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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Biohazard Blog Posts

Tackling the Stinky Situations: The Realities of Sewage Leaks | SERVPRO of Buffalo/Tonawanda

3/15/2024 (Permalink)

sewage water pooling on a kitchen floor after a leak SERVPRO of Buffalo/Tonawanda is always ready to respond to your call when biohazard incidents strike.

The phrase “what’s that smell?” is something that no homeowner or business owner wants to utter as they enter their home or building. Property disasters come in all shapes and sizes, but they also come with varying levels of grossness. We would agree that suffering from a sewage leak is one of the grossest disasters to experience!

Unfortunately, sewage leaks and backups happen all the time. If you become the unfortunate victim of a sewage disaster, quick action is necessary to control the situation and prevent further issues from developing.

The Leak Discovery

Sewage backups can happen whenever the pipe that the wastewater is moving through becomes clogged or blocked. Over time, the sewage will have to go somewhere, and it will eventually travel backward into your toilet, sinks or even bathtub. Sewage leaks can occur if a water line or pipe breaks or becomes compromised, leaving the sewage to leak or drip out of the hole.

No matter the situation, we recommend that you not touch the water. Water is categorized into white water, gray water and black water. Sewage falls into the category of black water because it is toxic and should never be handled without the proper safety gear. Even a small amount of sewage can harbor thousands of viruses, bacteria and microbes that can be dangerous or even deadly.

Stay out of the water, and focus on finding the appropriate water shutoff valve. Once the pipe has stopped leaking or the situation is under control, start opening up windows and turning on fans to let the stink out and to let the fumes dissipate. Close off the area to your family or customers and then get us on the phone right away.

How We Can Help

We are well-known for our highly rated restoration services, but we are also well-equipped to handle any biohazard cleaning situation! We have the proper tools and training to tackle your entire disaster with ease and precision. Once you call us, we will be able to load up our trucks with the right equipment and then we will be on our way to you.

In the meantime, pull out your phone and start taking some photos of the destruction. While you may not be framing these photos any time soon, your insurance company will want to see them while they work on processing your claim.

Once we arrive, we will prioritize securing your space by identifying and fixing the source of the leak. Since sewage water is toxic, we will ensure that the area is only occupied by team members that are highly trained and dressed safely.

Some of our technicians will be focused on fixing the problem, and others will focus on removing the sewage and standing water. We will also employ our deodorizers to remove any lingering stinky smells.

If the sewage caused any structural damage to your home or building, we can also repair and restore any warped floors or soggy walls for you so that your home is returned to its pre-disaster state.

Sewage leaks should always be cleaned up by professionals. Call SERVPRO®, and we will take care of you.

When to Hire Professional Mold Remediation Services

8/17/2018 (Permalink)

If mold is in your home, act now and call for professional remediation services. SERVPRO® of Buffalo Tonawanda is always ready to help.

What experienced homeowners - and even renters - know is that, no matter how clean your home is, mold is the number one enemy to the health of your house. It’s an unfortunate side effect of homeownership - but you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Sometimes, ridding your home of mold is an easy fix and just needs a little DIY cleanup. But othertimes, a professional touch is required for mold remediation.

Not sure if you can handle the mold yourself? Read on to learn more.

  1. Mold likes water

Mold is a common household pest because all it really needs to grow is water or humidity.

You probably know that this is why the bathroom is a favorite mold hangout - especially in tile creases or along the bottom of the shower liner.

But what about the other humid spaces in your home? A poorly ventilated attic or basement can also become mold hideouts. Be sure to check these spots regularly for mold growth or increase their ventilation.

  1. Mold likes to hide

Bathroom, basement, attic: check, check, check. But mold also likes to hide, which means there is another common culprit for mold growth: the walls.

In particular, mold likes to hide inside the walls. Especially inside porous walls like untreated drywall. If a mold colony goes unnoticed for too long and grows larger than 10 square feet, the infected wall section has to be cut out. If this is the case in your home, then it’s time for an expert.

  1. Mold likes to spread

Mold needs water to grow, but it only needs air to travel. Yes, mold spores travel through the air. Mold spores can also travel via water, animal fur, or fabric.

Unfortunately, many people have mold allergies that are agitated by airborne mold spores. Even for people without allergies, mold has been known to cause serious respiratory issues or even skin reactions. The health dangers of mold are one of the most important reasons for swift remediation services.

If mold is in your home, act now and call for professional remediation services. SERVPRO® of Buffalo Tonawanda is always ready to help.

 716-694-9949

Biohazard Cleanup

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Buffalo/Tonawanda is fully trained and specialized in the cleaning and disposal of biohazard contents and affected materials. 

When it comes to a biohazard situation, protection is the name of the game. Protection for our employees, protection for the home or business owner and protection of the environment during the disposal process. We never know what type of call we might get so our crews are always ready with Tyvek suits, industrial-grade gloves and full face respirators.

An Buffalo resident knew to call the experts at SERVPRO of Buffalo/ Tonawanda, and that they would be able to properly clean his home with chemicals that cannot be purchased in your local hardware store for biohazard cleanup. We were able to restore his home back to it's original state and make it "Like it never even happened."

We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call 694-9949.

Sewage Cleanup and Restoration

9/25/2017 (Permalink)

A sewage back up caused by heavy rains.

Sewer backups should be considered an emergency since the water may contain viruses, bacteria, and other microbes that cause serious illnesses. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have specialized training and equipment to quickly and safely clean contaminants like sewage.

Toilet Overflow or Sewer Backup? Call Today: SERVPRO of Buffalo-Tonawanda at 716-694-9949

Related Cleaning Services

  • Water from a clean source like a broken water line
  • If left untreated, can degrade into category 2 or 3Category 2 water is contaminated and could cause discomfort or illness. Examples include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.
  • Category 2: "Gray Water"
  • May contain bacteria and viruses
  • Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreatedCategory 3 water is grossly contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested and any contact should be avoided. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.
  • Category 3: "Black Water"
  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backupWater contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. SERVPRO of Buffalo-Tonawanda Professionals are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are water damage restoration specialists with specialized training, equipment and protective gear to safely restore your home or business.
  • 24 Hour Emergency Service