Water damage causes significant loss to businesses and homes across the country. With an estimated 14,000 people being affected by some kind of water damage every day, the country's cost of household water damage is up to $20 billion a year.
Water damage restoration must be carried out as soon as possible. The longer water stands in an area, or a building structure is exposed to moisture, the more harm it does. It is crucial to ensure that water removal is thorough and the property is dry. A water damage restoration company can get this done quickly and efficiently. Be Happy Restoration Services provides emergency flood and water damage restoration in Sunnyvale and nearby communities. In this article, they explain the categories and classes of water damage.
.jpg)
Water damage refers to the losses due to water intrusion that enables the destruction of a material or system. Water can cause damage like rotting of wood, mold growth, rusting of metal, etc. Water can damage almost anything it comes into contact with, from fabric to electrical devices.
Causes of Water Damage
- Clogged gutters
- Leaks in the plumbing system
- Malfunctioning appliances (like a leak from the washing machine supply line or condensation produced from an AC unit)
- Blocked toilets
- Burst pipes (due to freezing or rusty pipes)
- Clogs in the drains
- Sewage backup
- Severe weather conditions
Categories of Water Damage
According to the level of water contamination and based on the source of water causing damage, there are three categories of water damage.
Category 1 Water Damage: when water damage is due to water from a source that is considered clean, it is Category 1 water damage. Examples are an overflowing tub of clean water, rainwater, and a burst supply pipe. This type of water damage is not a serious health hazard.
Category 2 Water Damage: When visibly contaminated water causes water damage, it is Category 2 water damage. This water is called grey water and can cause illness if people come into contact with it or ingest it. The water is also a medium for bacterial growth and contains potentially harmful organic and inorganic matter. Toilet overflow, washing machine leaks, and aquarium water are examples of greywater.
Category 3 Water Damage: Highly contaminated water that contains pathogens and toxic substances causes Category 3 water damage. This water is also called black water. It is extremely harmful to be in contact with this water. Examples of black water are sewage water, flood water from outside, septic tank backup, or any contaminated ground surface water.
Classes of Water damage
The class of water damage is based on the scale and extent of the damage. The class of water damage will also depend on the dimensions of the area affected and what materials were exposed to water. Materials and furnishing, like wood, flooring, carpets, drywall, etc., can absorb water and make it difficult for property owners to gauge the extent of water damage. Water damage restoration professionals like Be Happy Restoration Services in Sunnyvale, TX, are trained and equipped to detect moisture and determine the extent of water damage. The class of water damage is ascertained during the preliminary inspection, and specialized equipment is used for water removal.
Class 1: This is minimal water damage. Materials in the affected area absorb very little or no water. This class is usually seen where materials that are not very porous are used. The water evaporates slowly.
Class 2: An entire room is usually affected by class 2 water damage. Water is absorbed by carpets, curtains, walls, and structural materials. Water evaporates but may still damage materials like curtains.
Class 3: An entire room is affected and saturated by water. The water source is usually from above, like a burst pipe or malfunctioning sprinkler. The ceiling, walls, flooring, subfloor, and furniture are all soaked.
Class 4: The affected area is more expansive, and the water has soaked in extensively, necessitating water removal and drying of less porous materials like brick, concrete, and hardwood floors, too.
.jpg)
