One morning you get up and as you pass by the bathroom, you smell an offensive odor. You flip on the bathroom light and see tiny bits of paper and dark colored debris floating in water in your bathtub. This is how many homeowners discover that their plumbing system has malfunctioned and they now have water from a sewer backup affecting their home. Your next question is, “Where do I start?”

Start With Safety

A quick call to Cleveland Water & Fire Restoration, 440-530-4881, is the place to start. Our 24/7 emergency response teams are ready to come to your aid. In the case of a sewage backup in your home, your first responsibility should be your safety and the safety of everyone who resides in the home.  Be aware that the number one accident during a water loss in a home is “slip and fall”. Statistics say that there is a 5% chance that if you fall, you will break a bone. Although it seems as though 5% is a small number, the percentages increase as people age. Also, serious injury will occur in 20-30% of all slip and fall accidents. So the first thing you should do when you have sewage backup is to slow down, don’t get overly excited, and be extremely careful.

Isolate The Area

The next thing you should do is to isolate the area to keep others from coming into contact with water containing raw sewage. Even when the water seems “clear”, it can be extremely dangerous because of what it may contain. Untreated sewage often contains bacteria, viruses, parasites, heavy metals, or fertilizers and pesticides. Don’t forget about your four legged friends, keep them in a separate e area of the house. Not only can they become ill, their paws will transfer harmful contaminants and germs.

Who Is Most At Risk?

There are three groups of people who are at more risk during a sewage backup. The first group is young children whose immune systems are not fully developed. The next group is pregnant women. Besides the normal health risks associated with raw sewage, during pregnancy, exposure to sewage may be harmful to an unborn baby. The last group includes seniors and anyone with a compromised immune system. As we age our immune systems weaken and for others, such as chemo-patients or individuals who have contracted HIV/AIDS, their immune systems are already compromised.

Calls The Pros

Cleveland Water & Fire Restoration professionals have the equipment and required training to clean sewage-contaminated homes. Unless you are really careful and the spill is very small, it is best to let our experienced professionals handle sewage losses in your home. Call Us At 440-530-4881.