What are the Categories of Water Damage and How to Handle Them

Water damage is one of the most common causes of damage that can occur in a commercial or residential building. It is important to understand the different categories of water damage and how to handle them. Category 1 water damage is the least damaging form of damage and is considered “clean” water. This type of water does not pose a threat to humans and has a fast evaporation rate.

It is important to note that Category 1 water can quickly convert to Category 2 water when exposed to other bacteria or contaminants, or as a result of the passage of time, allowing mold and bacteria to grow. A restoration contractor like Jenkins Restorations can, theoretically, save and dry any affected building materials such as wet drywall, carpets, pads, hardwood floors and more. Category 2 water contains significantly contaminated water and requires special drying methods. It is important for a restoration contractor to remove wet infill from the carpet and disinfect affected materials such as carpets.

Jenkins Restorations uses HEPA Aspirated and Antimicrobial Spray to disinfect affected materials after Category 2 water damage incidents. Category 3 water leaks contain heavily contaminated water and require all affected cosmetic materials such as insulation, hardwood floors, drywall, carpet filler, carpets, and cushions to be removed. Jenkins Restorations uses an Antimicrobial Spray and HEPA Aspiration to disinfect affected items after Category 3 water damage incidents. These extremely unhealthy liquids include buildup of wastewater, overflowing faece-contaminated toilets, flooding rivers or streams, and stagnant liquid laden with bacteria, and can cause serious illness or death if ingested.

When your home suffers water damage as a result of a flood or other natural disaster, it's important to act quickly to clean and restore your property. Certified professional water damage restoration specialists use psychrometry to monitor the drying process. Abbotts staff has more than 65 years of combined experience repairing water damage, sanitation and remediation. It is likely that this service will be covered by your homeowners insurance, and a good water damage professional will work directly with your insurance company to determine what is covered every step of the way.Surface water is water that enters the home from the ground surface due to flooding or insufficient drainage and causes losses in the home.

Any water damage must be properly managed, or it can cause conditions to be left behind that lead to toxic mold growth and structural instability.