What happens during a sewage cleanup?

A sewage cleanup is more than mopping up. A crew stops the spread of contaminated water, removes the solids and anything that soaked it up, cleans and disinfects what can be saved, and dries the space. The sewage itself is a health hazard, so the work is done in protective gear and the source of the backup is dealt with separately by a plumber.

The stages of a professional cleanup

Assessment and containment. A crew starts by finding where the wastewater went: which floors, which rooms, how far under baseboards, cabinets and flooring. Backups enter through the lowest drains first,^[1] so the lowest level usually has the worst of it. Crews usually seal off the affected area so people and pets do not track contamination through the rest of the house.

Protective gear. The City of Salem advises avoiding direct contact with wastewater and wetted surfaces, wearing protective clothing such as rubber gloves, boots and goggles, and sanitizing skin and clothing after contact.^[1] A restoration crew works in at least that, and often adds respiratory protection.

Water and solids removal. Standing wastewater is pumped or wet vacuumed out, and solids are removed by hand. Salem lists wet vacuuming, mopping and solids removal at the start of its description of what cleanup may consist of.^[1]

Removing what cannot be saved. Porous materials soak sewage up and cannot be made safe by surface cleaning. Salem lists removal of heavily-soiled permeable materials such as carpet or drywall as part of cleanup.^[1] Expect carpet and pad, the lower part of drywall and insulation, and soaked particleboard cabinets to go. Hard surfaces such as tile, sealed concrete and solid wood are more often cleaned and kept.

Cleaning and disinfecting. What stays is cleaned first and disinfected second, because disinfectant does not work well on dirt. Salem lists using appropriate disinfectant cleaners, steam cleaning, sanitizing ductwork and flushing plumbing fixtures among the steps a cleanup may include.^[1] Salem also warns never to mix bleach with ammonia because it creates a deadly gas.^[1]

Drying. In its flood cleanup guidance, EPA warns that failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks.^[2] Crews set up fans and dehumidifiers and check that framing and subfloor are dry before anyone closes a wall. A cleanup that leaves wet materials behind is how a sewage problem turns into a mold problem.

Rebuilding. Cleanup ends with a bare, clean, dry space. Replacing drywall, flooring and cabinets is a separate repair phase, sometimes by the same company and sometimes by a general contractor.

What a crew does not fix

The cleanup crew does not repair the reason the sewage came up. If a blockage is on your own pipe, the Salem guidance says the building owner is responsible for maintenance and repair of the sewer lateral on the owner's private property, as well as cleanup.^[1] A plumber finds and clears the blockage, and a cleanup should not start until the backup has stopped. See who to call for a sewage backup.

Paperwork that helps

Photograph the damage before anything is moved or thrown out, and keep receipts for clean-up expenses. The Virginia Bureau of Insurance says most homeowners policies cover the reasonable costs of emergency clean-up and temporary repairs, but Salem points out that most homeowners' insurance will not pay for damage unless specific sewer backup coverage has been added to the policy.^[3][1] Ask your insurer before you sign a contract. For how a quote is built, see how much sewage cleanup costs in Virginia.

When to call a licensed pro

For almost all of it. EPA's advice is that if the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, you should call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.^[2] Hiring is a matter of judging experience and references, so read how to choose a water damage restoration company.

Virginia law says no person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under that chapter.^[4] Plumbing repairs need a licensed tradesman: no individual may engage in work as a tradesman unless licensed.^[5] Check the licence of anyone who will rebuild or repair pipes.

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