Various incidents can cause water damage to a property, but the effect is often the same. Water damage can stem from leaking ceilings from roof damage, faulty plumbing, leaking pipes and sinks, sewer overflow, or natural disasters such as hurricanes and heavy flooding, and can cause minor to massive property damage that could cost a homeowner thousands of dollars in repair.
In addition to losses, the restoration of a water-damaged property often is not a do-it-yourself job, and is better left to professional water damage restoration, repair and cleanup companies like ServiceMaster Remediation Services in South Central Florida. Water damage has different classes and categories, which need different techniques and equipment to be removed properly. Read them below.
Categories Of Water Damage
Determining the category of water damage is an important step in the professional water damage restoration process. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) designates water damage into three categories: clean water, grey water, and black water.
Category 1: Clean Water
Category 1: Clean WaterThis type of water originates from a sanitary source and is the less severe category in such that it does not pose risks to human health. The sources of clean water may be sink overflows or broken water supply lines. However, Category 1 water damage can quickly escalate to Category 2 if not dealt with properly.
Category 2: Grey Water
This type of water is sourced from sump pump backups or toilets and is contaminated with chemicals, bacteria, or other elements. These contaminants may cause illnesses or discomfort when ingested. Items affected by grey water must be disinfected immediately. 
Category 2: Grey Water
Category 3: Black Water
Category 3: Black WaterBlack water is grossly unsanitary, containing bacteria, viruses, pathogens, chemicals, and other elements that can cause severe sickness or even death in serious cases if ingested. This type of water is includes sewage backups, floods, toilet overflows, and standing water that has begun supporting bacterial growth. Building occupants are advised to stay away from the affected area to prevent contaminating the rest of the house.
Classes Of Water Damage
The class of water damage describes the amount of water and its anticipated evaporation rate depending on the amount and type of wet materials in the space affected. There are four classes of water damage.
Class 1
This type of damage only affects a small area. It involves the least amount of water, and only a very small amount of moisture is absorbed by the affected material.
Class 2
Water damage of this class can affect carpets or cushions, as it involves a large amount of water. Residual moisture can be found in structural materials. Class 2 water damage is difficult to repair.
Class 3
Comes from overhead sources and can saturate insulation, ceilings, walls and carpeting. This type of damage may require demolition.
Class 4
Class 4 water damage is the most complicated and most difficult class to deal with. It can affect wood floors, concrete, plaster, and other materials with a very low permeance porosity. Damage of this class needs specialized procedures to be restored properly.
No Matter The Class Or Category Of Water Damage, Trust A Professional Water Damage Restoration Service
Despite efforts to prevent water damage, it can strike anytime. No matter how simple the water damage is, it is always advisable to contact professionals for a quick and efficient clean-up of the affected area to avoid further damage, which would mean a more costly repair process. Our water damage restoration specialists at ServiceMaster Remediation Services can check the cause and extent of destruction by pinpointing and categorizing the damage in your home or business.
Contact ServiceMaster Remediation Services at (954)969-5906 for all your remediation, restoration and cleaning needs. We service customers in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and surrounding Florida areas.
