Sewage damage stinks. Literally. It is something every homeowner dreads. Unfortunately, sewage damage is sometimes unavoidable. Something out of your control can happens that results in raw sewage entering your home, whether that unavoidable something is a blowback from the septic or city sewage system or a toilet overflow. When this happens, it is important to act fast.
- Stay Away! Sewage damage involves what we call category 3 water, aka black water. This is water that has come into contact with fecal matter. This water contains fungi and bacteria that can cause severe sickness, so it is best to keep your distance and leave any cleanup to the professionals. Just one milliliter of raw sewage can contain up to 1 million microorganisms.
- File a Claim. Take pictures or video to document the damage and file a claim with your insurance company. The pictures/video will serve as evidence to substantiate your claim.
- You may also need to dispose of certain objects that have come into contact with the sewage. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), “highly absorbent sewage-saturated materials, such as carpet, pad, upholstery, bedding, wicker, paper or even fabrics that can’t be washed in hot water (130°F/54°C) for at least 10 minutes, must be contained and disposed of properly. This goes for sewage-saturated drywall, insulation, and several other structural materials too. There’s simply too great a health risk involved if any of these materials are dried in place and cleaned only.”
Proper sewage cleanup techniques are required to return your home to normal. This is why it is best (and safest) to leave your sewage cleanup to the professionals at ServiceMaster of Baltimore.
Emergency Sewage Cleanup with ServiceMaster of Baltimore
ServiceMaster of Baltimore is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to ensure you have the help you need when you need it. Sewage damage doesn’t work on a 9-5 schedule, so why should we? When you call, our well-trained technicians will show up within hours of your initial call.
Call (410) 498-8030 for Emergency Restoration!
With over 57 years of experience in helping business owners and homeowners, like you, with water damage restoration, ServiceMaster of Baltimore is the best choice for the job. We maintain a high standard of morals, values, and customer service and handle every job with the utmost care, speed, and effectiveness. As an IICRC-Certified company, ServiceMaster of Baltimore technicians are trained to identify moisture sources, evaluate mold growth, contain damage, remove contamination, and dry structural materials in an effort to reduce your loss and preserve your property. Hopefully you have found our blog, “Emergency Sewage Cleanup with ServiceMaster of Baltimore,” informative and helpful. Continue to check back weekly for more helpful tips.
