Understanding the Sewer Cleanup Process

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

The professionals can help you with the Sewer Cleanup Process.

When a toilet overflows or the sewer backs up, professional mitigation is necessary to ensure that the problem is fully resolved. You can be confident recommending SERVPRO to your residential clients in Ogden, UT, whenever sewer cleanup is needed. Each local franchise is backed by corporate resources and support. 

The Steps of the Sewer Backup Mitigation Process

Within hours of the initial contact, the sewer damage remediation team arrives at the house to start the cleanup process. SERVPRO has a reputation for being Faster to Any Size Disaster and handles each job in an efficient manner.

Assessment

The first thing technicians have to do is survey the sewer damage and create a workable plan. There are several outcomes customers can expect from the assessment stage:

• Itemized list of damages
• Repairs needed to restore home
• Estimated overall cost
• Verbal briefing with homeowners

If there is too much damage for the local specialists to handle quickly, they can call nearby SERVPRO teams for backup. The extra technicians are certified to provide the same quality of service.

Extraction

Sewer backup leaves a lot of contaminated water in its path. Before the home can be cleaned, the crew has to remove as much of the excess moisture and debris as possible. Industrial pumps make this process go more smoothly.

Removal

Every item that is touched by the dirty water has to be taken out of the home. Some of the customers' belongings can probably be cleaned, but delicate items may have to be replaced altogether. During the early stages of the sewer cleanup process, drywall, ceiling materials, tiles, carpet and insulation that have become contaminated must be torn out.

Sanitation

Every surface that remains after all ruined materials are torn out must be disinfected. Water from a flooded toilet is typically contaminated, leaving behind all sorts of bacteria and other microbes on anything it touches. The mitigation team cleans the area and then tests each surface to make sure that any microorganism that isn't supposed to be there is gone. 

Drying

Sewage can leave behind excess moisture. To prevent secondary damage such as rot or mold growth, the area must be dried thoroughly. Technicians can increase airflow in the space to speed up the process. They also may bring in dehumidifiers to ensure that the moisture in the air is brought back to an acceptable level. 

Rebuilding

SERVPRO staff members don't just gut the house and leave. They replace the materials they had to tear out. Each item that can be salvaged is repaired and returned to the owner. The technicians even go so far as to match paint and tile to the remaining surfaces for a seamless flow. Their job isn't finished until the home looks "Like it never even happened."

The sewer cleanup process can seem daunting at first, but hiring an experienced, knowledgeable team ensures that it is as simple as possible for the homeowners. With the fast, efficient response of a local team and corporate support, it's no wonder that SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many insurance providers throughout the country.