From staining and swelling to structural integrity issues, water can cause serious damage to your property.
Understanding where the water came from determines how it's classified and plays a big role in the way cleanup is handled.
Can the area just be dried or will demo and repairs be needed? Can materials be salvaged or do they need to be replaced?
It's also important to understand that what may start out as a Category 1 water loss, can quickly deteriorate into a Category 2 or 3 loss.
The longer it takes to address water damage, the worse the damage will get. Which can mean increased project scopes, higher costs and increased health and safety risks to your people.
3 Categories of Water Damage
Category 1 or clean water originates from a sanitary water source and does not pose a substantial health risk.
Examples include:
- Broken water supply lines
- Tub or sink overflow
- Broken toilet tank
- Melting ice or snow
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Category 2 or gray water contains significant contaminates and has the potential to make humans ill.
Examples include:
- Discharge from dishwashers
- Washing machine overflows
- Broken aquariums
- Punctured water beds
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Category 3 or blackwater is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic,toxigenic or other harmful agents and can cause infection or disease.
Examples include:
- Sewage
- Flooding from seawater
- Rising water from rivers or streams
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