3 Categories Of Water Damage

Whether you have experienced a simple water leak, flooding in your basement, or extensive flooding in your house due to a hurricane, you would inevitably encounter water damage and need to have it attended to immediately. Water damage, unless immediately arrested, can result in the total loss of your valuables as well as a huge expense for restoration. The first thing you must know is that there are three categories of water damage. The type of removal, cleanup and restoration you will have to do will depend upon which category your water damage falls.

The first category is called clean water damage. This occurs as the result of rainwater, or perhaps a pipe bursting in your home. Clean water usually does not contain contaminants that would be harmful to living things. Very often, it can be cleaned by locating the area where the source of the leak is, and stopping that leak. After you stop the leak water extraction should take place immediately afterwards. This will involve getting all the standing water out and allowing the place and all the things in it to dry. Carpets that have been under water for more than three days should be removed and replaced. The concrete slab underneath it will also have to be treated and dried to ensure that no moisture is left that will invade the new carpet. The drying period for concrete can take up to five days.

The second category, called gray water, is where there is some level of contamination in the water. This kind of water is unsafe for human consumption. Gray water usually comes from flooding due to the break down of household appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, or refrigerator. It could also come from the overflowing of a toilet that has no human excrement in it, or a chemically treated source of water such as an aquarium or a waterbed. Overflows of gray water should be treated immediately, and with safety precautions. Unless you are sure of what you are doing, it is best to call a professional - maybe a plumber or cleaning service - to extract the water. The area will then have to be dried out and some sort of antimicrobial treatment should be applied to the wet area and objects.

The third category is black water, and is the most dangerous category of water. Black water usually occurs from floods, a sewer backup, or the overflow of anything that contains contaminants that are harmful if consumed, such as a toilet with human excrement in it. It is often difficult to distinguish between grey water and black water, and the color or look of the water can be deceptive. If you are not sure of the cause of the flood, we suggest that you contact a professional, who will assess the type of water you have and take measures to clean it up appropriately.

Water damage of any category, unless treated immediately, can cause the growth of organisms that are harmful to your health. Even if what you have is clean water damage, mold and mildew usually grow within hours and could affect your home. It becomes more dangerous the longer the water - whether clean, gray or black - is left to stand. Grey and black water damage, because of the contaminants in it, can cause chemical reactions aside from mold growth, and are more dangerous.

If the water level in your home is more than one foot deep or larger than 10 square feet, call a professional right away. Dilly dallying or waiting for it to subside may be harmful to your health as well as that of your family members. By taking action quickly, you will be able to mitigate the extent of the damage, salvage more possessions and keep you and your family's health safe.

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