Sewer Backup Dangers

8/23/2017 (Permalink)

Sewer backups are emergencies that you need to deal with quickly.

Don’t treat a sewer backup lightly. Sewer backups are emergencies. They are health hazards. Sewer water often holds bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that can lead to serious illnesses. If your sewer backs up in your home or building or on your property, know what type of sewer water you’re dealing with: 

Clean Water
Some water backups are clean. Examples include a broken water supply line or leaking faucet. If you don’t treat it quickly this type of water backup can get more serious. Without attention and clean up, any water can become gray water (category 2) or black water (category 3).

Gray Water
Gray water is water from a sewer line backup that’s contaminated and could cause discomfort or illness. You have gray water (category 2) if the water’s from a washing machine overflow; a toilet overflow with some urine (no feces); or a dishwasher overflow. This type of sewer water backup can quickly degrade into black water (category 3) if not treated. Again, quick clean up is important.

Black Water
Pros use this term to describe grossly contaminated water. Sewer drain backups like this could cause severe illness or death if ingested. Avoid all contact with black water. You have black water when you have flooding from rivers or streams; water from beyond the toilet trap; water from the toilet bowl with feces; or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield whenever you have sewer backup problems.

At SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield we’re trained in the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to eliminate all sewer backups.  From Manchester to Bolton, Hebron to Mansfield, Andover to Coventry, we can keep you safe and healthy!

More Help From Other Blog Posts   

Every month SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield publishes educational blog posts on how Manchester/Mansfield area businesses and residents can protect themselves from disasters. We want to educate you on how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm, and other damage. 

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service

Chemical Spill Safety

3/10/2017 (Permalink)

Never re-enter your home or commercial property after a chemical spill until emergency crews say it's safe to do so.

Floods, storms, hurricanes, and other disasters often cause chemical spills. You never want to re-enter your home or commercial property after a chemical spill until emergency crews have completed their work and the buildings are considered safe. Even then, the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency advises you to take precautions like:

• Look carefully for and avoid leaking containers, especially of chemicals like caustic drain cleaners and chloride bleach.
  •    Keep other people and pets away from leaking or spilled chemicals.
  •    Clearly mark and set aside unbroken containers until they can be properly disposed of.
  •    Leave damaged or unlabeled chemical containers undisturbed whenever possible.
  •    Don’t turn on drinking water pumps (risk of electric shock) or use the septic system until you have it inspected.
• Avoid flood water. Often, flood water is contaminated with raw sewage or hazardous chemicals.

For Chemical Spill Advice Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At (860) 649-0836

• Don’t combine chemicals from leaking or damaged containers. Doing so may produce dangerous or violent reactions.
  •    Don’t dump chemicals down drains, storm sewers, or toilets.
  •    Never attempt to burn household or business chemicals.
  •    After a chemical spill open all the windows.
   

What If You Smell Gas?

If you smell gas or hear the sound of escaping gas, don't smoke, light matches, or operate electrical switches. Don't use either cell or conventional telephones or create any other source of ignition. Leave the home or building immediately. Leave the door open and any windows that may already be open. Notify emergency authorities. Don't return to the building until you are told by authorities that it is safe to do so.

Stay Away from Building Materials

Avoid walking over or otherwise disturbing building materials. Building materials may contain hazardous chemicals or components such as asbestos. These materials, when carried by the air, can be breathed in and cause adverse health effects. Staying away can prevent physical injury and other health issues. If you suspect that asbestos containing materials may be present in your building or home, do not enter. 

For Chemical Spill Advice Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At (860) 649-0836

Possible Asbestos Materials

According to the EPA asbestos mainly affects the lungs and the membrane that surrounds the lungs. Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers for a long time may result in scar-like tissue in the lungs and in the pleural membrane (lining) that surrounds the lung. Asbestos-containing materials often include the following:
•    Boiler/pipe insulation
•    Fireproofing
•    Floor tiles
•    Asbestos roofing
•    Transite boards used in laboratory tabletops and in acoustics in auditoriums, music rooms and phone booths

Federal, state, and local personnel are often deployed to affected areas to establish debris-management programs, including household hazardous waste collection and disposal programs. These efforts may take days or weeks to come to all communities. In the meantime, the EPA urges people to exercise caution. Report any concerns to your local environmental, health, and waste disposal authorities.

More Safety Information   
Every month we publish educational articles on how to protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, chemical, or other damage.

Call On Us

The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in virtually all aspects of assessing and cleaning up after a natural disaster. Rely on the professionals. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at 860.649.0836 anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.649.0836
24 hour emergency service

Biohazard & Recovery Continuing Education

11/17/2015 (Permalink)

A few times throughout the year, SERVPRO offers continuing education classes to the Insurance, Real Estate and Property Management industries. These classes allow the attendees to earn credits for their respective fields, or to just be better informed of industry standards and best practices. One of our more recent and popular classes is centered on Biohazards and Bio- recovery procedures. This has proved to be a very informative class for all that attend. If you would like to learn more about our Continuing Education schedule, please call the office or send us an email to be put on our alert mailing list.