Cleaning Up After A Sewer Backup

Appropriate action taken after a sewer backup can significantly minimize losses from negative health effects, damage to your property and personal belongings.  Although every back-up is different, there are some basic clean up principles that can be applied. A sewer backup can cause damage to your home, destroy your valuables, and create the possibility of electrocution.  Prompt clean up of the flooded area can decrease these risks and the damage to your home.

Health and Safety Issues

It is important to keep in mind the potential health risks and safety issues when cleaning.  Raw sewage and flood waters contain bacteria, fecal mater, viruses, and other hazardous microorganisms that can cause disease.  Touching or walking through contaminated areas can bring germs into uncontaminated areas of your home.  Children and pets are especially vulnerable.

Although odors from sewage backups are unpleasant, they are not harmful.  Prompt clean up and the removal of the debris is necessary.

Professional Clean Up Assistance

There are private companies that can handle the clean up for you.  MSD can not recommend any company.  Check the Yellow Pages under the listing of "Fire and Water Damage Restoration".  Many of these companies can also inspect and repair major appliances.  If you contract a private company to clean up, be sure to keep all of your receipts for insurance purposes.