What To Do After a Sewage Backup Floods Your Home

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

Overflowing toilet.

What to Do If Your House Is Flooded by Sewage

The thought of rainwater flooding your home in Georgetown, TX, overwhelms you. The thought of a sewer backup flooding your home disgusts you. When a city’s sewage system cannot manage the amount of rainfall it can come into your home through your pipes, drains, toilets and sinks. It is hard to visualize something more foul and unsanitary than cleaning the mess. As a homeowner, what do you do next?

Safety First

The presence of any water in your home poses safety hazards, but sewer water requires additional precautions:

• For any flood, the risk of electrical shock is present when there is water in your home. Stay out of flooded areas where electricity is present. Also be alert for the smell of gas, as rain water may extinguish pilot lights.

• When a sewer backup occurs, the flooding introduces black water into your home. This means that there is a high level of contamination present, such as from fecal matter. This type of water contains bacteria, viruses, mold and threatens a myriad of severe health concerns with exposure. Do not come into direct contact with this water.

Next Steps

After your safety is secured, immediately arrange for a water damage specialist to intervene. Due to the involvement of black water, experts consider this an emergency situation, arrive promptly and take the following measures:

• Survey the damage, identify the contaminated water and perform safety procedures.
• Remove excess water with professional-grade equipment.
• Extract remaining moisture with air movers and dehumidifiers.
• Remove odors and sanitize impacted areas using antimicrobial and antibacterial treatments.
• Restore your home and belongings.

When a storm causes a sewer backup at your home in Georgetown, TX, take immediate action. Blackwater is hazardous to your health, so do not come into direct contact with it. Rather, have a water restoration specialist assess the situation and take the necessary steps to restore your home.