How do I know if I have water damage?
Water Damage is serious business, and it can come from many sources, including a flood, broken appliances, burst pipes, and more. But did you know there are three types of water damage? When water damage happens, the next step is cleanup and restoration. Water is categorized by its level of contamination before an action plan can be considered. Because the category of water damage can affect an insurance claim, it is also important insurance companies understand what the cleanup and restoration professionals at ProFix look for during evaluation and water damage restoration.
Here are the three categories of water damage so you can be prepared if it ever happens to your property.
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1st Type of Water Damage
Type 1 water damage is defined as “Water originating from a source that does not pose substantial harm to humans. type 1 water is also referred to as ‘clean water.’” This water is considered clean or sanitary.
Water damage events that may cause Type 1 water damage can include but are not limited to:
- Rainwater
- Melting snow
- Melting ice
- Broken appliance water lines
- Tub overflows
- Sink overflows
- Broken toilet tanks with no contaminants or additives
- Broken toilet bowls with no contaminants or additives
Water damage has three different levels of contamination.
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2nd Type of Water Damage
Type 2 water damage is defined as “Water containing a significant degree of chemical, biological and/or physical contamination and having the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans.” When listed as Type 2 water damage, the water is considered significantly contaminated since it contains microorganisms and nutrients for microorganisms. Also also known as “grey water.”
Type 2 water damage events can include but are not limited to:
- Sprinkler water for fire protection
- Hydrostatic pressure seepage
- Sump pump collapses
- Toilet bowl overflow with urine (no feces)
- Washing machine discharge
- Dishwasher discharge
- Condensate and chilled water
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3rd Type of Water Damage
Type 3 water damage is defined as“Grossly unsanitary water containing pathogenic agents, arising from sewage or other contaminated water sources and having the likelihood of causing discomfort or sickness if consumed or exposed to humans.” Type 3 water damage is considered grossly contaminated. It may also be called “black water.”
Type 3 water damage is more extreme. It includes:
- Sewage
- Other contaminated water sources that may have entered an indoor environment or affected it in some way
- Type 2 water that is not efficiently removed from an affected structure; it may be reclassified as Type 3
- Toilet backflows that began beyond the toilet trap, regardless of whether visible content is visible or it has a particular color
- River or stream water
- Rainwater mixed with sewage
ProFix Water Damage Restoration Process
When you experience water damage, it is important you contact a company like ProFix as soon as possible to provide water damage restoration services. Our water damage restoration process adheres to eight steps:
- Emergency Contact: When you contact ProFix, a specialist will ask various questions to determine size and scope of job and schedule an initial visit by a local ProFix professional to inspect and assess the damage.
- Inspection and Water Damage Assessment: Upon arrival, ProFix professionals will inspect and assess the property. If needed, the water source will be located and stopped.
- Water Removal: Service work begins using extraction equipment and pumps.
- Damaged Material Removal: Non-restorable items are removed to expedite the drying process.
- Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Deodorization: Depending on the level of damage, furniture and other belongings may need cleaned using various ProFix products, techniques, and equipment.
- Drying: Industry-leading drying equipment is used to remove the water you can’t see, after the bulk of the water has been remediated.
- Monitoring: During drying, ProFix specialists will routinely visit the property to ensure the process is moving along as intended, and make changes as needed.
- Repairs and Construction: At this stage, ProFix restoration professionals will advise on any additional repairs, such as construction work, that may be required to make it like new again.