If you have ever encountered a sewage issue, then you know you will want it fixed as fast as possible. Sewage damage is one of the worst that can happen to a space and can make a property uninhabitable until the situation is dealt with. There are a few options available for sewage cleanup after one of these events happen, all of which have their pros and cons.

Today, we walk through a few of the most common sewage cleanup solutions available, what they are, and which one will help you get your space back to normal as quickly and painlessly as possible.

A quick note on safety during a sewage incident

While professional services are the best route, it’s important to note some important safety considerations during a sewage incident in your home or business. Before anything else, make sure that the occupants are safe, especially children and pets who may wander into the affected area.

Next, you should shut off the main water line and main electricity breaker if they are accessible. If you see standing water anywhere, do not touch or enter. Instead, call a professional sewage cleanup company to help.

If you have shut off the water and electricity and it’s safe to do so, document what you can so you have something to show the insurance company. Gathering information and evidence early can make for an easier claims process in the future.

Option 1: The DIY Route

There are many things you can do as a DIY solution. Painting interior walls, building shelves, and unclogging toilets. Even some minor repairs on your plumbing system are possible with a bit of know-how and the right tools. The DIY route for sewage cleanup, however, is easily one of the worst options.

Not only is the work fundamentally difficult, it can be almost impossible without the right equipment, some of which is not easy to procure. On top of all of this, sewage poses an extreme health risk, making it uniquely dangerous in the world of DIY home and commercial space repair. This is on top of the safety considerations we outlined earlier.

The DIY route is possible, of course, but you will need to know what you’re doing at every step, and ensure that you have the proper protective equipment, all of which needs to be fitted and implemented properly. You will also need help as even a small amount of sewage cleanup will require multiple people.

Option 2: Plumbers and tradespeople

If you choose to get help, you will likely call in an emergency plumber to help get everything under control. Emergency tradespeople are perfectly capable of finding the problem and working towards a solution. More importantly, they can also help you get everything cleaned up afterwards, helping you back towards normalcy.

The main drawback of only using a plumber is that they will get things to manageable but not fully restored. Since they aren’t renovators, they can help you fix the plumbing but they aren’t going to remediate the space, remove damaged materials, etc.

Option 3: Professional sewage cleanup restorers

While option 2 deals with the immediate issue, they don’t necessarily help you get back to normal. For that, you will need a restoration company that understands sewage cleanup. Restoration companies can help at every step, from the initial problem through to having the space fully restored. They are a crew of multiple disciplines who all work together to get your space back to its former glory, including major renovations that are not possible when only using plumbers.

Whether you have a sewage issue in your home or commercial property, you will want it dealt with fast. There are essentially three options available to you when you’re in need of sewage cleanup: DIY, tradespeople or professional and experienced restorers. DIY is not recommended since the work is quite dangerous, but it is possible. Tradespeople are perfect for getting the problem under control but, individually, aren’t likely to be qualified to renovate and restore the whole space. Restoration experts can help at every step, from the initial incident to fully renovating a space. While more expensive than the other two solutions, they are the best way to ensure things get back to normal as quickly and painlessly as possible.