How To Identify the Type of Water Damage in Your Home

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

What are the three types of water categories?

Water damage is a very serious issue to deal with in your home in St. Peters, MO during a storm. It’s also important to realize that there are different classifications of water contamination. Listed below are the different categories, along with some storm tips for how best to handle them.

What Are the Three Types of Water Contamination?

Clean water: Category 1 - This is water that originated from a fresh water source, such as a burst water pipe or a leaky faucet. The water starts out clean, but if not removed quickly it can become contaminated by other materials and escalate into a more serious problem.
Gray water: Category 2 - Any water that has leaked or overflowed from a dishwasher, washing machine, or feces-free toilet would fall into this category. The water may potentially contain bacteria so it should be dealt with quickly or it could become a category 3 problem.
Black water: Category 3 - Flooding that originated from streams or rivers is considered black water. Sewer backup would also be included in this category. Since this storm damage is highly contaminated, you should avoid it and call a professional immediately to handle the water cleanup.

How Can You Mitigate the Water Damage?
If the living space is flooded, you should leave the house and not return until an expert has assessed the situation. If the water is limited to a small area and you’ve determined that the source was clean water, you can follow these storm tips:

• Use heavy towels or clean rags to soak up the water
• After the water is removed, turn on a dehumidifier or fan to aid in drying the carpet
• Call a professional to inspect for mold
  

The safest way to handle any kind of storm damage is to follow these storm tips in the interim while you wait for the experts to assess the situation. They will be able to find the best solution for your home.