1. Assessment of the spill
A cleanup technician looks at where the sewage came from, which rooms it reached and which materials it touched.
Fairfax, IA · Linn County
Is there raw sewage on the floor in Fairfax? Keep everyone out and call (877) 812-4220. Crews in protective gear pump out and remove the sewage, tear out contaminated drywall and carpet, and disinfect what remains.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Sewage damage cleanup covers the liquid, the stains and the germs it leaves in flooring, walls, insulation and stored items. Porous materials that soak up sewage usually cannot be made safe and are removed.
Are you a property owner, tenant, landlord or manager in Fairfax, IA? Call Fairfax Biohazard Cleanup Help for sewage backup cleanup in Linn County at any hour. Crews contain the area first so contamination does not travel to your clean rooms.
Rainfall in Fairfax averages about 36 inches a year. Whether a backup comes from a storm or a clogged pipe, sewage on the floor needs the same biohazard response. Housing age varies across Linn County. Whatever the age of the pipe, a backup that reaches carpet or drywall calls for removal, not just drying.
A typical sewage & biohazard cleanup job includes:
A cleanup technician looks at where the sewage came from, which rooms it reached and which materials it touched.
Sewage is removed from the floor and low areas, and debris, trash and soiled belongings are cleared out.
Contaminated drywall, trim and flooring are removed to clean material, and waste is sealed for proper disposal.
Remaining surfaces are washed and disinfected, and odor is removed at its source rather than covered up.
Most sewage & biohazard cleanup jobs in Fairfax, IA cost between $1,500 and $10,000, based on published cost guides.
The amount of sewage and how far it spread is the biggest factor. A single bathroom overflow takes less work than a flooded basement.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $7.50 - $7.50 per square foot |
| Category 3 sewage | $2,500 - $10,000 |
| Most homeowners | $2,000 - $10,000 |
Estimates only, not a quote. Sources: Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide. Price drivers include square footage affected, category of water, porous materials that must be removed, drying time. Call (877) 812-4220 to talk through the job.
Keep everyone out of the area, including pets, and stop using sinks, tubs and toilets that feed the pipe. Turn off power to wet areas only if it is safe. Then call a cleanup team and your insurer, and take photos before anything is moved.
Watch for a rotten-egg or sewer smell, wet spots or stains on floors and walls, unusually green grass over a pipe, and multiple drains backing up at the same time. If any of these show up, keep people away from the area and have the cause checked.
After the sewage and soaked materials are out, floors and walls are scrubbed with a cleaner, then treated with an EPA-registered disinfectant used by label directions. Unsealed concrete can hold odor and needs extra attention. Crews often handle this step with professional equipment.
Symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea can start within hours or take a few days. Anyone with symptoms after exposure should contact a doctor. Children, older adults and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk.
Usually not. Carpet and padding soak up Category 3 water and cannot be reliably made safe, so they are cut out and discarded. Hard surfaces, sealed wood and items in closed containers can often be cleaned and kept.
Plumbers usually clear the blockage or repair the pipe, but most do not remove contaminated materials or disinfect the space. A sewage cleanup company picks up where the plumber stops, and the two jobs often happen in sequence.
Call Fairfax Biohazard Cleanup Help at (877) 812-4220 any hour, including nights and weekends.
Call (877) 812-4220