Water Damage: Three Important Facts

11/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO arrived at this home with water damage to the kitchen.

Water Damage: Three Important Facts

You may be worried about water damage if you recently experienced a pipe burst in your Gilberts, IL, home. Such situations can cause flooding and other issues but try not to panic. Instead, learn about the following three facts, so you can be prepared for any future problems that arise.

1. Damage

When water enters your home, it can damage many different structures. However, the severity of the damage can vary widely. There are three recognized classes of water damage:

• White or Category 1 Water Damage: This is clean water.
  
• Gray or Category 2 Water Damage: This is often waste water.
  
• Black or Category 3 Water Damage: This is considered contaminated water.
  
  

Category 3 damage is urgent and requires quick cleanup, while Category 1 water is not contaminated, but still requires rapid cleanup. A broken water line that leads to a pipe burst typically will only result in Category 1 damage as long as the matter is quickly addressed.

2. Restoration

Taking advantage of remediation services is not always just a practical move. In cases where you are dealing with complicated damage, such as when white water is left to sit for too long, a service may be necessary. Most trained workers will arrive on the scene quickly, assess the damage and take measures to restore your property.

3. Salvage

You may think that the random valuables around your home cannot be saved after a water damage incident. This is not always the case. Technicians such as those mentioned above can typically help you remove certain furniture and personal items and may even offer move-out assistance to help you preserve items before they get damaged. Most professionals also understand that your keepsakes are precious and may attempt to restore photographs and other mementos.

A pipe burst at home is never fun, but understanding the issue at hand helps. If you put an action plan into place, you have a better chance of returning to normal life sooner rather than later.