Water Damage 101

4/30/2021 (Permalink)

Unexpected water in your Geneva, FL, home where it shouldn’t be isn’t something that should be overlooked. Whether the water damage appears to be minimal or a lot, understanding the type of water and damage is important to ensure proper cleanup and restoration.

Types of Water

Any kind of water needs to be immediately addressed to ensure further damage doesn’t occur. Before grabbing the mop and bucket or wet vacuum, it is vital to understand the type of water that is being dealt with. They are three categories of water:

Clean Water: As its name suggests, this type poses no threat. This damage occurs when a water supply line leaks, a sink or bathtub without contaminants overflows, melting snow, or rainwater infiltrates the home.
Gray Water: Once water mixes with chemicals or minimal biological contaminants, it moves to this category. Sources may include a leaking dishwasher, urine-only toilet overflow, or water condensation.
Black Water: This is unsanitary water full of bacteria and microorganisms harmful to humans and animals. If there was a recent flood, it could mean those rising water included sewage and other debris.

Types of Damage
When assessing water damage to determine repairs, understanding the types is important.

Class 1: The least harmful kind, it typically means that a minimal amount was absorbed in the affected areas. It is usually easy to clean.
Class 2: Known for quick evaporation rates, it can quickly absorb into carpeting and other porous materials. This damage typically requires more extensive repairs.
Class 3: If a sprinkler or pipe bursts, it can rapidly drench floors, walls, furniture, and other belongings. The rapid rate of evaporation requires quick action and water remediation measures to ensure the damage doesn’t spread or promote mold growth.
Class 4: Excessive flooding means massive saturation of integral home components. Consulting a water damage and remediation expert is the best bet containing the situation and ensuring further damage doesn’t happen.

While there are many levels of water damage, quick action in all situations is key to getting your home back to normal.