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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

What to Do After a Sewage Backup

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Sewage backup Sewage backups can be devastating, but they don’t have to be.

What to Do After a Sewage Backup

Sewage backups can be nasty, but you can avoid further damage by acting quickly. Sewage backups are one of the worst things that can happen to your home. But if you act quickly, you may be able to limit the damage and keep yourself safe.

If your home or business in DeLand, FL, has experienced a sewage backup, follow these steps:

Stay Safe

Sewage water is full of bacteria and viruses, so it is important to make sure you stay safe after a sewage loss. This means avoiding contact with anything that was in contact with the sewage water, as well as any tap that may have been contaminated by sewage.

  • Do not touch anything that has come into contact with water.
  • Don't use appliances or electronics that were in contact with water.
  • Don't use anything that was in contact with water unless it has been cleaned by a professional cleaning service. These include clothes, towels, bedding, food items (including canned goods), kitchen utensils, and eating utensils.
  • Do not drink from taps

Stay Out of Contaminated Areas

If you have had a sewage backup in your home, do not go into any areas that were contaminated by the flood water. These include the room where the sewage backup occurred and any rooms that were flooded with sewage (even if only partially).

If you can't avoid these areas, wear protective gear such as thick gloves and rubber boots when entering them. 

Call a Professional Cleanup Company

If you've found yourself in this unfortunate situation, the first step should be calling a professional cleanup company. They'll know what to do and how to clean up your home or business after a sewage backup. You may have some questions about what kind of equipment they use and whether it's safe for people with allergies or other sensitivities. The good news is that most professionals will work with you to make sure everyone involved is protected from exposure risks.

If you're worried about insurance companies, don't be! A professional cleanup service can assist when filing claims with your insurance provider. So, in addition to helping get rid of the mess itself, these pros can help keep everything else on track when it comes time for reimbursements!

Contact Your Insurance Company

The next thing you should do after a sewage backup is contact your insurance company. They need to know about the incident as soon as possible, so give them as much information as possible and make sure you have your insurance policy number handy. If you don't have insurance, call a professional cleanup company immediately instead of trying to clean up the mess yourself—it's just not worth the risk!

Act Quickly 

If sewage backs up into your home, you need to act quickly to prevent further damage and limit further risks. A sewage backup can be very dangerous: it contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause serious illness. 

Sewage backups can be devastating, but they don’t have to be. If you act quickly, you can minimize the damage and keep your home safe from potentially harmful bacteria. It’s important to stay out of contact with contaminated areas until a professional cleanup company arrives on the scene. Once that happens, it’s time for them to do their job so you can get back into your daily routine as soon as possible!

4 Tips To Prevent Frequent Toilet Overflows

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Clogged toilet with toilet paper Avoid battling clogged toilet problems around the clock by making some changes in your restroom setup.

Prevent Frequent Toilet Overflows

Commercial bathrooms have people in and out of them throughout the day. This high traffic makes it harder to control people's actions; thus, overflows and clogs have a greater probability. However, as an owner in DeLand, FL, you don't want to face a clogged toilet regularly.

Minimize those frustrations by making several choices to reduce blockages and encourage others to use proper restroom etiquette. Here are four tips to keep toilets running smoothly.

1. Post Helpful Suggestions

Friendly, gentle reminders can go a long way. Hang printed signs in the bathroom stalls asking patrons and employees to make appropriate decisions. Request they put all trash in the receptacles. Explain that feminine products clog lines and lead to a toilet overflow

2. Have Trash Cans in Visible Locations

Focus on convenience. People may toss excess paper and items into the toilet when they don't see another viable option. Therefore, if you only have one trash can in the restroom and it's not easy to find or use, the commode becomes the other choice. 

Have a small can near each toilet. While staff may have more to empty, people are likely to drop waste there rather than down the drain. 

3. Check Often for Signs of a Clogged Toilet

Assign restroom check duties. Have employees go into the restroom throughout the day. They can ensure it's clean and quickly flush test each unit. If one is working slowly, making unusual sounds or beginning to fill, have staff report it immediately. Someone can snake the drain before an overflow occurs.

4. Invest in Commercial-Grade Toilet Paper

While soft, thick toilet paper offers comfort, it clogs drains if people use too much. These wads block the sewage line. Swap it out for a thinner material. You can't control everyone's consumption, but you can choose selections that break down easier.

If a flood happens, rely on professional water remediation experts in DeLand, FL, to help. In the meantime, avoid battling clogged toilet problems around the clock by making some changes in your restroom setup.