Recognizing Different Types of Water Damage

Advice from Water Damage Restoration Service Experts

When you uncover water damage in your home or office, it can lead to an immediate sense of panic. You may be asking yourself: Where is the source of the water damage? Who should I call for water restoration services? Is this creating a harmful environment for my family or employees? The Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has designated three types of water damage: clean water damage, grey water damage, and black water damage. It’s essential to understand the differences between each category, as it can impact your health and safety. Learn more about these categories and what you should do if you experience water damage in your home.

Category 1 - Clean Water

Category 1, or clean water, is generally harmless to your health. Clean water is significant because it doesn’t contain waste, bacteria, or other hazardous chemicals. That doesn’t mean you should be lax about your water restoration efforts. Some examples of category 1 causes include small amounts of rainwater, leaking faucets and pipes, overflowing bathtubs, and other appliances. If left untreated, category 1 water damage can still cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home or office and develop into category 2.

What Should I Do in the Event of a Category 1?

Category 1 includes a wide range of scenarios, from small leaks and minor water damage to water main breaks. It’s really up to the home or business owner to decide if they have the resources and tools to clean and dry the area properly. If clean water cleanup is handled incorrectly, it can lead to persistent moisture and the presence of mold, which is an even bigger issue for home and business owners.

Category 2 – Grey Water

Grey water is defined as water with small amounts of contaminants, but that doesn’t make it any less detrimental to your health. Ingesting sullage can cause illness. Some common grey water sources include equipment discharges, an overflowing water fixture, and specific weather events. If left unattended for more than 48 hours, it should be treated as black water or category 3.

Keep Your Property Safe from Grey Water

Most home and business owners are not adequately equipped to handle a category 2 water restoration project. With the presence of microbes and other contaminants, grey water poses a substantial health risk if an individual is not adequately equipped or inadvertently exposed. Improperly cleaning a category 2 will create a dangerous environment that impacts the health of your employees and family members. Protect your property with category 2 water restoration services by expert contractors.

Category 3 – Black Water

Black water is considered the most dangerous category in the IICRC system. It contains grease, urine, oil, or feces and poses a hazardous health risk to building occupants. The contamination could lead to minor illness or hospitalization, depending on the individuals exposure level. Not only that, category 3 can severely damage your property. It’s important to note that while we may refer to category 3 as black water, the water may not necessarily appear black. The coloration doesn’t make it more or less dangerous. This uncertainty is why it’s important to have a trained professional inspect your property after a flood.

Why You Should Choose a Professional for Black Water

In the event of category 3 water damage, we highly recommend seeking professional help for your water restoration needs. To properly clean this type of water damage, it requires specific protective gear to keep the cleaner safe. Specialized tools and cleaning protocol will also need to be followed to ensure that no contaminates are left behind. Category 3 water damage poses a significant risk to you and your family or employees’ health. It can lead to numerous diseases, including fever, severe dehydration, hepatitis, cryptosporidiosis, or gastroenteritis. Limit your expose your exposure to black water and contact an expert.

Get the Best Water Restoration Services

DKI contractors provide comprehensive water restoration services for clear water, grey water, and black water damages nationwide. You can count on our team to provide you with a detailed and thorough inspection of your property. We also offer 24/7 emergency service that is fast and reliable. Our water restoration technicians are highly trained to provide you with the best care available in the industry. If you’re in need of water restoration services, regardless of the project’s scope, you can feel confident our team has the tools and technology to handle it. We have helped many businesses and homeowners protect their property and those that occupy it with quality restoration services. Schedule your estimate today.

Guest Contributor: Maria Williams