What happens when sewage runs into your home? It can cause water damage, of course, but it will also cause more serious issues that could put your health at risk.
Whether the black water came from a toilet or drainage pipe or an actual flood, you’ll need to make an insurance claim. However, it’s important to know what steps to take in order to get your home back to being safe to live in.
Safety Precautions
You should take great care with anything that is contaminated by the black water. This is water that has come into contact with or is full of human waste. It’s likely full of bacteria and pathogens, so it can be quite dangerous to your health.
Protective equipment should be worn by anyone venturing into the building. This includes boots and gloves, as well as coveralls and eye protection, as well as respirators. You will not be able to live in the house while it is being treated if the flooding is widespread.
How to Return the Space to Being Habitable
Your insurance company will need to send a cleaning technician and check the area. This will determine how serious the contamination is and the cost of restoring the building. Once this is done, the following steps will be taken:
Remove Excess Water
All water must be removed in order to prevent further water damage. The waste and any solid debris will also need to be removed and disposed of correctly.
Dispose of Contaminated Items
Anything that is porous or has the ability to absorb the waste will need to be thrown away. This includes soft furniture, carpets, toys, etc. as they can harbour bacteria.
Set-Up Negative Air Machines
These machines will help prevent the contamination from reaching other rooms in the house.
Clean Surfaces
All dirtied surfaces are disinfected completely. A final pass will be made to completely disinfect any surfaces that were not directly affected but were in the same space as the black water.
Drying
Finally, the entire space will need to be dried out. After everything is cleaned up, this will take place to prevent mould and mildew from growing where the home was dampened.
If you have a black water flood, leave the house immediately and call for help. At All Property Claims, we can aid you in making your insurance claim.