WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION

Water damage can be as or more destructive than fire and smoke damage.  Although the damage created by water loss is not as readily visible or as obvious as fire and smoke damage, the damage will continue to get worse (i.e. secondary loss such as mold growth) until restoration has been implemented.  Time is of the essence – if water damage has not been addressed and action taken within 48-72 hours of the loss, permanent damage can occur, increasing the cost of restoration substantially.

Water damage can occur as a result of a variety of disasters such as fire fighting techniques, broken water pipes, sewage back-ups, leaky water beds, blocked drains, leaky roofs, malfunctioning appliances, broken fish tanks, natural disasters/storms, and numerous other situations.  Don’t wait to call for professional help!!  Damage from the water and bacterial growth can begin within hours.  The longer you wait, the worse it gets. 

Simple steps to take in a water loss situation:

Categories of Water in Water Damage

Appropriate and degree of restoration is based on the source and the amount of water, time elapsed, and items affected.  The source and amount of water dictates the steps and procedures to take.  The degree of restoration, salvagability of structure and contents is determined by the speed of drying.  There are some water loss situations where contents and structural materials cannot be salvaged.  Each water loss must be evaluated on a case by case basis, determined by categories as defined by the IICRC^* S500-99 Water Damage Standard.

A categorization of the level of contamination of water in a damaged structure is required to perform loss assessment and evaluation activities.  The category of water contamination must be considered so that procedures can be established for processing water damaged structures and materials safely.  The three general categories are:  Category 1 – Clean Water; Category 2 – Gray Water; and Category 3 – Black Water.  The category of water contamination is not determined by the color of the water; rather, the category is determined by the source, contents, history, and characteristics of the water.

Category 1 – Clean Water:
Clean water originates from a source that does not pose substantial harm to humans.  Examples of clean water sources may include, but are not necessarily limited to broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows with no contaminants, appliance malfunctions involving water supply lines, melting ice or snow, falling rainwater, broken toilet tanks and toilet bowls that do not contain contaminants or additives.  Untreated, category 1 – clean  water can become category 2 – gray  water usually within 48 hours.

Category 2 – Gray Water:
Gray water contains a significant level of contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans.  It carries microorganisms and nutrients for microorganisms.  Examples of gray water sources include, but are not limited to, discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, overflows from washing machines, overflows from toilet bowls with some urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic pressure, broken aquariums, and punctured water beds.  Gray water may contain chemicals, bio-contaminants (fungal, bacterial, viral, algae) and other forms of contamination including physical hazards.  Untreated, category 2 – gray water can change to category 3 – black water within 48 hours.

Category 3 – Black Water:
Black water contains pathogenic agents and is grossly unsanitary.  Black water includes sewage and other contaminated water sources entering or affecting the indoor environment.  Category 2 water that is not removed promptly from the structure may be reclassified as category 3 water.  Toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination, regardless of visible content or color.  Other sources include all forms of flooding from seawater, ground surface water and rising water from rivers or streams.  Such water sources carry silt and organic matter into structures and create black water conditions.  The water is considered to be category 3 water in situations where structural materials and/or contents have been contaminated with such things as pesticides, heavy metals, or toxic organic substances.

Raw sewage can be extremely hazardous to human health.  Transmission can occur by touching contaminated items or by tracking them into uncontaminated areas on shoes.  Children and pets are especially vulnerable.  Absorbent materials such as carpeting and drywall may not be restorable after direct contact with sewage-contaminated or flood-contaminated water.

Please note:   Simply extracting the water and drying carpet and pad is a small portion of water damage restoration.  Only a small percentage of water damage can actually be seen.  The majority of damage is behind walls and ceilings, therefore making it imperative to perform structural drying to prevent mold growth.  Master Care Restoration Company utilizes moisture meters as well as the ThermalScan IRC-3000™ Infrared Camera to monitor drying, and to verify drying has been completed thoroughly and effectively.

Selecting a contractor:
Your water restoration team should be certified in Water Damage Restoration by the IICRC^*, and adhere to guidelines as set forth in the IICRC^* S500-99.  These guidelines, if followed appropriately, will be your best assurance that secondary damage will not occur.  It is also wise to check the company’s reputation with the local Better Business Bureau.

Master Care Restoration Company offers 24-hour emergency flood service to preserve, protect, and secure your property and contents from further damage.  Our goal is to save your valuable personal belongings and restore your property back to pre-loss condition in a timely and efficient manner.