Sewage Cleanup & Sanitation in St. Louis

Why You Need Professionals? It’s Not Just “Dirty Water”

Many people think that once the water drains away and they mop the floor, the problem is solved. It isn’t.

• Absorption: Sewage water absorbs into everything. If it touches drywall, baseboards, or cabinets, those materials absorb the fecal matter and bacteria. They cannot be “washed.” They must be removed.
• Microbial Growth: The bacteria in sewage are alive. If left in a warm, damp basement, they multiply rapidly.
• Aerosolization: When you scrub a sewage stain, you can accidentally launch bacteria into the air, where it is inhaled. We use negative air machines to ensure contaminants don’t spread to your HVAC system.

Things to Know About Sewage Backups

• You can call us BEFORE the plumber. This sounds backward, but if your basement is full of waste, a plumber often cannot work safely. We can pump out the mess and sanitize the area first, giving the plumber a clean, safe environment to snake the drain or repair the lateral line.
• Is ‘Sewer Backup’ covered by insurance? This is a tricky question. Honestly, many standard insurance policies do not cover a backup from the main sewer line and if they do it has a “Cap”. However, there are many cases where a homeowner thinks it is a sewer backup, but it’s actually a clog in the lateral line on their own property, which generally is covered. It is important to know the difference. Insurance companies may ask leading questions like “So you had a sewer backup?” to trap you into a denial. The best thing to do is get professionals to confirm the source before you tell them anything.
• Concrete is porous. Even though it looks hard, concrete acts like a hard sponge. It holds bacteria. That is why simple mopping isn’t enough; we use enzyme treatments that penetrate the concrete to eat the organic waste hiding in the pores.
• Throw it away. If cardboard boxes, stuffed animals, or pillows touched the water, do not try to wash them. The risk of retained bacteria is too high. We can help you document these items for your insurance “Contents” claim list.
• How do I keep track of all my items? If there are a lot of items that can be cleaned and you need to keep track of what was thrown away, there are companies that do that. We work with several that are usually covered by insurance. They can help take all the items, clean what can be cleaned, categorize what has been damaged beyond repair and store salvageable items until the rebuild is complete. Just ask and we can help you anyway we can.

Compassionate Experience You Can Trust

We understand that navigating this process can feel overwhelming. We try to be more than just a contractor; you need a partner who has been here before and 99% of the time we have seen worse. We bring years of expertise to the table to help you understand your options, offering clear guidance rather than high-pressure demands. We provide the roadmap, but you remain in the driver’s seat.