Sewer Backup – How To Clean Up Sewage

We specialize in sewer backup cleaning, water damage, fire damage, and restoring homes. Cleaning up sewage is never a fun thing to do, but it is something you need to do ASAP. Sewer backups and cleaning up sewage are two things sure to muck up your day. In this post, we are going to tell you how to clean up sewage in your basement and tell you why so many people just hire us.

Certified sewage cleanup experts

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, more commonly known as the IICRC, is a certification and standard-setting non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries. Our team goes through certification training from the IICRC, so they know how to properly clean up sewage and prevent mold growth. We also have been cleaning up sewage backups across the greater Chicago area for decades. Take a look at our online reviews to see what people are saying about our sewage clean up services. Check out our Google Reviews, Yelp Reviews,Facebook, and the BBB. We strive to earn our reputation with every sewage cleanup job that we do.

We clean up sewage in basement across the greater Chicago area

Call us for a completely free estimate at (866) 575-5814! We can get anywhere in the greater Chicago area within the hour.

Why does sewage backup into my basement?

Sewage will backup into basement when there are no valves preventing backflow and the city sewer systems become too full. Sewage can also back up into your basement when there is a blockage or crack in your sewer pipes. Sewers backing up into basements is very common in the greater Chicago area. More and more homes are installing sewage backflow prevention valves, so different homes are getting the sewage back up. The buildings on the end of the block were always the first ones to have sewer backing up into their basements because water flows to the lowest possible point. When the homes on the end of the block began adding backflow prevention valves to prevent sewage from backing up in their basement, the issue moved onto the next home down the line. We do not install backflow prevention valves, but we can always suggest a plumber or two and help clean up the mess.

Cleaning Up the Mess After Sewage Back-Up

Draining or pumping out the sewage water and muck. It is always best to get the sewage back down into the sewer, but you can also pump it out and haul it away.
Remove any organic material hit by sewage including drywall, carpet, wood or laminate flooring etc.
Washing things down with a surfactant and anti-microbial cleaning agent. Dish soap is better than most other options, because it does a good job of kiling the viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants while also being safer for people and the environment. Surfactants (soap) is also better than disinfectants like bleach or pinesol because it emulsifies better. The soap does a better job of getting sewage out of pours in concrete and other materials.
Properly dry the area to prevent mold growth. Properly cleaning things up and drying things out completely is the best way to prevent mold growth.

Do not cross-contaminate by taking sewage or affected materials through clean areas without proper packing.

What is in sewage?

Sewage typically contains a mixture of waste materials and water that is discharged from various sources such as households, businesses, and industries. The exact composition of sewage can vary depending on factors such as the location, population density, and industrial activities in the area.

Here are some common components found in sewage:

Human Waste: Sewage includes fecal matter and urine from toilets, which contain bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Solid Waste: It consists of various solid materials like food scraps, paper, plastics, and other debris that are disposed of through toilets, sinks, and drains.
Wastewater: Sewage contains used water from various sources like sinks, showers, washing machines, and industrial processes. This water may contain detergents, soaps, cleaning agents, and chemicals.
Chemicals and Contaminants: Sewage can also contain a range of chemicals and contaminants. These may include pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, heavy metals, oils, solvents, and other industrial byproducts. These substances can enter the sewage system through various means, such as improper disposal or accidental spills.
Pathogens: Sewage can harbor various disease-causing microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These pathogens can pose a health risk to humans and the environment if not properly treated and managed.

It’s important to note that sewage is typically treated and processed at wastewater treatment plants before it is discharged into water bodies or reused for irrigation or other purposes. The treatment process aims to remove or reduce the harmful components of sewage to protect public health and the environment. This should explain why it is so important to clean up all the sewage immediately.

Get the right professionals to help clean up

Cleaning up poop and sewage isn’t rocket science, but it does make sense to get the best people possible, especially when they’re typically cheaper than everyone else. It is important to clean up sewage correctly and quickly. That doesn’t mean you have to pay more than you should. Our teams give free estimates and we pride ourselves on taking care of our customers. The people are team are professional, highly-trained, and have a ton of experience. We clean up every home, business, and warehouse like it belongs to someone in the family. The longer sewage sits the more the odor and mold growth will begin to take over, so get the clean up process going right away. This is why our teams are ready to help 24 hours a day every day of the year.

Get a free estimate for any services

When you call us, expect a team to be at your property in about an hour for a free estimate. They will take a look at the sewage cleanup issues, and give you an estimate on the spot. The team will begin to clean up the mess as soon as you tell them to get going. We can also schedule a cleanup at a later time depending on preferences or availability.

The sewage clean up process

Our professional service technicians will clean up the raw sewage, remove the sewage damaged materials that are not salvageable and professionally clean what is salvageable. Sewage always causes worse damage, because of the foulness of the water and nasty contaminants in it. Sewage can easily cause severe damage and pose a serious health risk any time that it hits floors, walls, insulation, carpet, carpet padding, furniture or any other organic building material. It is often cheaper, healthier and easier to replace items that have been damaged by sewage. Our team will go over item with you so you can make the best decisions for you and the other occupants. We urge you to protect yourself and anyone else on the property by staying completely clear of the sewage. You want to be careful about coming into contact with sewage because it contains bacteria, viruses, and potentially sexually transmitted diseases among many other pathogens.

Summing up or sewer backup cleaning services

Raw sewage, whether from a toilet backup, a broken septic tank, or a sewer line backup, is considered “black water” and contains solids and particles that can cause immediate illness and, in some cases, death. We cannot stress enough to keep yourself and your family away from this water until we arrive on scene. Our licensed professionals will remove the waste with the proper equipment and protective gear, and return the affected areas back to a sanitary condition, so you can safely return to your routine, or business. When you need a sewage cleanup in Chicago, IL, get in touch with 2nd Chance Water Restoration at (866) 575-5814. No job is too big or small for our capable crew, and we always arrive within the hour!