1. Stop the spread
Doors are closed, vents covered and the work area is isolated so contamination stays where it started.
Howland, ME · Penobscot County
Sewage in a Howland basement, garage or crawl space is a biohazard, not a mop-and-bucket job. Call (877) 812-4220. Cleanup technicians remove the sewage, bag the soaked materials and disinfect hard surfaces.
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.
Need residential or commercial sewage cleanup in Howland or nearby parts of Penobscot County? Call Howland Biohazard Cleanup Help for help in your basement, crawl space, garage, restroom, kitchen or utility room, wherever wastewater has spread.
Many homes in Howland, about 77%, date from before 1980. Older plumbing is a common source of backups, and older flooring and trim soak up sewage deeply. Even without a major flood, Penobscot County has a Relatively Moderate river flood risk rating from FEMA. Storm runoff can enter sewers and cause backups into basements and low floors.
A typical sewage & biohazard cleanup job includes:
Doors are closed, vents covered and the work area is isolated so contamination stays where it started.
Wastewater is taken out of the building, and standing liquid in crawl spaces or low corners is cleared.
Contaminated materials are bagged and removed, and surfaces are scrubbed and treated with hospital-grade disinfectant.
Hard surfaces and framing are cleaned and disinfected, odor is treated, and the crew checks the area before it is cleared for use.
Sewage & biohazard cleanup in Howland, ME typically costs $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the size of the affected area and the materials involved.
How long the sewage has been sitting plays a part. Older backups soak deeper into materials and leave stronger odors that take more treatment.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Most homeowners | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Published span | $1,500 - $8,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $7.50 - $7.50 per square foot |
Published ranges only (Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide); every sewage & biohazard cleanup job in Howland is priced after an on-site look. Price drivers include square footage affected, category of water, porous materials that must be removed, drying time. Questions? Call (877) 812-4220.
Treat it as raw sewage. Keep people out of the bathroom, stop using the fixture and call for cleanup. The liquid can reach under flooring and into walls, so a crew checks beyond the visible puddle.
Category 3 water is the most contaminated level, and sewage is the standard example. It can carry disease-causing germs and should never be cleaned with household supplies alone. Flood water that touched sewage is treated the same way.
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.
It depends on the cause, the lease and local law. A landlord's policy may cover the building, while a renter's policy may cover belongings. If the blockage was in a public sewer main, the city or utility may be responsible for the repair.
Small jobs may be finished in a day, while larger ones with tear-out, drying and odor treatment take longer. The time depends on the area affected and what had to be removed. The crew can tell you what to expect after assessing the space.
Drywall is porous and holds contamination that can spread germs and odor long after the surface looks clean. Crews usually cut out wall board that sewage touched, and often take out a margin above the wet mark to reach clean material.
Raw sewage is a biohazard, so do not wait on cleanup.
Call (877) 812-4220