Category: Water Damage Toronto

Sewage—how it will mess your life up, and how to fix it

20/2/2021

Sewage backup can mess your life up, Tips how to handle it!

Let’s be honest, sewage issues are common. And the sooner they are addressed, the better. Here’s a fact we think everyone needs to know: sewage matter contains microbial germs and fungi that have adverse effects on all organisms around it.

As humans, we are are prone to getting affected by the numerous diseases and microorganisms carried by contaminated sewage material. The wastewater in sewers and underground ducts should be transferred from one end to another by using effective environmental engineering methods.

In the case of an unexpected pipe burt, it is always wise to inform authorities and call your local emergency sewage cleanup services to help you get things back in order as soon as possible.

If the greywater contamination is exposed to the environment, it can drastically contaminate fresh air in surrounding areas. Uncovered sewage spills pollute the environment and affect your indoor and outdoor air quality.

Below, is everything you need to know about sewage, possible issues that can arise, and how to efficiently solve them before they turn into a full blown disaster.

But first, what is sewage?

Good question. We’re glad you asked.

In technical terms, sewage is any form of waste water that travels in properly designed channels and conveyors.

Sewage water includes biological waste flushed by humans, water from domestic purposes, etc. Because of the nature of sewage lines, you can always expect to have an unwanted outbreak causing disturbances in your house, area, or even commercial set-ups.

Whether it be our flush tanks or kitchen sinks, or even planters placed in the garden, they can all add up and cause blockage due to sewage. The sewage is classified upon its general characteristics, volume, and rate of discharge.

Every sewage matter has a physical and chemical state, which adds to the toxic content, making it chemically and biologically unhealthy for human health. Being exposed to sewage matter has adverse effects on mental and physical health. It is always advisable to treat any sewage breakouts or blockages on a priority basis, and the cleanup process is best carried out by professionals who know what they are doing.

After-all, you don’t want to pay to deal with recurring sewage issues, do you?

But wait, what even is sewage contamination?

Again, we’re super glad you asked. So, wastewater from bathrooms and laundries eventually ends up in polluted sewer pipelines. If you face sewage related problems often, chances are that the area you live in does not have proper sewage cleaners and maintenance supplies. In that case, the accumulated water starts developing fungi and other microbial germs, which degenerate water molecules and convert them into harmful compounds.

The absolute lack of fresh air exchange due to pipelines being fully covered can lead to sewage contamination, which ends up affecting the quality of the pipes, eroding its internal surfaces.

Sewage contamination can directly disturb your freshwater supplies, as contaminated water has a smirky and unpleasant smell, which readily diffuses through your entire house and neighborhood. Sewage mainly consists of water, biological waste, and chemicals from detergents.

They all add up and form deadly compounds and mixtures that can affect your health and cause respiratory problems. Sewage contamination problems are just not limited to houses and apartments. The high influx of wastewater from public buildings and hotels increases the volume of stagnant water, leading to severe contamination.

Sewage should be removed and disinfected to eliminate the chances of unwanted diseases. Chemicals such as ammonia, nitrates, Sulphur, and phosphorus add up to form sewage waste and release harmful gases in nature.

When a sever is left exposed to a residential or commercial area, it causes environmental pollution and damages all vulnerable infrastructure and holdings. If the sewage is being removed and transported to landfill sites, it should be done according to standard operating procedures. Exposed and leftover sewage contains bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbial elements.

Can Excessive Flooding Cause Sewage Backup?

Excessive flooding and torrential rain can cause your sewer lines to back up. If your town is affected by long spells of rainfall, there is a high chance of your local sewers getting flooded and clogged often.

Unexpected snowfalls and hail storms can also cause the water level to rise and drain into your local sewers and main lines. If you’re used to drinking water straight from the tap, here’s some news for you: bottled water is far more reliable in the worst flooding conditions, as there is a hundred percent chance that your freshwater line is contaminated and compromised.

Unexpected rainfall and excessive flooding always cause problems for people living on the town's downstream side. Contaminated water and debris are more likely to accumulate in your underground sewer pipelines, causing more problems.

If there is a high flux of incoming water, the reverse flow can penetrate your home's main sewer line and flood your basements and washrooms on the ground level. Water is a miscible liquid, which can easily flow and seep through minute openings and disturb your waterproof coatings.

If a sewer backup is being caused due to excessive flooding, it would contain natural debris and much more than just your biological waste.

How to know detect a clogged or compromised sewer line?

If your main sewer line is compromised and clogged, you will eventually start noticing the slow wastewater runoff from drains in your washroom, garages, and kitchens and pick up on something being off.

The flow of wastewater from surfaces would be slow, and you might hear gurgling sounds as water penetrates through the drain.

When a sewer line is clogged, the waste and contaminated water flows in the reverse direction, penetrating your drains and into the kitchen and bathroom floors and is most likely to stir up chaos at your house. In the case of clogging, you would easily sense foul odors coming through your washroom drains

How to perform a sewage cleanup?

If you’ve somehow managed to come face to face with an uncertain situation, here’s a golden tip to remember: do not try to clean up the mess on your own--just don’t.

Instead, it is advisable to call up a professional sewage cleanup services and let them handle the issue for you. Professional cleaners and disaster management services employ field experts who are well-versed in how to handle these situations and have gone through professional training to acquire their licenses.

Looking for professional sewage cleanup services in Toronto? Our team won’t disappoint you! Contact us today.

Here’s the thing; cleaning up remains and sewage by yourself might seem easy, but it is not! Proper handling of solid waste and sewage should be done before it has been transported or cleaned. We, humans, are prone to deadly diseases and viruses when exposed to sewage material and garbage.

It is vital to treat all infected and affected areas to prevent biohazards such as parasites, mold, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. A simple sewer backup can cause many uncertain hassles and disturb your daily life.

If the sewage has accumulated on your bathroom or kitchen floor, try to close that parameter before starting the proper sewage cleanup process:

The mentioned Standard Operating Protocols should be followed to sustain the environment and complete the tedious sewage cleanup process:

Evacuate the Perimeter: When a sewer line or a plumbing fixture explodes, evacuate the entire area. Aged senior citizens, children, and pets should be removed and shifted to another room or space.
Shutdown all Utilities: If you or your area has faced an enormous sewer backup, call for a shutdown, and eliminate the risks of short circuits and gas leaks. Ensure the freshwater supplies are safe and are shut down temporarily. Your contaminated sewage waste must not penetrate through freshwater supplies and Ro purifiers.
Dewatering and Removal: Removal of contaminated sewage water should be done by dewatering pumps, which can infiltrate through narrow plumbing accessories and remove the blockage. If an interruption in water pipes causes the sewage blockage, try to consult a plumber and remove the blockage. A simple metallic object or a plastic toy can be the reason for the massive blockage, leading to the accumulation of biological waste and sewage contamination. After all the water is removed, then only try to address the backup and unclog the sewer drain.
Removal of Debris: After the area is cleaned up and dried, remove debris and large objects affecting the cleanup process. If a sewage cluster is accumulated inside your house, remove all vulnerable furniture and other items. The affected materials should be removed and dumped, as they contain germs and viruses. All soil and shovel dirt should be gathered in disposable plastic bags and directly tossed in the garbage.
Cross Ventilation: When the process of cleanup starts, try to open all windows and doors in the surrounding. The incoming fresh air would settle down, and the unpleasant odor would escape into the external environment. Remove the sunshade and blinds, so the sun's direct heat and light energy can penetrate through the sewage mold and kill unwanted bacteria and germs.
Removal of Uncontaminated Items: If by chance any furniture or object remains uncontaminated, cover it or try to remove it from the parameter. All food, vegetables, utensils, and crockery should be removed from the scene.
Chlorination: Chlorinate the area with proper disinfectants and chlorine to counter the spread of bacteria and germs in the surrounding. Spraying of disinfectants would eliminate unseen micro organism which can decompose in your environment and cause health problems.
Unclogging of Drains: If you have identified the blockage's reason, start planning how to tackle it. Use proper tools and safety equipment while opening and dismantling the drain or the pipe. Do not break the source directly; ensure your main water supply is turned down and no water is flowing in the line. For this purpose, call trained plumbing engineers and labor, removing the blockage without causing any more damages. Removing the blockage is a tedious and most challenging job, as you never know when underground conceal pipes burst and tear apart. Use specific tools to dismantle the pipeline from another end, and then try to push in vacuums, which can suck the dirt and small particles. Use wired hangers if a metal or an object causes the blockage. If the blockage is in your sink drain, pour hot boiling water and dishwashing detergent with it. This might be effective and clear the drain, dissolving the blockage. Use plunger in worse situations to extract the clogged particles, and add strong acids to eliminate the bottleneck within few minutes. After your sewer line or drain pipes are cleared, wash them thoroughly with a steady supply of fresh and clear water.
Screwup Pipe Fittings: After final inspection, cover all channels and pipe fittings, and ensure you tighten them using sufficient tools and adhesives. Look for any unwanted leakages or bursts that might erode shortly and cause more problems. Run all safety and maintenance checks after your sewage lines and conveyance pipe fittings are in order and ready to be operational again.
Air Fresheners and Disinfectants: After a severe sewage backup, you need to apply air fresheners which can readily infiltrate air particles and spread a sweet fragrance. If the sewage outburst was on a town level, it is advisable by authorities to have that entire town fumigated by air fresheners and disinfectant sprays. It is imperative to eliminate foul odor before it starts to affect the fresh air in the environment.
Structural Drying: Removal of moisture from wooden and concrete surfaces is the process of structural drying. Vacuum cleaners and high-intensity blowers are used to dry the entire house or area. Moisture settles on surfaces exposed which were exposed to floods and sewage backups. To remove moisture and dry the whole surface, you require centrifugal air exhausts and high-volume axial fans. It would be best if you got your structural drying immediately done, as mold and moisture settle onto wood fixtures and decompose them completely.

What causes drains to get clogged?

Clogging is caused due to complex particles, that accumulate within any surface and solidify. Problems due to clogging are experienced in kitchen drains, washroom gutters, and general sewers. Usually, we do not dispose of the remaining food in garbage chutes--like we probably should, and instead, we prefer dumping them in the sink, which ends up, well, not somewhere it was supposed to.

Bathroom accessories, such as sanitary napkins, and tissues are dumped into flush tanks instead of dustbins, which get jammed in pipe fittings and cause severe problems. Domestic waste accumulates on the internal surface, leading to the clogging of drains and sewers.

Things like meaty and greasy food deposits can cause instant coagulation. Seasoned coffee grounds could expand and form uncompressible lumps if not correctly drained. Bones, veggies, and poultry can add up to the mixture, causing severe clogging issues.

Besides, food particles, napkins, toilet tissue rolls, razor blades, bottle caps, and hair strands can easily cause a sewage backup. Every daily use item should be disposed off properly to avoid drainage issues and uncertain sewer clogging.

The excessive use of draining pipes and dishwashers can also cause clogging, as food complex food substances require sufficient time to break and travel along the sewer lines. It is always recommended to install a modern and fully equipped plumbing systems that are efficient at their jobs.

A word on health risks caused by sewage backup

Sewage backups are a serious concern, and should be addressed on a priority basis. If a sewage backup affects a home or an entire vicinity, professional sewage backup services must be immedietly called. A contaminated sewage backup contains infected biohazards, which can quickly transfer via nostrils and mouth through inhalation. Bacterial fungi can start affecting human skin, causing rough patches and skin diseases.

Contaminated sewage backup can cause severe health problems such as Hepatitis, Dermatitis, Weils disease, Legionnaires Disease, Gastroenteritis, Allergic Alveolitis, and Asthama. The spread of bacterial microbes is likely to infiltrate through the respiratory tract, causing breathing and respiratory problems. Senior citizens and kids are most at risk when a sewage backup occurs in homes or nearby areas. The ones having weak respiratory tracts are advised to wear protective masks and take safety precautions. Parasites, mold, bacteria, fungi, and viruses are found in contaminated sewage waste. Untreated sewage waste damages vital organs; the Liver, Kidneys, and bloodstream. Pathogens from sewage waste can seep through skin pores, causing itching and patches on your skin.

Sewer gas poisoning is widespread in areas, which are affected by severe flooding and rainfalls. Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous gas released from contaminated sewage waste and smells like rotten eggs. Sewer gas causes instant eye irritation, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

Is exposure to black water harmful?

Blackwater is composed of chemicals and biological wastes, including feces, urine,and anal cleansing water. Blackwater contains pathogens and other microbial substances which can directly affect your health and property. Wastewater is a composition of blackwater and grey-water.

If the blackwater is not treated immediately, it may cause severe health concerns and can sometimes even result in death. To remove blackwater and its bacteria, you need professional disinfectant and cleaning services, where providers can make adequate use of chemical acids to neutralize the impact.

Exposure to blackwater can sometimes even cause deady infections and complications due to parasites and bacteria.

How to prevent your property during uncertain sewage backups?

People must run quality checks on their basements and foundations in a severe flooding situation and check for cracks or seepage patches. Bitumen coats should be applied beforehand to waterproof the ground surfaces and basements in contact with the ground.

Reduce greasy washing products such as oil containers and utensils, which can go down the mainline and intensify the sewage backup situation. Check through all plumbing fixtures, raise all flush tanks, washing machines, and sinks in your basement.

Install water metering fixtures to keep a close check on water inflow and outflow from your property. When you know your main sewer line is compromised, use water effectively, and refrain from washing cars in the garage.

Sewage Backup Prevention

With time, people must ensure to update their plumbing systems and shift towards mechanical working systems. If you have an extended courtyard in the back of your house, avoid planting trees that can spread up roots and eventually disturb your sewage pipeline, causing severe clogging.

Maintain and repair your concealed pipe fittings, replace old and rusted pipes with new PVC plastic pipes. PVC plastic fitting and pipes are highly reliable and durable.

Always keep the emergency sewer clean, which is ideal for situations caused by excessive flooding and thunder rain storms. Get your internal sewer system timely inspected by professional plumbers and engineers, clean grease, grass, and debris accumulated with time.

Refrain from connecting areaway drain fixtures or pumps from sump tanks to the sewer line. Permanently repair and replace plumbing fixtures that are leaking or are compromised due to any fault.Installation of a backwater prevention valve is extremely vital;prevention valves allow wastewater to flow out of your sanitary lines and do not allow water to reverse back into the pipes.

Is sewage backup covered under homeowners insurance?

Only a few insurance companies cover sewage backup under home insurance policies if only the payer has added extra benefits under his premium amount.

People living in flood-prone areas are catered under homeowners insurance claims, where they pay an increased premium amount which is likely to be claimed for renovation purposes.

A homeowners insurance coversdamages done by water from sewer or drains. Structural damages and repair costs can be claimed under your homeowners' insurance benefits.

Why is sanitization important in sewage cleanup?

The essential process of sanitization includes sanitization of the floor, wall, and external surfaces. All affected surfaces are thoroughly washed with hot steam water, disinfectants, and other chemicals.

Microbial bacteria are microscopic, cannot be seen under the naked eye, and can accumulate on any surface. Disinfectants must penetrate through tiny pores and eliminate bacterial settlements.

Sodium hypochlorite, known as bleach, is commonly used as a disinfectant to sanitize almost all surfaces.

Sewage backup produces harmful toxins and gases which settle into furniture, wood, and other materials. It is mandatory to have a sanitized environment before returning to everyday life.

Who can help In sewage cleanup?

Sewage cleanup is a very tedious and challenging process. You need to examine the situation first and then close the entire area for the local public. Sewage cleanup can take days and extended person-hours to revive the area and clean up contaminated sewage waste and debris. Damage control and restoration services include engineers, supervisors, plumbers, cleaners, debris removers, machinery, and much more.

If the sewage backup is caused due to leakage of the septic tank, you will require water resource engineers to analyze the leak and start the recovery phase. Plumbers would assist you if your sewer line has caused sewage backup, cleaners would always play the most vital part, as they are the ones who walk down through the debris and molds to find the clogged point and dismantle it completely. Dewatering machinery and lifters would assist you in dewatering the area and removing the accumulated waste.

It is wise to consult a commercial waste management organization that can help you in sewage cleanup and offer other vital services. If the affected area is the size of a room, you can start by yourself, but you must refrain from doing it yourself in worse situations.

With assistance from experienced individuals,you can undergo a complete sewageprocess. Local volunteers can help in relocating families to safe stations and provide them basic first aid.

What to Wear During a Sewage Cleanup Activity?

While performing sewage cleanup activities, individuals must wear personal protective gears that include; rubber boots, gloves, and face shield.

Cleaning equipment and clothes should be cleaned and sanitized with proper disinfectants and chemicals. The workers and the general public should be wearing personal protective gear to protect themselves from poisonous gases and toxins.

What to Do After a Successful Sewage Cleanup?

Sewage cleanup is a challenging and tedious task. After a successful cleanup process, you can revert to your everyday life but ensure you follow recommended protocols to have a hassle-free life.

Call for Dry Cleaning Services: You must get all carpeted flooring, and rugs dry cleaned before reuse.
Clean Undamaged Utensils and Canned Food: All undamaged utensils should be cleaned with disinfectant solutions and sanitizers. If the canned food is safe and fresh, you can wash and use them.
Use Air Fresheners: After a sewage cleanup, it is advisable to have automatic air fresheners placed in every room, which can help you in breathing fresh air.
Replace Damaged Goods: Goods that are damaged should be removed immediately.
Inspection of Mechanical and Plumbing Fixtures: After a successful sewage cleanup process, you are advised to check all values and pipe fittings. Emergency drain valves and backwater return valves should be checked. The overall inspection includes checking almost every fixture which was replaced after the sewage backup.

Which items should be discarded?

It is important to start fresh, discard all disposable items which got affected by sewage backup. Home-canned food in the refrigerator should be removed, as the odor is most likely to get settled in home-packed edibles.

Unpacked items, which were left exposed to the polluted environment should be discarded. Fruits, vegetables, bakery items, and liquids should be discarded. Items that smell foul should be avoided and discarded in plastic bags.

Final Words:

Sewage cleanup is a challenging and technical task. You require commercial cleanup services to provide you prompt and professional services.

During the process of sewage cleanup, the general public should cooperate with cleaners and supervisors. Contaminated sewage waste should be cautiously removed and transported to a dumping site.

It is advisable to use environmentally friendly materials which do not affect the discharge of water. Clogging and blockage of drains and sewers are caused due to our negligence. To have a sustainable water supply process, we need to ensure that we reduce the use of substances that are likely to accumulate and be the reason for the blockage.

Dispose of all edible waste, which is greasy and expands when exposed to water.

Looking for an emergency sewage company to get your home back in order? At GTA Restoration, we make sure to employ only the most skills professionals who will treat your home like their own. If you live in Toronto, and are caught in a fix!

Want a closer look at all the services we offer? Check them out here! Want to meet our team? Here you go. Finally, if you’re looking to learn more about emergency clean up services that we offer, and read up on helpful advice, we’d be happy if you went through our blog—it’s full of helpful tips, tricks, and advice that works!

For more information on our services contact us at 416-358-6666 or visit us @ www.GTARestoration.com – 24-hour Services: Emergency Plumber Toronto, Water Damage, Fire Damage, Flooded Cleanup, Mold Removal or www.GTARestoration.net – 24-hr Emergency Service: www.PlumberTorontoLTD.com, Emergency Plumber Toronto, Water Damage Restoration, Fire Restoration, Flooded Basement Cleanup, Mold Remediation – serving Toronto & the GTA

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Common Signs of Water Damage?

19/10/2020

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Common Signs of Water Damage?

Water damage can leave you with a costly bill and can result in irreversible damage. Fortunately, there are some common signs to look out for, so you can catch it early if it does happen and get it repaired as soon as possible.

Your Ceiling and Wall Paint is Peeling and Warping

Take a look around your home and examine the walls and ceilings. If they are water damaged, you may notice that the wallpaper or paint is peeling or even has a bubbling effect. More often than not, this is because of excess moisture. Water-filled bubbles form, and can be large or small depending on the extent of the water damage. Even small bubbles should be inspected and addressed immediately. The bubbling effect can be especially found in bathrooms and kitchens. Even tasks as simple as boiling a pot of water can cause water damage to the walls, especially if there is condensation. If you have a painted overhang above your stove, you can find these water-filled bubbles as well.

If you have water damage, you also may notice that your drywall is warping or your ceiling feels soft and spongy to the touch. Warped drywall is never good as it can lead to structural damage and ruin the integrity of the drywall. You won’t be able to hang shelving or anything heavy on the drywall as it will turn to mush and crumble. Plus, anything you already had hanging on the drywall, such as an expensive TV can fall to the ground and become damaged. You are looking at damages beyond the drywall itself which is why it is important to address it as soon as you notice it.

Buckled Hardwood Floors

If your floors are looking a little odd and not as they used to, trust your gut as it may be water damage. What constitutes odd? You may notice that your floors are what experts call ‘cupping’. This is when the sides of your floorboards are higher than the centre of the floorboards. This generally occurs when moisture builds up inside the wood and swells it while weighing down the centre. You will notice the opposite effect when too much moisture is removed from the floorboards and they shrink. In addition, your hardwood floors can ‘crown’ which is the opposite of cupping. Moisture builds up inside the boards and the centre of the wood is higher than the sides of the wood.

If you notice your hardwood floors ‘buckling’ than this could be a sign of water damage. When your hardwood flooring buckles, the wood will lift from the subflooring several inches in multiple places or one.

You must take into consideration how your wood flooring was installed. Sometimes it is not due to water damage at all, but to wear and tear and improper installation. Hardwood flooring needs time to get used to the environment and the elements it will be exposed to. If this doesn’t happen and it is installed before it is ready, cupping, crowning, and buckling can occur as well.

Visibly Stained Ceilings and Floors

Take a look at your ceilings and floors and take note of any stains. Feel your carpets as well and if they are wet to the touch, that is definitely a sign that a leak has occurred and there may be water damage. If the stains on your ceilings are yellow or brown and are various shapes and sizes, that is a sign of water damage. Take note of where the stain is as well. If the stain is underneath your bathroom where the toilet or shower is, that increases the chances of it being water damage from a leak.

Mold Growth

A tell-tale sign that there is water damage in your home is mold as mold can only develop if there is a source of moisture. You may find mold spores on your hardwood floors, inside the wall and outside the wall, and on the ceiling. Check your basement thoroughly as well as most people find Mold there. It can be a variety of colours, the most common being black mold. Keep in mind that no mold does not mean you are safe from water damage and it doesn’t exist. Mold is highly dangerous to your health and can even lead to death with long-term exposure, so it is not an issue to be taken lightly.

For most cases, Mold Damage will only begin to grow if the source of the water damage has been damp for a long time. In this case, you may have water damage long before you notice it.

Bad Odours Smells

Don’t ignore that musty smell you have been sensing for weeks, as it may be related to water damage. The scent tends to grow stronger the closer you are to the source of the water damage. The smell can be coming from the mold resulting from the water damage, or the water damage itself if it is from a leak from a sewer pipe. Sewage is a biohazard so this should be addressed as soon as possible. It is not safe to be exposed to a biohazard for any period of time.

High Water Bill

This one is not really a direct sign of water damage, but something to look out for. A higher utility bill without intentional use of excessive water is usually a sign of a leak. If there is a leak, then there could quite possibly be water damage you haven’t noticed yet.

Take an extra moment out of your day, if you can, to analyze your home and look out for water damage. Check for leaks as well in every room, especially the bathroom, kitchen, basement and laundry room. If you do spot water damage in your home, don’t ignore it. Water damage can become more expensive the longer it is left, and could even be detrimental to your health. Call a professional as soon as possible to confirm the water damage and get it repaired.

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