Containment first
The affected area is isolated so foot traffic and airflow do not carry contamination into clean parts of the house.
Sewage Backup Cleanup
A backed-up drain line is a health problem as well as a water problem. Tempe Water Damage Pros connects Tempe callers with independent providers for sewage cleanup with containment, removal of contaminated materials and cleaning before any drying starts.
- Restoration Referrals
- Independent Pros
- Drying & Repairs
Signs of a Sewage Backup
- Water coming up in a shower pan, tub or floor drain when a toilet is flushed
- A toilet that will not clear while other fixtures gurgle
- A strong sewer smell in a bathroom, laundry or hallway
- Dark or cloudy water spreading from a single drain
- Several fixtures on the same side of the house backing up together
Older central neighborhoods in Tempe and Mesa still have clay or cast-iron drain lines, and desert trees such as mesquite, palo verde and ficus send roots straight toward a line that is already leaking. A monsoon downpour can also surcharge a line and push water back up the lowest fixture in the house.
Whatever caused it, treat the water as contaminated. Keep children and pets out of the area, do not run water anywhere else in the house, and do not run the air conditioning if the air handler or return sits in the affected space.
What the Service Includes
Sewage work is handled differently from clean water from the first minute. The scope is written down before removal starts so you know what is leaving the house.
Removal of porous materials
Carpet, padding, affected drywall, insulation and cabinet bases that took in contaminated water are removed rather than dried.
Cleaning and treating surfaces
Hard surfaces, slab and framing that stay are cleaned and treated before any drying equipment is set.
Drying and a final check
Only once the area is clean does drying begin, with readings taken until the structure meets a dry standard.
Staying Safe and What Comes Next
Sewage is a biohazard. Wear gloves and closed shoes if you must enter the area at all, wash thoroughly afterward, and keep anyone with breathing problems out of the space. Do not use a household vacuum on it and do not try to push the blockage through yourself while water is standing.
The blockage itself is a drain repair, and clearing it is what stops the backup returning. A restoration provider deals with the contaminated water, the affected materials and the drying that follows through structural drying.
If the backup soaked materials that then sat for days, ask about mold remediation, and read restore versus replace to understand why so much more is removed after sewage than after a clean-water leak. For a restaurant, clinic or rental building see commercial restoration.
Sewage Cleanup Questions
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A small spill on hard flooring can be cleaned by a homeowner with gloves and care, but anything that reached carpet, drywall or cabinets should be handled with proper containment and protective equipment. An independent provider can look at it and tell you which situation you have.
Why does so much material have to be thrown out?
Porous materials absorb contaminated water all the way through, and surface cleaning cannot reach the inside of carpet pad, insulation or particleboard. Removing them is cheaper and safer than trying to sanitize something that cannot be reached.
Should I keep using the rest of the plumbing?
Stop running water in the house until the blockage is cleared. Every sink, shower and load of laundry adds to what comes back up at the lowest fixture.
Is the smell going to stay?
Odor that lingers usually means something contaminated is still in place, often padding, insulation or a cabinet base. Once those materials are removed and the structure is cleaned and dried properly, the smell goes with them.
Get water damage help in Tempe
Call and describe where the water is coming from and how far it has spread to reach an independent provider.