Major Sewer Damage

5/14/2020 (Permalink)

Damage restoration professionals have the experience necessary to handle major sewer damage such as a backup or flooded toilet that affects more than one floor of a building. Learn more about the measures necessary to deal with extensive sewage damage at a commercial property in Deep East Texas.

Assess and Mitigate Damage

As soon as a plumber or sewage company has addressed the cause of damage, a building owner or manager should schedule a consultation with a mitigation and restoration company. Trained professionals can assess damage and take the following measures:

• Pump out standing water
• Remove solid waste
• Determine the extent of damage

Extracting contaminated water and solid waste is the most important mitigation measure. The risk of contamination and mold growth will increase the longer that sewer damage is left standing within a structure.

Tear Out Damaged Building Materials

Porous building materials exposed to contaminated water from a sewer backup will likely need to be torn out and replaced. These materials may include any of the following:

• Ceilings
• Drywall
• Insulation

Extensive damage will probably call for the removal and replacement of some building materials and contents. Tearing out and rebuilding is particularly important if a backup or flooded toilet affects more than one floor of a structure.

Disinfect and Dry the Area

It will be necessary to disinfect areas exposed to contaminated Category Two gray water, which may contain microbes, or Category Three black water containing solid waste. Cleanup should take place after damaged materials and contents have been removed to reduce the risk of recontamination.

A building owner or manager should contact a plumber to clear a clog or a sewage company if the blockage is further down the line or a backup originates in a municipal main in Lufkin, Tx. Restoration can only proceed after the portion of a building that has suffered sewer damage is completely dry.