Water damage can be more harmful than it appears. It can be a threat to the health of both you and your home. The source of water can be anything from natural disasters to leaking pipes.
If not treated early, water damage can cause rotting of wood, rusting of steel, growth of fungus, mold, and other damages. It is important to hire a water damage restoration service for professional help.
Water damage is of three different types. This classification depends on various elements like the level of contamination and the sources. The water may leak from toilets, pipes, sewage, or flood and contain different levels of pathogens and harmful chemicals.
So what are the types of water damage that can affect your home?
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1. Clean water
Clean water is also called category one water. It is the safest water damage, among all categories. It is safe because consuming it would not pose any health risk to you or your pets. Clean water is the easiest to fix as there are not many microbes in it. However, if not treated early, clean water may result in growing mold and fungus infections.
The clean water damage comes from overflowing sinks, broken water lines, or a leaking freshwater pipe. The other main reason for water damage is leaky roofs. Leaky roofs may result in rainwater seeping into your home.
How do you fix or clean water damage?
Before you finalize that it is clean water damage, call a certified professional to understand the situation. The professional would test the water for clean water and proceed with the treatment. Clean water repair generally includes extraction and drying the area through dehumidification and ventilation.
2. Greywater
Category two water damage is greywater. It contains a certain level of contamination and can lead to illness, at least an upset stomach when consumed. However, it does not include fecal matter. If you let clean water dormant for a day or two, it may turn into greywater. Greywater sources are showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, washing machines, sinks, broken pipes, or natural disasters.
How do you fix greywater?
Cleaning up greywater requires a certified professional to ensure safety and quality restoration. The professional will extract the grey water and treat your home for greywater damage. Then he will sanitize the affected area to prevent fungus, mold, or bacteria. If you are a DIY-er, make sure you wear proper gear while undergoing the cleaning process and take all safety measures.
3. Blackwater
Blackwater is a category three water damage. It contains human waste and many other toxins and pathogens. Do not clean it yourself as it is highly contaminated and carries dangerous diseases, pesticides, and other chemicals. Consumption or direct skin contact with black water can cause illness to both you and your pets.
Blackwater can come from flush toilets, dishwashers, broken sewage pipes, food preparation sinks, floods, and other sources. Blackwater can severely damage your upholstery, drywall, carpets, and other valuable items. You will need to treat the water as early as possible to prevent further damage or health risks. Hence, you should hire the sewer repair services immediately, who will help you with water damage.
How do you fix black water?
You should take special precautions while dealing with black water. It poses a significant threat to the health of your home and family. Hire a certified professional to ensure proper treatment and sanitization. The flood clean-up process involves a variety of steps and can be complicated sometimes.
Conclusion
While water is one of the most crucial resources on earth, it can also cause severe damage to your home if left untreated. It can lead to fungus, mold, and other bacteria. It not only damages your structure but also poses health risks. Call a professional to treat any water damage without any delay for some flood clean-up.
