3 Categories of Water Damage

3 Categories of Water Damage. Does your insurance include these?

Water damage is a serious matter that can occur in various ways, such as floods, broken appliances, or burst pipes. At The Carpet Cleaning Crew, we understand the importance of addressing water damage promptly and effectively. While we may not specialize in reconstruction to return your property to its pre-damaged state, our certified and driven team is here to mitigate the damage and restore your property as much as possible. It's crucial for insurance companies to recognize the evaluation and restoration process we follow, as the category of water damage can impact insurance claims.

To ensure you are prepared in case water damage ever affects your property, it's essential to understand the three categories of water damage:

Category 3 Water Damage

Category 3 water damage, also known as "black water," is considered grossly unsanitary. It involves water that is heavily contaminated, posing potential health risks if consumed or exposed to humans. This category includes:

- Sewage

- Contaminated water from various sources that entered the indoor environment

- Category 2 water that remains in the structure without efficient removal and becomes reclassified as Category 3

- Toilet backflows originating beyond the toilet trap, regardless of visible content or color

- River or stream water mixed with rainwater

- Rainwater mixed with sewage

Category 2 Water Damage

Category 2 water damage, also referred to as "grey water," involves water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological, or physical contamination. While not as severely contaminated as Category 3, it can still cause discomfort or sickness if consumed or exposed to humans. Category 2 water damage includes:

- Sprinkler water for fire protection

- Hydrostatic pressure seepage

- Sump pump collapses

- Toilet bowl overflow with urine (no feces)

- Discharge from washing machines or dishwashers

- Condensate and chilled water

Category 1 Water Damage

Category 1 water damage, known as "clean water," originates from a source that poses no substantial harm to humans. It is considered sanitary. Examples of Category 1 water damage include:

- Rainwater

- Melting snow or ice

- Water from broken appliance lines

- Tub or sink overflows

- Broken toilet tanks or bowls without contaminants or additives

At The Carpet Cleaning Crew, our water damage restoration process involves the following steps:

1. Emergency Contact: Reach out to us as soon as possible to schedule an initial visit and assess the damage.

2. Inspection and Damage Assessment: Our professionals will inspect the property, locate and stop the water source if necessary.

3. Water Removal: We employ specialized equipment and pumps to remove standing water.

4. Damaged Material Removal: Non-restorable items are removed to expedite the drying process.

5. Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Deodorization: Depending on the damage, we clean and treat furniture and belongings using our specialized products, techniques, and equipment.

6. Drying: We utilize industry-leading drying equipment to eliminate hidden moisture after extracting the bulk of the water.

7. Monitoring: Our team regularly visits the property to ensure the drying process progresses as intended, making adjustments as needed.

8. Accurate Reports that we can send directly to your insurance company with photos and psychometric readings telling a clear story. We know it can be stressful talking to the insurance company but we do it all the time.

At The Carpet Cleaning Crew, we are dedicated to providing reliable water damage mitigation services. Contact us immediately when water damage occurs for a free moisture inspection.

Source:

https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2020/03/Water-Damage-Guideline.pdf

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