Sewage Backup Cleanup in Boise, ID
Sewage water carries bacteria and viruses that make cleanup different from any other water damage. Porous materials it touches usually have to go, and the area needs to be disinfected and dried. Here is how to stay safe until help arrives.
- Category 3 water
- Contaminated material removal
- Disinfection
- Drying
Do
- Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system away from the area
- Stop all water use in the house until the line is cleared
- Shut off power to the affected area at the panel, only if you can reach it without standing in water
- Open windows to ventilate if it’s safe and not freezing
- Photograph the backup, the drain it came from and the water level
- Wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and wear rubber boots and gloves if you must enter
Don’t
- Don’t wade through it barefoot or in regular shoes
- Don’t run a shop vac on sewage. It aerosolizes contaminants and ruins the vac
- Don’t use bleach and ammonia products together. The fumes are toxic
- Don’t run the HVAC if returns are in the affected area
- Don’t try to save carpet, pad or upholstered furniture that sewage soaked
- Don’t eat or drink in the affected area
If anyone has symptoms after exposure, like fever, stomach illness or an infected cut, contact a doctor.
Sewage in the house is a health issue, not just a mess.We come equipped for contaminated water cleanup.
Call (321) 985-3339Why sewage backs up into homes
Backups almost always show up at the lowest drain in the house: a basement floor drain, a basement toilet or shower, or a first-floor tub on a slab home. The cause is usually one of these:
- A clog in your main line from roots, grease, wipes or a sagging section of pipe. Older clay and cast-iron lines in established neighborhoods are most prone to it.
- A city main backup pushing into homes on the lowest part of the line. Call the city’s public works line too.
- A full or failing septic system on rural lots, where water has nowhere to go.
A plumber or sewer contractor clears the line. We handle the contaminated area. Sometimes it’s the same company and sometimes it’s two.
What we do on a sewage cleanup
Contain and protect
Workers in protective gear isolate the area so contamination isn’t tracked through the house.
Remove waste and water
Pumps and extraction remove liquids and solids for proper disposal.
Tear out porous materials
Carpet, pad, drywall bottoms, insulation and particleboard that touched sewage are removed and bagged.
Clean, disinfect, dry
Hard surfaces and framing are cleaned and disinfected, then dried with dehumidifiers before rebuild.
Common questions
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A very small backup on a hard, non-porous floor like tile or sealed concrete, caught right away, can sometimes be cleaned with proper gloves, boots and disinfectant. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or a wider area should be handled professionally.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover sewage backup?
Many standard policies exclude it unless you added sewer or drain backup coverage. Check your policy, and photograph everything before cleanup.
Who do I call first, a plumber or a cleanup company?
If sewage is still coming up, the line needs to be cleared. Stop water use and get both moving. Cleanup can start on the affected area while the line is being cleared.
Is it safe to stay in the house?
If the backup is confined to a basement or one area and it’s sealed off, many families stay. Keep vulnerable people away from the area and ask us for our recommendation.