Water damage is usually classified into three different categories depending on the type of water that has caused the damage. Category 3 water damage is the worst type of water damage and it is also usually known as black water damage.

What constitutes category 3 water damage?

A property will usually become subject to category 3 water damage in the following two situations:

– Natural sources of category 3 water damage- Water from rivers, streams or even sea water is considered category 3 water. This water will contain a high level of bacteria and fungi that can cause several infections and health conditions in people who come in contact with it.

– Other sources of category 3 water damage – The other most common type of category 3 water damage is caused by toilet backflows or backed up sewage lines that will then redirect the sewage into your basement or house plumbing.

If your property has been subject to category 3 water damage, you will need to hire the services of a professional water damage company to get the best cleanup results. It is highly recommended that you do not carry out this work yourself, for the reasons mentioned below.

– Need for protective equipment – Category 3 water damage will require heavy protective clothing. A professional flood damage or water damage company will use personnel who will be fully equipped with waterproof coveralls, respirators, goggles, gloves and appropriate footwear. Trying to carry out water extraction without proper safety equipment can easily result in infections.

– Need for advanced equipment – A professional water extraction company will have powerful pumps and portable extraction units that will remove the water very quickly from your home. In addition to water extraction units, a category 3 water damage cleanup will also require the use of heavy duty air scrubbers that will clean the air of any air borne infectious bacteria or fungi that is so often the case with category 3 water damage.

– Use of chemicals and disinfectants- Only a professional flood damage or water restoration contractor will know what chemicals or disinfectants to use to clean up your property, depending on the extent of damage. The use of EPA approved chemicals needs training and knowhow that is generally absent in homeowners who want to take up restoration efforts on their own.

An expert water restoration company will also be able to provide you with critical assistance when it comes to your insurance claims process in addition to being able to carry out the best possible restoration work on your property.

Moisture is a big problem that comes along with water or flood damage. Apart from areas of the house that are directly in contact with the water, moisture from the stagnated water will begin to penetrate porous construction material such as walls, wood, plywood and even ceilings. This can lead to damaged construction materials as well as the possibility of mold formation. A complete water restoration project will need to bring back the moisture levels in a house to normal.

This is mostly achieved with several pieces of equipment, as discussed below.

– Dehumidifiers – A professional water damage company will carry several commercial grade de humidifiers that they will use on your property. Only they will know how many to use and where to strategically place the de humidifiers to get the maximum drying effectiveness.

– Air movers – These are also called blowers and are used to move the air and create a circulatory pattern that will eliminate the moisture by driving it out of the house. Professional restoration companies will use these air movers to create a controlled tornado like effect to give you the best possible drying environment.

– Pumps – Dry/wet vacuums will be no match for powerful water extraction units that will be used by professional restoration contractors.

– Other tools – Apart from the above equipment, water restoration might also require some specialized tools such as hygrometers and infra red cameras. Hygrometers are used to measure the humidity in a house while an infra red camera can be used to detect hidden sources of water leaks, such as broken pipes behind a wall or under a floor.

If you were to attempt water restoration on your own, you will most probably be using ineffective equipment that will yield you very poor results. The use of powerful equipment in a skilled manner can save carpets, wood, furniture, walls and even ceilings as long as they are attended to immediately after the water damage has occurred. The more time between the damage and the start of restoration work will usually mean lower chances of restoration in a property.

Author Bio: Dan is the owner of PuroClean Home Rescue in Sacramento and specializes in water damage (clean water and sewage water), mold removal and fire, soot and smoke cleanup. For more tips and advice visit our websites.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: water damage, mold removal, fire damage, soot cleanup, smoke odor removal, flood damage