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Sewage Leaks & Their Stinky Realities | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett
3/15/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett is ready to respond in a moments notice to your call when biohazard incidents strike your home.
If you were going to make a list of all the things you never want to deal with, there is a good chance that sewage leaks in your home or office would be on it. A sewage leak might not be as destructive as an all-out flood, but the gross factor is much higher.
The bad news is that sewage leaks are fairly common, and they can happen anywhere. If you know how to respond, though, you can move pretty quickly in order to get things back to normal and smelling fresh and clean again.
When there is a clog or other blockage in your sewage line, it can result in sewage going the wrong way and coming back up sink drains, tubs and showers. A sewage leak can also be the result of damage done to pipes or water lines.
Whatever situation has caused a backup in your home or commercial property, stay away from it. When floodwaters enter into a property, they are classified in three different ways—white water, gray water and black water. White water and gray water come from sources that are generally considered clean, but black water is toxic. Sewage leaks will always be considered black water. They contain harmful viruses, bacteria and other microbes that could leave you deathly ill.
If you have discovered a sewage leak, do your best to stay away from it. Shut the water off either at the closest valve or to your entire building in order to stop the flow. Open windows to help with the fumes and odors, and block the area so that no one can access it. Call our office right away and we will start putting together a restoration team.
Our professionals are trained and certified to handle a number of biohazard situations safely. When you call us, we will gather as much information as possible as we begin to assemble the crew, safety equipment and tools necessary in order to get your property cleaned up.
While you are waiting for the team to arrive, safely take some photos in order to document what has happened. This may not be the most enjoyable photographing session, but the more information you can provide to your insurance company, the easier the claims process will be. It can also help us identify the original source of the leak.
When we do make it to your property, our first priority will be safety. Keep in mind that we are dealing with toxic, biohazardous materials. We will have the proper protective equipment to handle the situation, but you will need to steer clear for a while as we do. We will remove the sewage and any other standing water while we deep-clean and sanitize the entire area.
Our professionals can also repair any physical damages that occurred with the leak, and we will address the odors. When your restoration is complete everything will feel—and smell—exactly as it should.
A sewage leak will never be a welcome site. Call us right away and avoid the area as much as you can. We will handle the mess so you can get back to life as normal.
Sewage leaks should always be cleaned up by professionals. Call SERVPRO®, and we will take care of you.