When the sewer or your septic tank backs up into your home or office, it is definitely not a pretty site or smell and, unless only in a very small area, cleanup of this mess should not be a DIY project as this is contaminated water which can be a major health hazard! In most instances water damage from your sewer or septic tank would be a covered homeowner insurance loss but sometimes backup from a municipal sewer is not a loss covered on your homeowner policy as the backup is caused by a municipal-owned pipe. In contrast, backup caused by a septic tank located on your own property is most often a covered loss as you, the homeowner, own the septic tank and it is located on your property; however, it is always best to ask your insurance agent about coverage specifics BEFORE an emergency happens.

Sewer and septic tank cleanup requires a quick response to get the property dry and sanitized in a safe manner that does not contaminate the rest of your home. Standing water and waste should be removed and then any porous materials that were damaged should be thrown away. Remaining contaminated materials which cannot be thrown away and replaced, such as the concrete slab or tile floor, should be cleaned and sanitized with an antibacterial product or bleach solution. It is of utmost importance that your home’s HVAC system not be turned on in the affected rooms as mold spores and contaminates can move through the ductwork and spread throughout the rest of your home.

Unless septic tank or sewer damage is confined to a small part of your home, cleanup is best left to the professionals as they are IICRC certified to utilize best practices and protocol in cleanup of contaminated areas, including wearing protective clothing and ventilators. So in the unfortunate event your sewer or septic tank backs up into your home, call Havoc Heroes to provide the expertise to clean up the mess and return your home and life back to normal as quickly as possible.

One last word of advice is to know where your septic tank is located and, if possible, have a schematic drawing of your yard/property with the location of the septic tank noted. Searching for the location of a septic tank when the ground is permeated with sewage is not the time to be looking. The general guideline for optimum maintenance is to have your septic tank pumped out once every 4-6 years, depending upon size of tank and number of people in household.