Water damage can arise from all sorts of avenues. It could be from a broken appliance, a leaky pipe, consistent condensation on a surface, or a great, big rainstorm. Sometimes, water damage occurs and we don’t even realize until much later. Whatever the case, water damage can be stressful, take time to repair, and cost money. There are three specific categories of water damage that vary in their degree of severity. Our water damage restoration experts recommend it’s good to know what these categories are, so if you ever find yourself in a situation, you can be knowledgeable about the scenario you’re in.
Water Damage and Its Varying Degrees
Category 1 Water Damage
Category 1 water damage refers to clean water damage. This sort of damage obviously comes from clean water sources such as overflows of sinks and bathtubs or from one of your pipes breaking. Though this is classified as category 1 and not as harmful as the other types of water damage, it can quickly turn into something more harmful if not taken care of right away. Any type of water, if left long enough, can grow bacteria or other harmful pathogens, as well as provide the perfect growing ground for mold.
Category 2 Water Damage
Category 2 water damage is caused by what is referred to as gray water. This water tends to have contaminants of sorts, such as detergents from laundry machines or dishwasher overflows. As well it would be considered anything contaminated with dirt or soil or body oils. Another example would be contaminants from rain or other storms that may cause water damage to your home. With these contaminants, the sooner the water damage can be taken care of, the better it will be. Just like Category 1, Category 2 can quickly get worse.
Category 3 Water Damage
Category 3 is called black water. Honestly, black water, just the name, sounds disgusting. Well, that’s because it is gross and very harmful. Black water may contain pathogens fungal, and viral contaminations. Black water can arise from water damage caused by sewage or flooding over rivers or streams. For some, it may seem weird to group rivers and streams flooding with sewage, but because the water is more stagnant, there is time for pathogens to grow. The longer water sits, the more time there is for these contaminations to cause serious harm. If you run into this kind of water damage, you should not try cleaning it up yourself. It can be classified as an emergency and you should contact a water damage restoration professional. Most have 24/7 phone lines, so they can help you as soon as possible.
Specifics to Remember when Dealing with Water Damage
It’s nice to know about the three categories and be aware of the situation you are in, but ultimately water damage is best taken care of straight away, all types of it. The sooner it is taken care of the better. Water damage can also cause problems later if it is not taken care of correctly. It is best to find a professional water damage restoration team near you to get the job done. If you are in Manhattan, KS, Lamunyon might be the water damage restoration company for you.
