The Three Categories of Water Damage You Need to Know About
It is unfortunate, but water damage does happen to many homes every year. Water damage can leave many families without a home for quite some time as they go through the insurance process and this can be upsetting and frustrating. However, you want to know about what is going to happen, so that you know the insurance company is doing its job. That is why this list is going to help break down the importance of water damage categories and how they affect the professional cleanup.
Category 1
According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), Category 1 means that the water damage has happened with a sanitized water source. This means that the water does not pose any substantial risk from inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. An example of this is if your sink or tub overflows with no pollution. Also, if you have a lot of melting ice or snow this is also in Category 1 of water damage.
When it comes to restoring your belongings, during a Category 1 water damage situation, most of the products that become damaged can easily be dried without any extra headache for the homeowner. This is a mild case of water damage, so you can pat dry or air out a lot of your personal belongings in this scenario. An easy clean-up is what we want if there is ever any water damage.
Category 2
The IICRC has the second category when it comes to water damage is when the water has a lot of pollution and has the ability to cause sickness or discomfort if consumed by people. This also means that the water could have unsafe levels of nutrients for microorganisms or actual microorganisms, while also having other chemicals in it too. An example of this is dishwasher discharge or washing machines. Obviously, we know that they clean out clothes and dishes that have a lot of bacteria, so if that water comes out then it is not safe for us.
With Category 2 water damage, you need to disinfect your belongings before using them again. Remember, your belongings have now been exposed to water that is contaminated, but it does not cause severe side effects in people. Just be on the safe side and clean your belongings before using them again because it is better to be safe than sorry.
Category 3
Now, surely you can guess what Category 3 water damage is about. The water is heavily contaminated with very harmful, toxic, and dangerous agents that can cause a serious reaction on people if consumed. Examples of this are if the water came from the sewage system, river water, and any water from hurricanes. You have to remember, you do not know what is in this kind of water, so it is dangerous for you to be near it. Water damage category 3 is often associated with a sewer backup. During catastrophic flooding events, where the ground water is contaminated with other chemicals, the categorization is also consider category 3 water damage.
Your belongings have just been soaked by water that is contaminated with toxins that are extremely harmful to people, so you need to make sure you get your belongings professionally cleaned and disinfected. Do not try to just do this on your own because you do not want to run the risk of not getting everything off and it harming you and your loved ones. If it cannot be saved then be prepared to throw it away because you should not keep it.
Conclusion
Be aware of where your water damage has come from because then you can take the right steps to keep yourself safe. Make sure that you thoroughly clean your belongings and let them completely dry because it is for your own safety. Water damage can be very serious, so make sure you look after yourself.
