Knowing The Types Of Water Damage And Restoration Costs

When your home in Burlington needs water damage restoration, it is important to understand that not all water is the same. In fact, there are actually 3 different categories of water, and each one poses its own threats and requires specific steps and techniques to adequately remediate the problem. In order to keep you and your family safe from potential hazards following water damage, it is important to understand the different types of water. 

Water Damage Restoration In Burlington

Category 1: Clean Water

Category 1 water comes from a clean source, such as a leaky faucet or broken supply line. Water damage restoration from category 1 water is fairly simple. First, water must be extracted and dried completely. Then, damaged materials can be repaired or replaced. If category 1 water is not remediated quickly and correctly, it can turn into category 2 or 3 water.

Category 2: Gray Water

Category 2 water is contaminated water that may contain bacteria and viruses. Common sources of category 2 water include dishwasher overflow, washing machine overflow, and toilet overflow (without feces).  This type of water could cause illness by coming in contact with it, and needs to be handled promptly. Not only is adequate drying needed, but thorough disinfecting must also take place. If left untreated, category 2 water can very quickly degrade to category 3 water.

Category 3: Black Water

Like the name entails, category 3 water is grossly contaminated. All contact should be avoided because this type of water can cause serious illness and even death if ingested. Black water can come from flooding streams, canals or rivers, water from the sewer line, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or long-standing water that has begun to grow microbes.  This type of water requires professional water damage restoration help with the use of specialized equipment to safely remove contaminants.  

If you are unsure which type of water you are dealing with, be sure to call the water damage restoration experts at G.W. Savage. With the proper training and equipment, our restoration crews can determine which water category has affected your home and proceed with an appropriate plan of action. While you are waiting for our water damage restoration team to arrive (we off fast, 24/7 emergency response services to get there as soon as possible), here are some steps you should take to keep you and your loved ones safe from contaminated water: 

• Keep children and pets away from the affected area
• Contact your insurance company and let them know a restoration team is on their way. Take pictures of the damage as proof for your insurance adjuster.
• Stop the further spread of contamination by keeping the area contained as best as possible.
• Be sure to use personal protective equipment such as face masks, rubber gloves and boots, and impervious coveralls if you have to go into the area.
• Turn off all electrical power to your home in the affected area.
• Turn off the water supply and any running water into the home or area.
• DO NOT use the HVAC unit to ventilate the area because that can spread microbes through the air. If possible, open windows in the affected area to get airflow. 
• Remove any dry, uncontaminated items out of the area. 
• Step back and let our team handle the entire water damage restoration process from start to finish.