A septic backup or system failure is one of the most unfortunate things a homeowner can experience in his or her lifetime, simply because the scope of damage can be expansive. Not only are you forced to deal with plumbing issues that are costly in and of themselves, but the cleanup process and the damage that can be incurred when effluent backs up into your home are separate disasters in their own right.
Because of the size and scope of a septic failure, as well as the nature of the materials that are being dealt with, it’s paramount that should one occur, a professional team is left to handle it, not a homeowner. But, just because you should steer clear of a septic failure doesn’t mean you can’t be apprised to what’s going on in your home while one is being remediated and resolved. To that end, we present to you the four stages of septic cleanup in Bethel, OH:
Step 1: secure the premises
Sewage backup is more than just foul smelling: it’s toxic and hazardous to your health, even in short periods of exposure. And, in order for a professional to remediate your home after a septic failure, they’re going to need to make sure it’s safe for entrance and work. This includes turning off the power and water so that critical systems can be worked on and removing any hazardous materials from the affected backup areas. And, of course, this means keeping any and all non-professional personnel out of the affected area, including children and pets.
Step 2: damage control
The first step to solving any problem is to get that problem under some modicum of control and in the case of sewage cleanup in Bethel, OH, this means a number of things. Removing damaged items from the work area is a good first step and can include ripping out carpets and other saturated materials. Second would be to protect uncontaminated items and material nearby, which can include sealing them in plastic or covering them with airtight materials. Finally, opening windows, doors and other airflow options can serve to reduce the noxious gasses and built up airborne chemicals so that work can begin safely on remediation.
Step 3: tackling the issue
Step three is where it all comes together and the actual remediation process can begin. During this phase of septic cleanup in Bethel, OH a septic professional will begin to extract the effluent from your home and clean up areas that have been affected. Disinfecting and decontamination are essential during this phase, so it’s important that the previous steps have been followed accurately and accordingly, to ensure that affected areas are fully addressed and that the damage has no spread further in the mean time. Finally, during this phase a homeowner will contact their insurance company to make sure that they’re covered in the event of this damage.
Step 4: preventing recurrence
The last step in the resolution of any septic issue is making sure that the problem doesn’t happen again and that your home is safe from future unforeseen issues that may cause widespread damage. This includes pinpointing exactly what went wrong with your septic system the first time around, reinforcing and replacing materials that may be subject to fail and scheduling follow up services to make sure that the repairs and remediation continue to be successful and effective.