Ok, In this post I will be explaining some of the basics of water damage and how it can affect your home and health. You are likely reading this because you have experienced some water damage in your home and would like to know more on the topic, well you are not alone. In my 15 years experience water damage is the leading culprit when it comes to property damage and restoration service needs.
Now this actually surprises a lot of folks, when they hear water damage they usually imagine a flood from a nearby river, a natural disaster etc. While events as such do occur, there are more common ways for water damage to affect your home, including:
- appliance leaks from you fridge, ice machine, washing machines, etc.
- toilet overflows
- sinks and bath/shower overflows or left running without attendance
- broken/leaky water pipes within walls and ceilings
- drainage issues around the property
- roof leaks and compromised exterior
- rain/wind storms
As you can see, water damage can originate from either internal or external sources and once it gets into your home it is important to know what kind of water you are dealing with.
What do I mean by what kind of water? Well in our industry we recognize water in THREE different categories:
- CATEGORY 1 – Also referred to as “Clean Water”, this means that the water originated from a sanitary source and does not generally pose a risk to our health. Some of these water sources could include a water supply line, broken toilet tanks, and appliance leaks such as an ice maker.
- CATEGORY 2 – This could also be referred to as “Grey Water”, meaning it contains some contamination and would not be sanitary enough for human consumption, posing a health risk if ingested. Examples of these include overflowing sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and broken aquariums.
- CATEGORY 3 – Commonly known as “Black Water”, this is water that is grossly contaminated and could contain disease causing organisms, pathogens, and other harmful materials. Some sources of this water include: sewage from toilet overflows and sump pumps, water from rivers and oceans, and even any water that has passed through the ground and soil as it could have picked up substances not natural to your indoor environment such as silt, pesticides, and other toxic materials.
So now you know the 3 different categories of water and how it can enter into your home. Each of these different categories of water damage comes with their own do’s and don’ts on how to deal with them. I will be discussing this topic in more detail so be sure to check it out once its released.