1. Assessment and shutoff
The first step is stopping the source where possible and assessing how far the contamination has spread — which materials it touched, how far it traveled, and what's salvageable versus what needs to be removed.
2. Removing standing water and sewage
Extraction equipment removes standing water and waste from the affected area. This has to happen before any drying or disinfection can start, since contaminated water left sitting continues to spread the problem.
3. Removing unsalvageable materials
Porous materials that absorbed sewage — carpet, carpet pad, and sometimes drywall near the floor line — typically can't be fully disinfected and get removed rather than dried in place.
4. Cleaning and disinfecting
Every surface the water touched gets cleaned and disinfected with hospital-grade antimicrobial treatments, not just wiped down, since sewage contamination isn't something a general cleaning product is built to handle.
5. Structural drying
Industrial air movers and dehumidifiers dry out the remaining structure — subfloor, framing, and any materials that were disinfected rather than removed — to prevent secondary mold growth.
6. Final verification
Before the job is called finished, the area gets a final check to confirm moisture levels are back to normal and there's no lingering odor or contamination left behind.
Dealing with a sewage backup right now? Call (713) 325-6192 for immediate response.