Clean water from a pipe, flood water from outside and sewage from a drain are handled differently, because they carry different risks. Sewage and flood water are treated as contaminated, so porous materials they touch are usually removed and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. Keep people and pets out until the crew says the area is safe.
Key takeaways
- Clean water from a supply line is handled differently from flood water and from sewage, which carry contamination.
- Porous materials that flood water or sewage has reached, such as carpet, pad and drywall, are usually removed.
- Hard, sealed surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected, and then dried before they are used again.
- Protective equipment and containment are used for sewage, and a homeowner should keep out of the work area.
- Electrical equipment that has been under water must be checked by a qualified person before it is switched on.
- Photographs and a removal list must be made before anything is discarded, so the loss is on record.
What is the difference between clean water, flood water and sewage?
Clean water comes from a supply line or a fixture and starts out clean. Flood water comes from outside and carries silt, debris and whatever it has passed over. Sewage comes from a drain or toilet and carries waste and bacteria. Each is handled to a standard that matches its risk.
The water's source is the first thing the crew needs to know, because the source decides the cleaning and the removal. A supply-line leak that has stood for a long time is still clean at the start, while flood water is mixed from the moment it arrives.
Sewage is treated as the most serious of the three, because it carries waste and bacteria. Treat any water that has come up through a drain as sewage until the crew has examined it.
What should I remove first?
Remove people and pets from the area first, then the standing water and the items that are sodden and cannot be dried. Protect the electrical supply before anything is moved near the water, and keep the household out of the room while the removal is done.
Standing water is removed by pumps and extraction equipment, and wet items are lifted out and listed as they leave. A homeowner should not wade through water to reach items, and should not handle items that have been in sewage without gloves and washing afterward.
The removal is planned from the outside of the wet area inward, so that the contamination is not carried into clean rooms. The crew sets barriers where the water has reached a doorway.
Which materials are usually removed?
Porous materials that flood water or sewage has reached are usually removed, because their pores hold the contamination and cannot be cleaned to a safe standard. Carpet, pad, cardboard, paper, upholstered items and drywall to the wet line are typical removals.
Drywall is cut to a line that includes a margin above the visible wet area, because contamination wicks upward. The cut line is recorded with its location and its height.
Solid wood, sealed tile and metal are often cleaned and disinfected rather than removed. The decision is made on each material and written down, so the owner can see what was kept and why.
How are hard surfaces cleaned and disinfected?
Hard surfaces are scrubbed to remove the visible material, rinsed, and then treated with a disinfectant suited to the surface. The cleaning is done in the order that moves contamination away from clean areas, and the surfaces are dried before they are closed or used.
Cleaning is most effective when the visible material has been removed first. Disinfecting a dirty surface is far less effective than cleaning and then disinfecting, which is why the two steps are done in order.
Household cleaners should not be mixed. Some combinations give off harmful fumes, so the crew uses products suited to the job and the room is ventilated while the work is done.
Drying matters as much as cleaning. A surface that has been cleaned and disinfected but left damp can support growth in the joints and the cavity behind it, so the room is dried to its readings after the cleaning is finished. The crew checks the readings again before the room is cleared for use, and the record shows the date and the reading at which it was judged dry. Ask the technician to point out any surface that could not be cleaned to the standard required, and to explain what was done with it.
What protection do the crew and the household need?
The crew wears protective equipment suited to the water, and the work area is sealed off from the rest of the house. The household keeps out of the sealed area, washes hands after any contact and keeps children and pets away until the area is cleared.
If anyone in the household has a breathing condition, allergies or a weakened immune system, ask a doctor about exposure before the household returns to the affected rooms. This guide gives no medical advice and cannot judge an individual's risk.
Do not use a household fan to move air in the affected area, because a fan can spread contamination and dust. Wash any exposed skin with soap and water, and clean boots and clothing before entering clean rooms.
What about the electrics and appliances?
Electrical equipment that has been under water must be checked by a qualified person before it is switched on. The panel, outlets, a sump system and any appliance in the water are all included. The restoration crew does not decide whether the electrical system is safe.
Switch off the power to the affected rooms at the breaker from a dry place before anything is handled. Do not switch equipment back on to test it, because a wet connection can fail or shock.
Ask the crew which appliances were in the water and note them in the record. A qualified electrician or the appliance's maker should confirm each one before it is used again.
What should I keep and document?
Photograph the water, the affected rooms and every item before it is removed, and keep a removal list with the location and condition of each item. Keep the receipts for pumps and cleaning, and the notes of the source. The record is what an insurer will ask to see.
Some items are hazardous and must be discarded, and that decision is made with the photographs and the list in hand. Ask the insurer what it needs before any item is thrown away, and keep the record even when the item is gone.
The policy decides whether flood water, sewer backup or both are covered. Ask the insurer which endorsement or section applies, because the cause of the water can change the answer.
The record should also show which rooms were sealed off, which were ventilated and the date each room was reopened to the household. A short log of those dates answers the questions an insurer or a later buyer is most likely to ask about the work, and it costs little to keep while the job is under way.
What about backup or flood water in a crawl space or under a slab?
Water that gets into a crawl space or under a slab is harder to reach and to dry, and it is usually handled in a sequence: remove the standing water, read the ground and the framing, and dry the space to its readings. Contaminated water in those spaces is treated as contaminated throughout.
A crawl space with standing water needs careful entry. Do not enter a flooded space without advice, and do not run electrical equipment in it. The crew reads the joists, the subfloor and the ground and records where the moisture is highest.
Under a slab, water moves through the ground and can stay for a long time. The drying is slower, and the flooring above is not replaced until the slab and the framing read at their targets. Ask the technician how the moisture will be measured in the slab.
How should the work area be left once the crew is finished?
The work area should be left clean, dry and ventilated, with the containment removed in a controlled way and the removed material taken away. Ask the crew for a final walk-through and for the final readings, and keep the record of what was done in each room.
Containment is taken down only after the final check, so that dust and contamination are not released into the house. Ask how the plastic and the barriers will be removed and how the air will be cleared afterward.
A clear end point is the most reassuring part of the job. The crew should show you the final readings, the list of what was removed and what was kept, and any item still waiting for a decision, such as an appliance awaiting an electrician's check.
Frequently asked questions
Can I save the carpet after flood water has been in the house?
Usually not. Carpet and pad that flood water has reached carry silt and contamination into their fibers and cores, and they are normally replaced. The technician explains the decision and records it.
Is it safe to walk on a sewage-wet floor in shoes?
It is safer to stay out of the area until the crew has cleared it. If you must cross it, wear protective footwear and gloves, and wash your hands and clothing afterward. Keep children and pets out.
Should I use bleach to clean up sewage?
Do not mix bleach with other household cleaners, because some combinations give off harmful fumes. Leave the cleaning to the crew, which uses products suited to the job and the room.
How soon can the house be used after a sewage cleanup?
When the surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, the structure is dried to its readings, and the crew confirms the room is ready. Keep the affected rooms closed until that confirmation, and ask the technician for it in writing.
What should I do if someone feels unwell after contact with flood or sewage water?
Wash the exposed skin with soap and water, and seek medical advice from a doctor. This guide does not diagnose or treat a condition, and a doctor is the right source for any health concern.
Who decides whether a flood or sewage claim is covered?
The policy and the insurer decide. Many policies treat flood water and sewer backup under separate endorsements or exclusions, so ask the insurer in writing which part applies and keep the full record for the claim.
This guide is general information for Cleveland County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.