Water Damage: Which Type Of Water Do You Have?

There’s very little worse than coming home after a long day of work to discover that your property has flooded due to a burst pipe. As you wade through the standing water slowly rising as water continues to pool throughout your home, you realize that many of your valuables and electronics are damaged and some may never work properly again. Or perhaps a recent storm has devastated the Jupiter area and caused flooding throughout your neighborhood. Regardless of the reason for your water damage or flooding, it is easy to feel as if all hope is lost and there’s nothing you can do to remedy the situation other than remove the water.

At All Dry Services, we’re here to tell you that’s not always the case. But before we’re able to get to work restoring your property to its pre-disaster condition, we have to know what type of water you’re dealing with. There are three categories of water damage to help determine which methods are needed for a thorough cleaning and restoration job.

CATEGORY ONE: “CLEAN WATER”

The easiest way to define this type of water is uncontaminated water that comes from a clean source.

Examples of clean water include:

  • Water from an overflowing bathtub (before use)
  • Water that has leaked from the supply line to an ice maker
  • Water leaking from your dishwasher or washing machine (not in use)
  • Water leaking around your water heater
  • Water leaking from a pipe

While the water is initially not hazardous to your health, it is important to get it cleaned up as soon as possible. In as little as 24 hours, mold will begin to develop. And, if left to sit, Category One water will soon become hazardous. In order to properly treat the issue, the water must be extracted immediately. We will dry out the affected areas using dehumidifiers and then ensure that it is fully cleaned.

CATEGORY TWO: “GREY WATER”

Category Two water is anything that comes from a source that contains any degree of biological, chemical, or physical contaminants. Typically, grey water contains some elements of mold, bacteria, or toxic chemicals. Due to this, it is hazardous to your health if you ingest or come into direct contact with it.

Typically, grey water is wastewater from your toilet bowl (without feces in it), your bathtub, your sink, your washing machine, your dishwasher, etc. It usually contains traces of grease, food, hair, cleaning products, soap, or dirt.

To safely restore your property, we will extract any standing water and completely dry out any affected areas. Due to the hazardous nature of grey water, we will carefully disinfect and sanitize your property before the job is considered complete. If left alone, grey water will turn to black water within 48 hours or less.

CATEGORY THREE: “BLACK WATER”

Black water is the most dangerous type because it is the most contaminated. Unsanitary, black water contains bacteria, hazardous chemicals, disease carrying organisms, toxins, and ground materials.

Some common examples of black water include:

  • Sewage
  • Water from any storms or weather-related disasters
  • Toilet water containing feces
  • Groundwater flooding

Because of the threats black water poses to anyone’s health, it requires protective gear and specialized equipment to ensure that it is safely and entirely removed from your property. If ingested or come into close contact with, it can cause serious illness or even death. This is why it is important to hire a professional water damage restoration technician to handle the issue rather than attempt to do it yourself. Because of how contaminated black water is, it will often necessitate removal of upholstery, carpet, and drywall due to their porous nature.

YOU CAN COUNT ON OUR WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION TECHNICIANS!

At All Dry Services, our Jupiter water damage restoration experts are certified, which means we all have specific training about the types of water and the best ways to effectively rid your home of it while ensuring your safety. We know that sometimes emergencies happen, and you can’t wait, which is why we’re available 24/7 to assist you. We’ll perform a thorough inspection to determine which type of water damage you’re dealing with and provide you with a free estimate. We also have experience working with many insurance companies and can help you navigate the claims process with ease. Protect yourself and your property today by calling (561) 662-4525 or contacting us online.

Categories: