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

Cleaning Up Chemicals Or Biohazards

4/5/2017 (Permalink)

Chemical spills and biohazards affect tens of thousands of businesses and homes every year.

Somehow people see the danger in fires and tornadoes and floods more readily than they tend to see the danger in spilled chemicals or biohazards. In a way, that makes chemicals and biohazards even more dangerous because we may not use as much caution around them as we do with other natural disasters.  And chemical spills are a frequent problem. Dangerous chemical spills and biohazards affect tens of thousands of homes and businesses every year.

A biohazard is a biological substance that's dangerous (unhealthy or unsafe) to people or the environment. Many biohazards are made of bacteria or other microorganisms. Medical waste, sewage backups, pesticides, animal byproducts, and contaminated flood waters are other examples of biohazards. A chemical spill is when a chemical is accidentally released. In the case of non-toxic chemicals, dealing with a spill can be straightforward, since the spill simply needs to be cleaned up. Some common spills involve diesel fuel, paint products, and pesticides.

Leave The Area
After a toxic chemical spill or biohazard event, leave the site. Don’t return to the site until you know it’s safe or until you know exactly what you’re dealing with and have the proper equipment to protect yourself and perform the cleanup.  Call emergency service personnel if the situation may be life-threatening. Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated. And turn off the HVAC system if the hazard involves sewage damage.

Biohazard Don’ts
•    Don’t leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
•    Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
•    Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water.
•    Don’t use your television or other household appliances.
•    Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet.
•    Stay out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

Major Vs. Minor Spills
In general terms, a major spill involves a substance that is flammable, reactive, or toxic. Any chemical or biohazard event is major if so much has been spilled that you cannot clean it up or if anyone has been exposed to a dangerous chemical. A minor spill is one involving a substance of low to moderate danger that no one has been exposed to and that you have the right equipment and training to clean up. 

More Home Disaster Prevention Information  
Every month on the SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield blog we publish educational articles on how businesses and homeowners can protect themselves from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, or other damage. 

For Biohazard Cleanup Or Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At 860-461-7194. Anytime

Here For You
In the Manchester/Mansfield office the SERVPRO® team has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire damage restoration services, mold remediation, commercial services, biohazards, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield 860461-7194 anytime, 24/7.

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) 461-7194

• 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) 461-7194

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 860-461-7194 anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-461-7194
24 hour emergency service