After a home experiences flooding or a leak, there are many factors to consider on how to properly handle the water damage. The severity, source, and recovery needed after water intrusion are all best handled by a professional water damage restoration company as flooding or leaks can produce serious consequences, introducing threats and other dangers to a property. Identifying and understanding the types of water damage that has occurred is the first step in the restoration process. There are three categories in which water damage can be identified, each category with its own considerations in respect to cleanup and restoration.
Category 1: Clean Water
Clean water is any water intrusion caused by overflown tubs, burst pipes, or a leaky roof. This type of water damage in Kissimmee is considered “clean”. While the water is not necessarily potable, it is considered clean due to the lack of bacteria potentially found. This is the safest water to mitigate and cleanup for restoration companies. While homeowners can clean this kind of water themselves, it is strongly recommended against not to perform water cleanup and removal without professional guidance as improper extraction and drying may occur.
Category 2: Gray Water
Water is classified as gray if there is exposure to a contaminant. For instance, overflow from a toilet, regardless of bodily fluids present, is considered gray. This is due to the way the water is filtered and sourced and its purpose. A washing machine overflow is also considered gray water, as the water has come into contact with chemicals in cleaning solutions. Clean water can become gray based on the severity of the water damage in a home and length of time it remains unmitigated. Additional safety precautions are taken when extracting and cleaning gray water as exposure can be a health hazard.
Category 3: Black Water
Black water has the highest content of bacteria and other contaminants in all three categories of water. This water source are sewers, water containing waste like oil, bodily fluids etc. When a storm produces water damage, like flooding, this is considered black water. The EPA’s website states flood water and exposure to black water is a major safety hazard and health risk. When mitigating this type of water damage, many safety precautions are taken and additional cleaning is conducted to ensure any bacteria, viruses or other contaminants are effectively remediated.
There are many do’s and don’t’s of water damage based on professional restoration knowledge. One of the recommended don’ts for homes experiencing flooding or a leak is attempting to clean up large bodies of water without professional help. Homeowners lack the proper equipment and safety gear for water removal and cleanup as well as the knowledge surrounding water classification. Each type of water damage requires consideration in respect to safety, cleanup, and restoration processes.
When water damage occurs in Kissimmee, it is ideal to contact a water damage restoration company like Pro Master Cleaning Restoration. Our certified team understands the types of water damage and how to properly restore your property after each occurrence.
