Sewage Backup in Your Home? Why Plumbing Repair and Professional Cleanup Go Hand in Hand
A sewage backup is one of the most stressful problems a homeowner can experience. One minute everything seems normal, and the next there may be wastewater coming through a floor drain, shower, bathtub, toilet, basement, or another low point in the plumbing system.
When this happens, there are usually two separate problems that need to be addressed.
The first is the plumbing or sewer problem that caused the backup.
The second is the sewage contamination and water damage left behind inside the home.
Clearing a blocked sewer line doesn't automatically clean and dry the affected property. And cleaning up the water without correcting the plumbing problem can allow the same thing to happen again.
At Harbaugh Restoration, we help homeowners throughout Southwest Washington and the Portland metro area recover from sewage backups, plumbing-related water damage, leaking water heaters, broken pipes, crawlspace water and other unexpected water emergencies.
When the source of the damage requires professional plumbing diagnosis or repair, working with an experienced local plumbing company such as True Flow Plumbing PDX allows the plumbing problem and the resulting property damage to be handled by professionals specializing in each side of the job.
Why Is Sewage Backing Up Into the House?
A sewage backup inside a home is usually a symptom of a larger problem somewhere in the drainage or sewer system.
Possible causes include tree-root intrusion, grease and debris buildup, damaged sewer piping, collapsed or deteriorated pipe, heavy scale inside older drain lines, separated or offset pipe connections, or another obstruction restricting flow through the sewer.
Sometimes the immediate blockage can be cleared and normal drainage restored. In other situations, further investigation is necessary to determine why the sewer backed up in the first place.
This is where professional plumbing diagnosis becomes important.
A plumber may clear the obstruction and, when appropriate, perform a sewer-camera inspection to examine the condition of the pipe. That inspection can help identify roots, cracks, offsets, deterioration, standing water, damaged sections and other conditions that could contribute to another backup.
For homeowners in the Portland metro area, True Flow Plumbing PDX's drain and sewer services include clearing blocked sewer lines, camera inspection and identifying the underlying plumbing problem.
Clearing the Sewer Doesn't Clean the House
This is one of the most important things homeowners should understand after a sewage backup.
Once a plumber clears or repairs the sewer line, the plumbing problem may be corrected, but the contamination inside the home can still remain.
Wastewater can affect flooring, carpet, drywall, insulation, cabinetry, subflooring and other building materials.
Water can also travel underneath flooring and behind walls into areas that aren't immediately visible.
Simply removing standing water or wiping down a floor may not address all of the affected materials.
Professional sewage cleanup can involve removing contaminated water and materials, sanitizing affected areas, deodorizing the property, drying the structure and monitoring moisture levels.
That is where the restoration side of the job begins.
Harbaugh Restoration's sewage cleanup services include sewage removal, sanitation, deodorization, drying and cleanup to help restore safer conditions following a backup.
The Same Problem Happens With Burst Pipes and Plumbing Leaks
Sewer backups aren't the only plumbing emergencies where a plumber and restoration company may need to work together.
Consider a burst water line.
The plumbing company can locate the failed pipe, shut down the water and make the necessary plumbing repair.
But the water that escaped before the pipe was repaired may already have traveled beneath flooring, behind drywall, into insulation or into a crawlspace.
The pipe may be fixed while the house is still wet.
That means the next step is identifying how far the moisture traveled and properly drying the affected areas.
Harbaugh Restoration uses professional moisture detection and structural drying, extraction equipment, air movers and dehumidifiers during water-damage restoration projects.
For the plumbing side of the problem, True Flow Plumbing PDX handles leak detection and burst pipe repair throughout the Portland metro area.
What About a Failed or Leaking Water Heater?
Water heaters are another common source of plumbing-related property damage.
A standard tank-style water heater can hold a significant amount of water. If the tank, connection or associated plumbing fails, that water can quickly spread through a garage, utility room, basement or finished area of the home.
In that situation, replacing the water heater addresses the failed plumbing equipment.
It does not necessarily address the water that has already entered surrounding building materials.
A restoration professional can evaluate the affected area and determine whether water extraction, removal of damaged materials, structural drying or moisture monitoring is necessary.
The basic principle is the same:
The plumber stops and repairs the source. The restoration company addresses the resulting property damage.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Sewage Backup?
If sewage begins backing up into your home, stop using the plumbing system as much as possible.
Avoid flushing toilets, running washing machines, using showers or draining sinks. Continued use of the plumbing system can potentially introduce additional wastewater into an already restricted sewer.
Keep children and pets away from contaminated areas and avoid direct contact with sewage.
If it is safe to do so, take photographs and videos of the affected areas before cleanup begins. This documentation may also be useful if an insurance claim becomes necessary.
Then contact the appropriate professionals.
The sewer or plumbing system needs to be evaluated to determine what caused the backup, while contaminated areas of the property need to be evaluated for cleanup and restoration.
Harbaugh Restoration provides 24/7 emergency response for water damage, sewage cleanup and related restoration services throughout Southwest Washington and Oregon.
For Portland-area plumbing emergencies involving sewage backups, leaking or burst pipes and water-heater failures, homeowners can also contact True Flow Plumbing PDX's emergency plumbing team.
Why Moisture Detection Matters After a Plumbing Emergency
One of the biggest challenges following a plumbing leak is that water doesn't always stay where you can see it.
Water can travel underneath flooring, behind baseboards, through drywall, into insulation and down into crawlspaces.
A surface may appear dry while moisture remains underneath.
Professional restoration companies use moisture-detection equipment to help identify affected areas and determine where additional drying may be necessary.
Harbaugh Restoration's water-damage process begins with a moisture inspection and can include water extraction, removal of damaged materials, structural drying and continued moisture monitoring.
This can be particularly important after plumbing failures because water may travel surprisingly far from the original source.
What If the Plumbing Leak Reaches the Crawlspace?
Plumbing leaks and sewer problems frequently affect crawlspaces.
A leaking drain line, broken water pipe or sewage backup can leave standing water or contamination underneath a home without the homeowner immediately realizing how extensive the problem has become.
Crawlspace moisture can affect insulation and surrounding building materials and contribute to odors and other moisture-related problems.
Harbaugh Restoration's crawlspace cleanup services include water extraction, drying, contaminated insulation removal, sanitation and moisture monitoring.
But once again, the source needs to be corrected.
Drying a crawlspace without repairing the leaking plumbing or failed sewer line can allow the problem to return.
Plumbing Repair and Restoration Have Different Jobs
The easiest way to understand the process is to separate the two responsibilities.
The Plumbing Company Addresses the Source
The plumbing side can include:
Diagnosing the plumbing failure Clearing drain or sewer blockages Performing sewer-camera inspections Repairing broken or leaking pipes Correcting damaged sewer piping Repairing or replacing failed water heaters * Addressing other plumbing conditions that caused the water loss
Homeowners in the Portland metro area who need damaged or collapsed sewer piping addressed can contact True Flow Plumbing PDX for sewer repair and replacement.
The Restoration Company Addresses the Damage
The restoration side can include:
Water extraction Sewage cleanup Sanitizing affected areas Removing contaminated or damaged materials Structural drying Moisture detection and monitoring Crawlspace cleanup Mold remediation when necessary * Documentation for insurance claims
Harbaugh Restoration provides these services throughout Vancouver, Portland and surrounding Southwest Washington and Oregon communities.
When both sides are coordinated properly, the homeowner receives a much more complete solution.
The goal isn't simply to make the visible water disappear.
The goal is to stop the source, correct the plumbing problem, address contamination and moisture, properly dry the structure and reduce the chance of additional damage.
What If the Water Damage Is Covered by Insurance?
Every insurance policy and every water-loss situation is different, so homeowners should contact their insurance carrier to determine their specific coverage.
Harbaugh Restoration works with insurance providers and documents the restoration process to help homeowners through qualifying water-damage and sewage-cleanup claims.
Homeowners should also remember that an insurance claim doesn't eliminate the need to determine what caused the water damage.
If a plumbing failure caused the loss, identifying and correcting that source remains an important part of preventing additional damage.
A Better Approach: Fix the Source and Restore the Damage
Whether you're dealing with a sewage backup, burst pipe, failed water heater, hidden plumbing leak or wet crawlspace, there can be more to the problem than what you initially see.
For water extraction, sewage cleanup, structural drying, moisture detection, crawlspace cleanup and restoration, contact Harbaugh Restoration.
For the underlying plumbing, drain or sewer problem in the Portland metro area, contact True Flow Plumbing PDX.
Each company handles its own area of expertise, giving homeowners a clearer path from the initial plumbing emergency through cleanup and recovery.
Need Help After a Sewage Backup or Plumbing-Related Water Loss?
Harbaugh Restoration provides 24/7 emergency water-damage mitigation, sewage cleanup, structural drying, mold remediation and crawlspace services throughout Vancouver, Portland and surrounding communities.
Contact Harbaugh Restoration for 24/7 Emergency Service
If the source of the damage requires plumbing diagnosis, sewer or drain service, leaking-pipe repair, water-heater service or other professional plumbing work in the Portland metro area:
