The Different Categories Of Water Damage And Their Implications For Your Home

Water damage comes in many different forms. Thus, you should never assume that all water damage disasters should be treated equally. To tailor your water damage restoration responses appropriately, you should assess the severity of the damage first. Notably, the categories of water damage depending on the level of contamination in the water, not how much overall damage is caused. Thus, a Category 1 disaster can be more devastating than a Category 3 disaster in some cases. From our water damage restoration experts at Restoration 1 of Low Country in Charleston, here are the three main categories of water damage you should be aware of. 

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Category 1, Clean Water

Category 1, clean water, is the least contaminated type of water damage. There are no contaminants in this category. This category is safe enough to drink from. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking you can delay the cleanup or restoration process. Floodwater that is left to sit for too long will make its way into the next water damage category, developing mold and bacteria. Broken pipes, overflowing sinks, and appliance leaks are just a few examples of category 1 water damage. . 

Category 2, Gray Water

Category 2 water damage is significantly more problematic than Category 1 damage. The main reason for this is that Category 1 water is clean so you don’t have to go through a thorough disinfection process once the water has been removed. Unfortunately, you will need to thoroughly disinfect your home after a Category 2 disaster. Contact with Category 2 damage rarely leads to any serious health problems (although it can certainly cause many minor-moderate ones), but it should not be taken lightly nonetheless. Only trained professionals should be entrusted with the cleanup job after a Category 2 disaster. Examples of Category 2 damage include water from appliances like toilets, washing machines, and sump pump backups.

Category 3, Black Water

Category 3 water damage is one of the most devastating disasters that can occur in your home. Category 3 damage is also known as black water because it contains some degree of either sewage or harsh chemicals. Exposure to black water is no trivial matter and it can even lead to death in severe cases. The most common example of this is a sewage backup that floods your home with stinky, hazardous sewage. Make sure you rely on trained water damage restoration professionals to restore your home if it is ever affected by Category water damage.

(See Also: Your One-Hour Guide To Water Damage Restoration Prevention In Charleston)

At Restoration 1 of Low Country in Charleston, our water damage restoration experts have dealt with all different types of water damage. They will know exactly what to do to diagnose your home after a flood and take the most appropriate measures to restore the damage. If your home ever floods, don’t hesitate to give our water damage restoration experts a call for help and we will be right out to your home with our 24/7 emergency responses services.