What To Do When a Toilet Flood Causes Major Destruction

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

Sewer damage requires an extensive cleanup to ensure your building is safe for inhabitants.

When you think of overflowing toilets, you may picture a small flood confined to your commercial bathroom. However, if this type of overflow goes unnoticed, your commercial building in Denton, TX, could have much more extensive sewer damage. The unattended water may travel down walls and through ceilings to affect two floors or more. When this major destruction takes place, you need to call in a knowledgeable water repair team that can help you start the cleanup.

• Stop the flood. A flooded toilet may continue adding water to your building unless you cut off the water supply. Turning off the water may help minimize the damage or at least stop it from getting worse.
• Tear out materials. Because you're dealing with sewer damage, any materials or furnishings that got wet may need to be removed and thrown away. This can include flooring, drywall, insulation and ceiling materials. These items often have to be tossed because sewage usually contains fecal matter, viruses, bacteria, chemicals and other potentially harmful contaminants.
• Disinfect the space. Once the items that can be torn out have been, you need to make sure your commercial space is thoroughly cleaned. The cleaners used will depend on the type of surface getting cleaned, but any sewage company that often deals with this type of cleanup will have the cleaners and equipment needed to get the job done right.
• Dry out the space. Putting dehumidifiers to work ensures your building is rid of excess moisture. If extra water remains, even in the form of humidity, you may have to deal with mold growth in the future.
• Repair the damage. The final step in this cleanup process is repairing any of the damage that was done. If building materials were torn out, they need to be replaced to return your building to normal.

Sewer damage requires an extensive cleanup to ensure your building is safe for inhabitants. If you skip any important steps, you may have to deal with secondary damage sometime down the road. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROdenton.com/.