Professional decomposition cleanup, odor removal and written clearance across Bexar County, 24/7. One call and we take it from here: free estimate, discreet crew, and a clear explanation of who acts first and who usually pays.
When someone is found days or weeks after death (what is meant by an unattended death), our unattended death cleanup services cover the whole job, from the first walkthrough to the clearance letter. It is the most sensitive part of our biohazard cleanup in San Antonio.
Finding someone after an unattended death is one of the most disorienting calls anyone ever has to make. We are not here to rush you. We are here to take it from here.
Call or send the form any time and we’ll get back to you. We cover San Antonio and the wider Bexar County area.
Unmarked vehicles, quiet crews, and complete discretion. Your neighbors and building residents do not need to know what happened.
Many policies cover this kind of cleanup. We document the scene so your claim has what the insurer asks for. Check your policy’s coverage for sudden and accidental damage.
Our unattended death cleanup services remove body fluids and tissue, take out contaminated porous materials, treat affected subfloor and drywall, apply EPA-registered disinfectants, and remove the odor source. Contaminated waste is packaged as regulated waste under OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard and moved by a TCEQ-registered medical-waste transporter. You receive written clearance before we leave.
OSHA has confirmed in writing that its bloodborne pathogens standard applies to cleanup work like ours, and that contaminated cleanup waste counts as regulated waste. In Texas, a company that hauls other people’s untreated medical waste must hold a TCEQ transporter registration (30 TAC 326.53).
If the death was found quickly and there is no decomposition, see our death cleanup service instead.
Every hour after a death goes unnoticed, decomposition moves further into the home. Texas heat speeds that up, and a closed house with the air conditioning off can turn a one-room job into a subfloor job within days. The stages below are our field estimates of how decomposition progresses, not fixed rules, but they show why we ask families to call as soon as the scene is released.
Cellular breakdown begins and bacteria multiply. Contamination is usually limited to surfaces near the body, which keeps the job smaller.
Odor is typically strong and fluids can reach carpet and underlay. Flies are likely if a window or door was left open.
Fluids can soak into subfloor, drywall and insulation. The chance of structural removal rises sharply from here.
Carpet, underlay, wood subfloor and nearby drywall are usually unsalvageable and need full removal.
It is part of our wider biohazard cleanup San Antonio service. Once the scene is released, call or send the form any time and we’ll get back to you.
In Bexar County, law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Medical Examiner’s Office must release the scene before any cleanup begins. After that, cleanup is often claimed on the property owner’s insurance; check your policy. The Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation programme can reimburse crime-scene cleanup only when the death resulted from a crime.
| Situation | Who clears the scene | Who usually pays for cleanup | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-occupied home | Law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office | The homeowner’s policy, if it covers it. Otherwise the estate or family. | Bexar County ME; your policy |
| Rented home or apartment | Law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office | Varies by lease and policy. Often the landlord’s property policy; the tenant’s estate may be asked. | Bexar County ME; your lease and policy |
| A death that was a crime | Law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office | May be reimbursable through Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation (Office of the Attorney General), up to the programme’s limits. | Texas OAG |
| No estate and no insurance | Law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office | There is no single answer. Call us and we will talk through the options honestly. | Bexar County ME |
The Medical Examiner’s investigators are usually the first contact after a death is reported, and they decide whether the office takes jurisdiction. Police and investigators do not clean the scene. That job falls to the property owner, and that is where we come in. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your adjuster has the final word on what your policy covers.
Here is what happens, step by step.
Call or send the form any time and we’ll get back to you to talk through what to expect and confirm the address. Law enforcement and, where it takes jurisdiction, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office release the scene first. If officers are still on site, we coordinate with them.
Our crew arrives in an unmarked vehicle, puts on PPE, scopes the scene, and seals off the work area. We identify every affected surface (carpet, subfloor, drywall and furnishings) and agree the plan with you before work starts.
Contaminated materials are removed and packaged under regulated-waste handling rules set by OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, with TCEQ-registered transport. EPA-registered disinfectants go on every surface in the work area.
With the source gone, ozone or hydroxyl equipment treats what remains in the air and soft surfaces. You receive written clearance documentation before we leave. Many scenes are finished in a single day; severe cases can take several days.
Cost depends on how long the person was undiscovered and how far fluids spread into the structure. Published industry ranges are below; we give you an honest range before any work begins.
| Situation (industry-published ranges, not a quote) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Death discovered quickly, limited contamination [1] | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Most unattended death cleanups [1] | $3,000 to $10,000 |
| Severe decomposition with structural contamination [1] | Can exceed $25,000 |
[1] Source: CrimeSceneCleanup.com cost guide (an operator blog, not an independent survey). Afterhazard's cost guide gives a similar $3,000 to $25,000+ range for unattended death cleanup. San Antonio-specific figures are not available. Your estimate will differ.
Reviewed by the Biohazard Cleanup San Antonio team · Last reviewed 4 October 2026
We found no Texas state licence specific to biohazard cleanup, so check the basics yourself. Ask whether crews are trained under OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), who hauls the waste and whether that hauler is TCEQ-registered, whether you’ll get a waste manifest, and a certificate of insurance.
A good company answers all four without hesitating. Be wary of anyone who promises insurance will pay for everything before they have seen the scene or your policy. For the longer version, read our full checklist for choosing an unattended death cleanup company.
Ask how the crew is trained and how exposure is controlled on site.
Ask for the registration number of whoever hauls the waste away.
The paper trail that shows where the contaminated material went.
Ask to see it before anyone starts work in your property.
When a tenant who lived alone dies and is not found for some time, the concerns for a landlord are different: habitability, what to tell neighbors, and getting the unit safely back on the market.
Our unattended death cleanup for property managers covers the same scope as for families, with the paperwork set up for you and your insurer. Call or send the form any time and we’ll get back to you. If the unit also needs heavy clutter cleared, see our hoarding cleanup service.
Written clearance when the biohazard work is done, for your records, your insurer and the next tenant.
We flag any penetration to subfloor, walls or HVAC that needs contractor attention, so you have one documented chain of evidence.
Photos, scope and clearance in the format adjusters ask for, so the claim on your property policy is not held up by missing paperwork.
Tell us your name, phone and zip and a team member will call you back. No sales pitch, no obligation, and no need to explain what happened until you’re ready.
Or call directly: (210) 864-1250 · we’ll call you back as soon as we can, any hour
We respond across all of San Antonio and the wider Bexar County metro, including:
According to CrimeSceneCleanup.com's published cost guide, most projects range from $3,000 to $10,000, and severe decomposition with structural contamination can exceed $25,000. The price depends on how long the person was undiscovered and how far fluids spread. We give you an honest range before work begins. See our cost guide for the full breakdown, or call (210) 864-1250 for a free estimate.
Often the property owner's insurance, so check your policy and ask your adjuster. For a rental, it depends on the lease and the landlord's policy. If the death resulted from a crime, the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation programme may reimburse cleanup. We can't give legal or insurance advice, but we will provide the documentation your insurer asks for.
Many scenes are finished in a single day, from start to written clearance. Severe cases, where decomposition has reached the subfloor or drywall, can take several days if materials must be removed. We give you a realistic timeframe after the initial assessment.
Do not enter or try to clean the area. Call 911. Law enforcement and the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office must release the scene before cleanup can begin. Once they have, call us at (210) 864-1250 and we take over. Avoid running fans or opening windows, which can spread contaminated air.
In most cases, yes, because we remove the odor source rather than masking it. We take out contaminated porous materials, disinfect, and treat the space with ozone or hydroxyl equipment where suitable. Severe cases, where fluids reached the subfloor or drywall, can need those structural materials removed before the odor is fully gone. We check the result before we sign off.
We found no Texas state licence specific to biohazard cleanup, so ask for proof. Check for crew training under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard, a TCEQ-registered waste transporter and a waste manifest, and a certificate of insurance. Be wary of any company that promises insurance will "fully cover" everything.
No. Many families prefer not to be present, and you do not need to be. Once access to the property is arranged, the work can go ahead without you. Tell us beforehand about any personal items, documents or keepsakes you want set aside, and we will keep you updated by phone or email until the job is finished.
Our San Antonio team is available 24 hours a day. One call and we take it from there.
Get my free estimate → Call (210) 864-1250