The most common types of property damage encountered by homeowners are water damage. Protecting your home from water damage is not an easy task. It involves a lot of research and awareness about different categories of water damage. Of course, you may also need some help from water damage restoration specialists if damage control is out of your hands.
Here are the three water damage categories that can impact your home. Knowing this will help you take preventive steps, as well as, the restoration act if you could not protect your home from water damage.
Category 1: Clean Water
It is uncontaminated water but the purest category of water, having a pH level of 7 or below. It originates from a sanitary water source. Being clean is one of the water damage categories that do not pose any substantial risk to your home. If this water stays there for many days, its property will not change. However, when mixed with contaminants, it does not remain clean.
Examples Sources:
- Sink or tub overflow
- Broken water supply lines
- Breaks in the refrigerator line
- Falling rainwater
- Broken toilet bowls/tanks (without contaminants)
- Melting snow
Category 2: Greywater
It is contaminated water with a pH level of 7.1-8.5. It includes diluted sewage and wastewater. Since grey water contains contaminants, water damage categories cause illness, discomfort, and damage to your home. Since this category of water has fewer contaminants, it is easy to clean. It may contain unsafe levels of microbes like bacteria, viruses, mould, etc., which can spread throughout your home if grey water damage is caused. You can choose to take help from flood restoration specialists in Melbourne for faster cleaning.
Examples Sources:
- Water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines
- Water beds
- Cracked aquariums
- The toilet bowl overflows with urine
- Sump pump failure
Category 3: Black Water
It is grossly contaminated with black water. Out of all water damage categories, this is the most contaminated water. It may contain harmful pathogens and toxins. Water damage due to this category may result in health and safety problems. This type of water has a pH level of 8.6 or higher.
Examples Sources:
- Rising flood water
- Sewage water
- Broken toilet bowl
- Sewer backups
- Wind-driven rain due to a cyclone or hurricane
Black Water is likely to be contaminated with the following:
- Bacteria and other microbes
- Heavy metals
- Fecal matter
- Chemicals
- Radioactive substances
- Organic compounds
Deterioration of Water Categories
The type of water that has damaged your home may change over time. For this purpose, it is important to understand different water damage categories to ensure that you can take the necessary measures yourself or seek help from professional water damage restoration specialists.
For example, you don’t have to worry, even if your home is affected by clean water. This is because clean water does not cause corrosion. However, if the clean standing water starts to deteriorate, it may cause rusting and corrosion.
Water is indispensable for life. However, most of us take it for granted. If you are a homeowner and your house has had grey or black water intrusion, you need to call flood restoration specialists in Melbourne immediately.
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