Sewage Backup Cleanup in Ashburn, VA

Is it safe to clean yourself

What sewage backup means

Sewage backup cleanup deals with Category 3 water, sometimes called black water. It can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites, and it is never safe to treat like a normal spill. A backed-up floor drain or toilet overflow puts that water into carpet, drywall and anything stored on the floor.

We work in protective gear and remove porous materials that cannot be cleaned. Then we sanitize and dry what remains. Hard surfaces get cleaned and treated. Carpet, pad and soaked drywall get bagged out.

Signs of a sewer backup

• Water or sludge rising out of a basement floor drain.
• Multiple fixtures gurgle or drain slowly at once.
• A sewage smell in the basement with no visible water.
• Toilets in the lowest bathroom back up when the washer drains.
• Water in the tub after you flush an upper toilet.

How sewage cleanup is done

1. Stop using water. Keep sinks, tubs, washers and toilets off until the line is cleared.
2. Set up protection. We wear protective gear and seal off the work area so contamination does not spread.
3. Remove water and solids. Pumps clear the water and wet vacs pick up solids.
4. Remove porous materials. Carpet, pad, insulation and drywall that touched the water are removed.
5. Sanitize and dry. Hard surfaces are cleaned with antimicrobial solution, then the space is dried and checked.

What gets kept and what goes

Why backups happen in Loudoun homes

A sewer backup can come from a clog in your own lateral or from the municipal main. If the clog is in your line, a plumber clears it. If neighbors have the same problem, call the utility. Storm surges in the sewer system can push water up basement floor drains, which is a reason to keep the area around a floor drain clear.

Check your policy for sewer backup coverage, which is often an add-on and not part of standard homeowners coverage. This is general information only. Ask your agent. Our leak detection page explains how we trace hidden water after the cleanup.

Why sewage water is different

Clean water can be dried. Sewage water has to be cleaned first. It can contain disease-causing organisms that are not visible, and any porous material that absorbs it, such as carpet or drywall, holds those organisms. The standard approach is removal and not cleaning for porous materials, and thorough cleaning and sanitizing for the rest.

It also explains why a quick mop-up with household cleaner is not enough. Cleaner that looks like it works on a hard floor does not reach what soaked into the grout or the wall cavity.

What to do while you wait

• Stop using water in the house, since every flush or load of laundry sends more down the line.
• Keep children, pets and anyone with a weak immune system out of the area.
• Wear waterproof boots and gloves if you must go in, and wash your hands well afterward.
• Open windows if the smell is strong, but do not run the furnace fan through the affected area.
• Photograph the water and the damage before anything is moved.

Finding the cause

A plumber should scope the line and clear the blockage. If a tree root, a collapsed pipe or a main-line clog is the cause, the plumber can tell you. If neighbors are also backing up, call the utility.

We record what we removed and what was cleaned, and the measured moisture readings after drying. That documentation supports an insurance claim if you carry a sewer backup endorsement, and it helps the next contractor know what was done.

Protecting the rest of the house

Sewage cleanup works best when contamination stays in one place. We close doors, tape plastic over openings and run air machines to keep air from drifting. We bag waste where it is removed and carry it out through the shortest path.

You can help by keeping people and pets away from the work area and by not walking through the wet space in shoes you will wear elsewhere.

The reasoning behind the three categories is in Clean, Gray and Black Water Explained.

Common questions