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Classifying Water Damage

Classifying Water DamageThe type of water damage that has affected your home will affect the dry out and water restoration process. Broken pipes, faulty appliances, and backed up sewer lines can cause extensive damage to your home if not properly addressed. Identifying the classes of water damage, along with the categories of water contamination, will dictate how water damage is mitigated and how much can be salvaged, so being familiar with them is important. Two ways of classifying water damage events are the cleanliness of the water and the difficulty in removing the moisture.

Water Damage Categories

Water Damage CategoriesThe category of the water loss refers to the level of contamination in the water, considering its originating source.

Category 1 (Sanitary Liquids) – A category 1 water loss is when the water originates from a sanitary water source and does not pose a substantial risk if ingested or inhaled. Some examples of a category 1 water loss:
  • Broken water supply lines
  • Sink or tub overflows with no contaminants
  • Melting ice or snow and falling rainwater
  • Broken toilet tanks and toilet bowls that do not contain contaminants or additives

After 48 hours, a Category 1 can become a Category 2.

Category 2 (Grey Water) – A category 2 water loss is when water contains contamination and has the potential to cause sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. Category 2 water can contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms or nutrients for microorganisms, as well as organic and inorganic matter. Examples of category 2 water loss:
  • Overflows from washing machines
  • Discharge from dishwashers or washing machines
  • Overflows from toilet bowls
  • Broken aquariums and punctured water beds

Due to rampant bacterial breeding and mold growth, Category 2 becomes a Category 3 situation if left untreated for 2 days or more.

Category 3 (Black Water) – The water can contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents such as silt, pesticides, organic matter, heavy metals, regulated materials or toxic organic substances. Examples of a category 3 water loss:
  • Sewage
  • Toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap
  • All forms of flooding from seawater
  • Ground surface water and rising water from rivers or streams and other contaminated water entering or affecting the indoor environment, such as tropical storms, wind-driven hurricanes, or other weather-related events

Water Damage Classes

Water Damage ClassesWater Classes are determined by how much water is present and the type of material that is absorbing the water. In simplified terms, water classes are arranged by the difficulty and time needed to dry out an area.

Class 1 (Slow Rate of Evaporation) – Class 1 water losses may only affect part of a room or area, or they may include larger areas with materials that have absorbed minimal moisture. (Least amount of water, absorption, and evaporation).

Class 2 (Fast Rate of Evaporation) – A class 2 water loss affects at least an entire room of carpet and cushion. Water has gone up the walls less than 24 inches. There is moisture remaining in structural materials like plywood, particle board, structural wood, VCT, and concrete. (Large amount of water).

Class 3 (Fastest Rate of Evaporation) – Water may have come from overhead. In a class 3 the ceilings, walls, carpet, insulation, and sub floor are saturated in the entire area. (Greatest amount of water).

Class 4 (Specialty Drying Situations) – Class 4 water damage is defined by a volume of water that has been given enough time to penetrate and saturate materials with lower absorption levels. Items such as hardwood, brick, stone, or concrete take a longer time to dry. It is typically more difficult to dry out these materials since it requires low humidity and special removal procedures.

Solutions for Your Emergency

Solutions for Your EmergencyWhen it comes to home flooding emergencies, it is important to act quickly in order to minimize the damage and keep costs down, while preventing the growth of mold and spreading of any potential harmful bacteria. The most effective choice is to contact a company that specializes in water damage, water removal and remediation. Fortunately, the certified experts at Xtreme Home Improvement provide targeted solutions that address every aspect of the problem and help to stop it from getting worse. When our restoration technicians arrive, they will inspect the area, determine the category and class of the damage, and formulate a plan based on your home’s specific needs. No matter what kind of water damage you are dealing with, our professionals are fully equipped to deal with the complexities of water damage and how it affects your home. Contact us today to learn more about our restoration process.

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Filed Under: Remediation, Restoration, Water Damage

Xtreme Home Improvement is Central Pennsylvania’s preeminent commercial and residential construction company. We offer a wide range of restoration, renovation and remodeling services.  From fire, water and storm cleanup, mold mitigation and remediation, and biohazard cleanup and removal ... we’re your full-service resource. Learn more.

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