There aren’t too many things as unpleasant as a sewer backup. Not only is it a complete mess and unsanitary, but the odor is very strong and to be honest, disgusting.
If you try to clean up the mess that a sewer back-up leaves in its wake, here are some secrets from the pros you should put into practice.
What Causes a Sewer Backup?
A sewer back-up can be caused due to an inadequate sewer system (typically in new development areas), leaks or breaks in your sewer pipes or a blockage somewhere in your system.
The Aftermath
If you experience a sewer backup due to a blocked pipe, there may actually be several sewer backups every time you try to do a load of laundry, flush a toilet or take a shower. Until that block is found and cleared, the sewer will keep backing up and the odor will intensify.
The aftermath of a sewer back up is raw sewage coming up through a floor drain or a shower if located in the lower level. What comes up is black, slimy, filthy, smelly gunk which spreads all over the floor, carpeting and even walls.
As if the mess and smell aren’t bad enough, the sewage contains parasites and bacteria which can cause disease, infections, and all sorts of health issues.
Micro-organisms become airborne which increases the odds of experiencing respiratory distress or make existing conditions like allergies and asthma worse.
Odor Control
The key to controlling the incredibly strong, bad odor is to clean, dry and disinfect the area as soon as possible.
With a hazardous situation like a sewage back-up, don’t tackle the mess without protective gear. Wear a mask, gloves, boots, long pants and protective eye gear to avoid breathing in and coming in contact with the contaminated sludge.
Cleaning
A wet/dry vac, shovel or mop should be used to suck or scoop up all of the visible mess.
Drying
Open any doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate through the space.
Use as many fans and dehumidifiers as you have access to, and plan to keep them running for the next few hours to days until all the humidity and moisture is removed.
Open all closets or cabinets in an attempt to get air moving through these spaces.
Moisture-absorbing products should be used in enclosed or tight spaces where air cannot circulate through such as closets or cabinets.
It’s important to begin the air circulation and drying process as soon as possible so the sewage doesn’t have time to saturate into building materials, carpeting and personal items any more than it’s done already.
Toss Contaminated Items Causing Lingering Odors
While you’re waiting for things to dry, go through any items in the space to figure out whether or not they can be cleaned, disinfected and saved.
Carpeting and furniture may be salvageable after calling in a professional cleaning company for their assessment and estimate on steam cleaning and disinfecting costs.
Wall-to-wall carpeting that has been completely saturated will probably have to be tossed. If only a portion of wall-to-wall carpeting has been contaminated, it may be salvageable once deep cleaned, but more than likely any padding underneath should be replaced.
Throw rugs, towels and clothing may be salvageable if you’re able to wash them in hot water with a strong disinfectant like a color-safe bleach. If not, it’s better to throw them out.
Items to immediately discard of include food, pillows, blankets, mattresses, clothing, toys, stuffed animals, cardboard boxes and any paper products. These items become saturated and contaminated very quickly and it’s impossible to know what harmful micro-organisms, disease-causing bacteria and lingering odors are trapped inside.
All contaminated items should be sealed in heavy-duty garbage bags and disposed of at the local recycling center as soon as possible. For larger items like carpeting and furniture, contact a waste hauling company for any restrictions or guidelines as to how to handle disposal.
Disinfecting
Don’t mix and match disinfectants which may result in toxic fumes that you should not be breathing in.
Bleach is one of the best disinfectants and cleaners you can use. A safe mixture is about one-quarter cup bleach diluted in one gallon of water.
Once the diluted bleach solution is applied, leave on the affected surface for at least one minute before wiping off. Rinse with clean water.
Clean the surface again with a mixture of mild dish soap and water. Rinse again.
Odor Still Present
If after you’ve cleaned, dried and disinfected your space it still smells musty or the sewer smell lingers, there is moisture somewhere that you’ve missed. There may still be bacteria or parasites left behind and you should call in a restoration specialist to check the space.
Even concrete walls and floors will soak up these contaminants, leave behind an odor and need to be thoroughly dried, cleaned and disinfected.
Conclusion
To eliminate odors and for proper cleaning, drying and disinfecting of your home after sewer damage, call the restoration specialists at RCS in Sonoma County. Our professional team is here to restore your home back to its odor-free, clean and safe condition.
It’s no secret that there are many people whose health is negatively affected by mold.
From aggravated allergies to asthma and similar symptoms, eliminating mold in the home is a priority for restoring and maintaining respiratory health.
What you may not know is that there is a by-product of mold known as mycotoxins. Let’s take a look at what they are and what you can do to eliminate them.
Mold and Mycotoxins
To put it simply, mold is a fungus. It thrives in wet and humid conditions. If outside weather is especially humid, you’ve had water damage, there are highly moist areas in your home or undetected moisture problems, conditions are excellent for mold to grow and spread.
Mycotoxins are airborne chemicals released from fungus or in this case specifically, mold. Typically, the more mold you have in your home, the greater number of mycotoxins are produced.
Although there are hundreds of thousands of different types of mycotoxins, they need not be present for mold to form and grow. Once mold sets in, however, mycotoxins attack anything that stands in the way of mold to spread, including other types of mold.
According to a study as published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal, there are only a few varieties of mycotoxins that are classified as harmful to humans and animals.
Where Do Mycotoxins Come From?
Where there is mold, there are mycotoxins. However, not all types of mold produce potentially dangerous mycotoxins.
While studies at the World Health Organization focus primarily on how mycotoxins affect crops and livestock, they can be also found in indoor environments and homes.
Exposure to Mycotoxins Health Effects
Long-term exposure to toxic mycotoxins has been shown to cause increased inflammation of the immune and nervous systems.
It may result in symptoms such as:
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle Ache
Joint Pain
Brain Fog
Difficulty Breathing
Elimination and Prevention of Environmental Conditions
The best way to prevent exposure to mycotoxins is to eliminate mold and conditions for mold.
Since mold thrives in excessively humid, moist conditions, it’s important to keep your home clean and dry.
Any prior water damage, flooding or excessively humid outdoor weather conditions should be checked to make sure there aren’t any areas that haven’t been dried. This is especially important in areas like crawlspaces under your home where water pools and is more difficult to keep clean and dry.
Watch for any signs of obvious water damage like stains, standing water, a persistent musty smell, areas prone to condensation, warping or bowing of floors or walls and peeling paint due to lack of proper ventilation.
Stay away from problem areas in the home and call for professional help to check the areas. Mold remediation treatment may be needed to get rid of mold and mycotoxins.
A professional will also be able to locate the source of the problem and where water is entering the home, crawlspace or find the reason for condensation or excessive moisture. This is key in prevention and future exposure both to mold and mycotoxins.
Consider using a dehumidifier in chronically humid locations. An air purifier may provide relief because it filters and traps airborne impurities, a helpful tool for anyone suffering from a compromised immune system or experiences respiratory issues.
Conclusion
Knowing that excessive water and humidity are prime reasons for the onset of mold and mycotoxins, it’s a good idea to have your home checked for reasons why it’s an on-going issue in and around your home.
To eliminate mold is to reduce the risk of breathing in potentially harmful mycotoxins.
In Sonoma County, call the mold remediation and crawl space restoration specialists at RCS. Let our years of experience identify and eliminate mold and mycotoxins in your home.
One of the primary reasons for calling in a professional water damage restoration company is to thoroughly and safely clean up the damage.
There are a lot of safety risks and potential health risks when dealing with water damage restoration.
One of the biggest safety concerns is the exposure to asbestos during clean-up.
Why is Asbestos a Concern?
Depending on the extent of damage, water can penetrate into previously undisturbed areas where asbestos has been kept contained, sometimes for years.
The water can loosen asbestos particles, which float in the standing water and become airborne. Unless you know what to look for, you’ve been exposed to the very serious health risks of asbestos.
If areas of the building or home need demolition, this will certainly expose any hidden asbestos.
Who’s At Risk?
Back in the day, asbestos was a popular construction and insulation material. In fact, for decades prior to the 1970’s asbestos was commonly used.
Beginning in the 1980’s when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped in to regulate the use and handling of asbestos, strict restrictions were put into place.
Although not completely banned in the United States, there is little that can undo what was done decades ago. Construction using asbestos has been sort of “grandfathered in,” and it’s a matter of being aware and taking precautions that professionals take care of water damage restoration.
Asbestos isn’t a health risk or danger as long as it’s contained and undisturbed. It’s at the time when it’s disturbed, exposed and released into the air that it becomes dangerous.
Events that can send asbestos particles airborne include:
Demolition
Remodeling
Building addition
Roofing
Remove/Replace flooring
Flooding/Water Damage
Additionally, anywhere at risk for hurricanes or the threat of other water damage is at high risk for asbestos exposure.
Safety Measures
Professional water damage restoration specialists are trained at spotting potential asbestos risk factors.
Before beginning any restoration work, a home or building should be tested for asbestos, especially an older structure.
If asbestos is found, an asbestos abatement team need to remove all traces of it, contain and dispose of it prior to anyone is allowed to continue any further work inside.
Conclusion
While tackling a water damage restoration as soon as possible is a high priority, health and safety come first.
If you are at potential risk for asbestos exposure after a water damage event, don’t take chances. Call upon the experts at RCS in Sonoma County for help to assess, address and safely restore your property without the hidden health and safety risks of asbestos.
The last thing any homeowner wants to experience is a flood or other serious water damage to their home. Unfortunately, there are times when it happens and all you can do is take action.
Once you’ve handled the insurance questions and called in the professionals to clean up the damage, how you can be assured that everything will be cleaned, dried and restored completely?
Structural drying is an important part of the restoration process and here, you will learn more about it.
Structural Drying by Definition
Structural drying is a process that involves removing and completely drying any and all moisture from building materials. It actually covers both structural and non-structural areas of the compromised space.
The pros define “structural” as any part of the space or building that will not be demolished, rather remain after clean-up. It’s critical that all these spaces are completely dried and safe.
Structural Drying – The Process
Whether in a commercial building or a home, the structural drying process follows the same basic steps.
Complete Removal of Excess Water
All visible water needs to be extracted from the site. As much of the standing water, puddles and excessive moisture is physically removed as a first step.
In addition, areas that are not visible but tend to be affected by water damage are checked as well.
Air Circulation
The next important step is to get air circulating throughout the damaged areas. Typically, fans are brought in and used to dry up moist areas or water that has saturated into material surfaces.
This step is important to avoid the onset of rot and mold. The sooner air starts circulating, the better and faster the drying out process will go.
However, before the restoration experts begin circulating air, the areas are checked for potentially harmful things like asbestos and existing mold. Avoiding the spread of these harmful materials to other rooms or throughout the building is a safety priority.
Dehumidifying
Moisture has an amazing ability to penetrate into all sorts of spaces after a water damage incident.
Another issue to address with water damage is that some of the water evaporates and turns into highly humid vapors. Even after standing water is removed and air is circulated, the air may be filled with lots of water vapors or humidity.
Excessive levels of humidity are prime areas for mold to grow, even if the surface looks and feels dry.
Balanced Temperatures
The last important step, and throughout the entire process to some degree, is to make sure the temperature of the affected areas are balanced. The experts are looking for a balanced temperature to speed up the drying process, which varies by space and conditions.
The goal is to balance the amount of hot air, which affects the dehumidifying process and the amount of cold air, which impacts the drying process.
A balanced temperature allows for an efficient water evaporation process, extracts excess moisture from building materials and allows all the other steps in the process to work at optimum efficiency.
Conclusion
When water damage strikes, call in the professionals at RCS in Sonoma County. They are experts at structural and other methods of drying to restore your space back to like-new condition.
