Categories of Water Damage / Florida Paint Pro's 

 

 Florida Paint Pro's Water Damage Restoration Contractors

 Three categories of water contamination: Categories 1, 2, and 3.

   

• Category 1 – Clean water comes from a sanitary source and poses no significant health risk.

• Category 2 – Gray water poses a substantial risk for sickness if consumed or even touched because it is significantly contaminated. This often includes toilet bowl overflows, dishwasher discharge, water from washing machines, and more.

• Category 3 –  Black water is a grossly contaminated type containing many dangerous pathogens and biohazards. Seawater intrusion, toilet backflows, and water from rivers and streams are a few examples. Black water can lead to severe illness and infection.

While most homes require water mitigation, removal, and restoration services, that’s not always the case. For example, a small, temporary leak mitigated within 24-48 hours may not require complete restoration services, as mold isn’t likely to grow within that timeframe.

Step 2: Water Removal

The next step in the process is to remove standing water via extraction. Standing water can continue to cause problems for your home, causing further deterioration, so it must be removed as quickly as possible. Water extraction is especially important when dealing with a flooded basement, as standing water in the basement leads to severe mildew and mold growth.

During Step 2, water is removed from the home and belongings. Water removal and extraction often occur between or alongside mitigation and restoration services.

Companies use extractors to remove water during the extraction process. These high-powered pumps and vacuums are designed to absorb all standing and surface water from your home quickly.

Several different types of extractors may be used to remove water, including:

• Submersible pumps

• Truck-mounted vacuums

• Portable wet/dry vacuums

After the standing water is extracted, additional inspections may occur to determine the remaining moisture levels and identify whether the carpeting or hardwood floors need to be removed.

Step 3: Drying and Dehumidifying

After the water is physically extracted from the home, companies begin dehumidifying and drying. Industrial-quality air movers and dehumidifiers dry out materials that still contain water or were too challenging to access during extraction.

Your home may look dry at this stage, but some materials can be wet. These materials may suffer more problems if left alone, such as warping, breaking, or growing mold. Contractors prevent this by completely drying and dehumidifying the impacted area.

Throughout this stage, water remediation specialists monitor moisture levels in the walls and floors of the affected areas to determine when your home is dry so that professional cleaning can begin.

Step 4: Cleaning and Sanitizing

Thorough, professional water damage and restoration cleaning is required in all home restoration projects. At the same time, companies work to preserve as much of your personal property as possible.

Cleaning should always be performed by experts trained in the safety and sanitization requirements of water-damaged homes.

Cleaning may take many forms, including:

• Spray and wipe cleaning

• Dry cleaning

• Wet cleaning

Professionals may also use foam, abrasive, or immersion cleaning techniques to ensure every item is cleaned as thoroughly as possible. This step may also involve mold remediation as necessary.

Experts have specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) for cleaning potentially hazardous materials, including N-96 respirators, protective gloves, and waterproof clothing.

At this stage, specialists also dispose of any contaminated materials removed during the cleaning phase.

Step 5: Complete Restoration

The final step of the process is the actual restoration. During this process, specialists return your home to the state before the disturbance occurred. Any permanently damaged or removed materials will now be fixed or replaced. Projects may be simple or extensive, depending on the permanent damage that occurred.

Restoration can sometimes require simple repairs, such as drywall or carpet cleaning. In others, the work is extensive and requires the complete reconstruction of parts of your home.

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