CMS Restoration received a call about sewage backing up in a homeowner’s utility closet, which made the house smell awful. They sent their water mitigation crew to assess the scope of the damage and determine the necessary actions. Upon inspection, they found that the utility room was in the middle of the basement, between a living room and a bedroom. The sewage spread a quarter of the way into both rooms—time for a sewage cleanup. We set down our scrubber to help clean the air. We sprayed a bio-chemical that helps break down the enzymes of the sewage, to help keep everything from spreading further.
Sewage water contains numerous hazardous contaminants; whatever material they touch is usually discarded unless it is plastic or wood that has not begun to warp. We treat the plastic and wood with our bio-chemical, wiping them down until it is clean. The carpet and drywall are always torn up when affected by sewage water. There is no sure way to ensure that all contaminants are thoroughly cleaned out. We removed the affected carpet and the padding underneath. We spray the bio-chemicals on the concrete after tearing up the carpet and pad.
In the state of Colorado, if we plan to do more than 32 square feet of drywall demolition, it must be tested for asbestos. We contacted Symtek Consulting Inc., a company with which we frequently collaborate to test for mold and asbestos. They came and took samples, and unfortunately, some of the results came back as containing asbestos. We work with Paramount Environmental to perform the abatement regularly. Once they finish and remove the drywall for us, our water mitigation portion is complete. Out of precaution, we will reapply our biochem to ensure everything is clean and smells fresh.