1. Safety check and containment
The crew checks for electrical and slip hazards, puts on protective equipment and seals off the affected area so sewage does not spread.
Machias, ME · Washington County
Wastewater has come up through a drain in Machias and the smell is spreading. Call (877) 812-4220 to get the sewage removed, what cannot be saved discarded and the rest sanitized.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Sewage is classed as Category 3, the most contaminated level of water, sometimes called black water. Category 3 cleanup uses personal protective equipment, sealed disposal and EPA-registered disinfectants.
Homeowners and businesses in Machias and across Washington County can get sewage removal done safely with help from Machias Biohazard Cleanup Help. Cleanup technicians follow bloodborne pathogen rules, bag waste for proper disposal and keep you informed throughout.
About 78% of homes in Machias were built before 1980, and older clay or cast iron sewer pipes crack and clog with roots over time. With roughly 51 inches of annual rainfall in Machias, saturated ground and storm runoff add pressure to sewer pipes, a common cause of basement and crawl space backups.
What sewage & biohazard cleanup covers:
The crew checks for electrical and slip hazards, puts on protective equipment and seals off the affected area so sewage does not spread.
Sewage is removed from the floor and low areas, and debris, trash and soiled belongings are cleared out.
Liquid is removed first, then anything that cannot be cleaned, such as soaked flooring and wall board.
Remaining surfaces are washed and disinfected, and odor is removed at its source rather than covered up.
Most sewage & biohazard cleanup jobs in Machias, ME cost between $1,500 and $10,000, based on published cost guides.
Odor treatment, air movement and drying needs vary by building. A closed-up space with ducted air may need extra steps to clear the smell.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Most homeowners | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $7.50 - $7.50 per square foot |
| Category 3 sewage | $2,500 - $10,000 |
Published ranges only (Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide); every sewage & biohazard cleanup job in Machias 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.
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.
Yes. Commercial sewage cleanup in restaurants, offices, shops and apartment buildings follows the same biohazard steps, with added attention to keeping part of the building usable and to documentation for managers and insurers.
No. Water from a clean source can often be dried in place, but sewage is a biohazard that requires removal of contaminated materials and disinfection. Drying alone does not make a sewage-affected space safe.
Yes. Sewage backups do not wait for business hours, so you can call Machias Biohazard Cleanup Help any time, 24/7. Describe what happened and you get the next safe step explained.
If sewage is still coming up, a plumber may need to stop the source. If sewage is already on the floor, a cleanup team can start containing it at once. Many property owners call both, and it does not matter much which is first. Sewer backup companies and plumbers often work one after the other on the same job.
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.
Keep people and pets out, then call (877) 812-4220.
Call (877) 812-4220