Water Damage Cleanup: The Importance of the 3 Types of Water
Before you start to panic at the sight of water damage, you might be comforted to know that there are actually tested industry-standard restoration procedures for just about all types of water damages out there. These industry standards help make restorations cost-effective, fast and complete. All restoration companies abide by these standards.
The effects of water damage can be as minor as a stained wall to as life-threatening as water poisoning. The solutions used for water damage will depend on the extent of the water damage and the type of water. Not all categories of water damage are dangerous. Here are the 3 types of water according to industry standards and how they relate to water damage cleanup.
Clean Water
This is the safest form of water damage. Here, the water is known to be safe to humans and other living things. Examples of water damage with clean water are overflowing sinks, broken dishwashers and loose pipes. In these cases, no special chemical solutions are needed for cleanup. They nonetheless need to be cleaned right away to prevent more problems such as molds or damaged electrical circuit boxes. Leaving them alone for a long period of time can also result to a high water bill. This is the simplest form of water damage cleanup.
Gray Water
Gray water can contain chemicals or physical impurities that can be harmful to humans once ingested. As the name implies, gray water is much less transparent in color when compared to clean water. You may or may not see actual physical particles. Examples of water damage resulting to gray water are overflowing toilets and used water from dishwashers, laundry machines and air conditioners. In these cases, the clean water has already been processed in some way, mixing with chemicals and undergoing many potentially dangerous avenues. Water damage cleanup in these cases are best done with professional help.
Black Water
Black water is the worst kind of water. They may come from natural and largely uncontrolled sources, such as riverbeds, sewage lines and gutter floods. Unlike gray water, black water may come from unknown sources. Gray water that has been kept stagnant for more than 3 days can be categorized as black water. They can cause poisoning upon consumption and may even be dangerous to touch.
About the Author
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for fire damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage and water damage clean up, visit RestorationSOS.com
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