Why is sewage handled differently from a clean water leak?
Restoration standards classify water by contamination. A burst supply line is clean water. A sewer or drain backup, a toilet overflow with waste, or floodwater from outside is category 3, meaning it carries bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Category 3 water cannot simply be dried. Anything porous it touched has to come out, and every remaining surface has to be disinfected before drying begins.
Our sewage cleanup process
Assess and contain
Identify every area the water reached, including under flooring and inside wall bases, and contain the space so contamination does not spread.
Extract
Remove contaminated water and solids with dedicated extraction equipment and full protective gear.
Remove porous materials
Carpet, pad, drywall, insulation, and particleboard cabinets that contacted sewage are removed and disposed of. They cannot be sanitized.
Clean and disinfect
All remaining surfaces are cleaned and treated with EPA-registered antimicrobials. Air scrubbers run throughout.
Dry and verify
Commercial drying equipment with moisture readings until the structure reaches dry standard.
Rebuild
Flooring, drywall, trim, and cabinets replaced by our construction crew. See reconstruction.
What causes sewage backups in Tri-Valley homes?
Root intrusion in older clay or cast-iron sewer laterals, grease and wipes in the main line, a failed sump or ejector pump, and municipal main backups during heavy rain. Fixing the plumbing is the plumber's job. Cleaning up what came back into the house is ours, and the two should happen in that order.
Where we provide sewage cleanup
Sewage Cleanup is available across the Tri-Valley from our Pleasanton office, with Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin as the fastest response zone.