Water damage can occur through a number of different ways. Those ways include flooding due to natural disaster, leaky pipes, burst pipes, a leaky roof, condensation, and so much more. If it can come into your home or business, it can damage your property and that damage can be quite extensive. But did you know that there are three classifications of water when it comes to water damage? Each classification can have its own effects. So you never know what kind of water can cause what kind of damage to your precious things. Read on to know more.
Those classifications of water damage are:
* Clean water - This is the type of water damage in which you do not have to worry about a health risk. This is the type of water damage that is more annoying such as a leaky pipe or a tub overflowing.
* Grey water - This is the type of water damage that contains certain degrees of both physical and biological contaminants. This type of water damage does pose a risk to humans. Grey water frequently consists of water that comes from washing machines and toilets.
* Black water - This is the type of water damage that consists of very unsanitary materials, such as fungus and bacteria. This can lead to very bad illness. This type of water commonly comes from sewer systems and is the type of water you may experience during a natural disaster. This is because the water becomes contaminated as it makes your way to your home or business to wreak havoc on you in the form of water damage.
No matter the type of water damage that you encounter, you have to have it cleaned up. There are two really good techniques that are used on some of your belongings such as books, documents, photos, etc. These methods to combating flood damage are:
* Freeze-drying - Books binders and any bound materials that have received flood damage benefit from this method. It works in a manner that is similar to the dehumidification that is performed on a home that has flood damage.
* Dehumidification - This is one of the most common ways to dry out a structure that has received flood damage. The moisture is removed from the air very quickly and in a safe manner. The process is successful in combating water damage because it removes the moisture from the air that is surrounding the damaged areas.
Time is of the essence when it comes to water damage repair. Starting the restoration of your assets starts as soon as it possibly can. Any delay at repairing water damage can be quite detrimental because the secondary effects start before you know it. Those effects are mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. Those are the parts of water damage that you do not want to have to mess with. Actually, you don't want to have to deal with any of the aspects of water damage because it can take an incredible toll on your life.
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.
Both Ramona Weisly & Gayelord Nash are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ramona Weisly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Computers and The Internet and Make Money Online. Ramona Weisly is a homeowner advocate on water damage for and. Ramona Weisly's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Gayelord Nash has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Health and Online Business. Gayelord Nash researches restoration items for homeowners for and. Gayelord Nash's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.