A sewage backup is one of the most unpleasant emergencies a property owner can face. The good news is that you don’t have to face it at all. Veteran Owned Restoration is on-call 24/7 and can reach almost any community in Maryland within 30-60 minutes to handle this emergency.
Water from sewage spills could contain parasites, toxins, bacteria, and is almost always a health hazard. This health risk is even more hazardous to young children or people with compromised immune systems. Vacate the premises as quickly and safely as possible, and call Veteran Owned Restoration - any time, day or night.
What Happened?
Sewage backups usually happen when a sewer pipe between your home and the line that connects your sewage system to the city’s sewage system is obstructed. In most cases, the problem is due to a blockage of some sort caused by a buildup over time of kitchen fats, human hair, “flushable” wipes, or even tree roots.
What to Do
- Stop the Sewage: If you are not immunocompromised and can safely stop the sewage from continuing to empty into your home, you should. The less sewage there is, the better. Think about what appliances may have been running at the time of the backup - a washing machine, a dishwasher, or maybe someone was taking a shower? It’s not uncommon that one of these scenarios produced the last big water release that began the domino effect of the sewage backup.
It’s critical that if you must step into standing sewage water, often called “black water,” that you wear protective gear: thick rubber boots, thick gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask. Avoid touching your face with your hands until you are outside and have had an opportunity to wash your hands thoroughly using soap and hot water.
Toxins, bacteria, and microbes are a real threat after a sewage backup. Unless you are dealing with what appears to be a safely manageable situation, we encourage you to call us before trying to handle it yourself. - Cut Electrical Power:In cases of excessive flooding, it is essential to cut the power to the home. Water causes damage to electrical wiring quickly. Cutting the power is a necessary safety precaution for you and for anyone coming to inspect the damage. If you feel unsafe cutting off the power, don’t risk it. Either wait for us to arrive and assess the danger, or call the power company immediately for assistance.
- Call Your Insurance Agent:Most of the time, your homeowner’s insurance policy covers any damage done to the interior of your home due to sewage backup. Be sure to ask your agent about what precisely they cover, your deductible, and whether there are any special instructions. It’s worth noting, though, that while damages inside your home (or business) will likely be covered, potential plumbing costs necessary to unclog your sewer line will probably not be covered by your home insurance company.
- Document Losses:You may have incurred some losses due to a sewage backup. If so, make sure you document with both photo and video (when appropriate). This documentation will help us advocate on your behalf and help your insurance agent in filing your claim. If there were any specially insured items (art, heirloom furniture) that were damaged, take extra care to document and inform us as quickly as possible so that restoration on those pieces can begin immediately.
What We Do
- Response: We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so we can be available to you when the unexpected happens. We respond immediately and usually arrive on-site within 30-60 minutes to begin working with you to get your property back to normal as quickly as possible.
- Communicate : We listen to you and make your priorities our own. Once we have thoroughly inspected all damages and presented you with your free estimate, we’ll communicate a restoration plan we believe best fits your unique circumstances. We pledge to answer any questions and address your concerns. It’s essential that you understand the extent of the damage, the timeline for cleanup and restoration, and that all expectations for finishing our work together are clear. Once we agree on a plan that works for you, we get busy. We will advocate for you with your insurance agency, too, explaining your situation and our strategy for restoration.
- Clean: Sewage backups are smelly, gross, and the most unpleasant of all cleanups. However, while this may seem like an impossible task to you, for us it’s just another day at the office. With the best and latest in water-seeking technology, our professionally trained teams know exactly how to extract the sewage and water, then clean, dehumidify, disinfect, and restore your property to its pre-loss condition.
No one expects, anticipates, or wants a sewage backup. We understand. Call us as quickly as you can so that we can mitigate damage and begin the cleaning process. The faster our Veteran Owned Restoration professionals are put into action, the less damage will be incurred. Our licensed, bonded, insured, and IICRC Certified restoration company can handle your worst sewage backup with ease.