two meters of your sewer line. There are hundreds of tree species that naturally seek out moisture in the ground. Their roots are highly sensitive and can detect moisture sweating from sewage pipes. In many cases tree roots have wrapped around pipes crushing them or penetrating them. If you have a tree that is a little too close for comfort, have it inspected. Most cities and counties forbid homeowners to remove trees unless they can prove the tree is a threat to their home.

Stay Safe!

By following these tips you can help protect your home and family from the bog of eternal stench that stews within your plumbing. You may not be able to prevent certain home disasters, but sewage backup is something easy to prevent so long as the above advice is followed.