Three Different Kinds of Water. Why is it Important to Know What They Are?

In the restoration business, we run into damage caused by water all the time. Anything from a backed-up toilet to failing appliances, we have seen pretty much everything. Even though all of these kinds of jobs are considered water damage, the type of water that created the damage plays a rather significant role in how we handle the situation. It is important to make sure we handle the situation with care and take into consideration all the factors that could affect the safety and thoroughness of the job.

Category 1

Category 1 water is the first type of water that we deal with. This is water that originated from a clean non contaminated source. This means that it will not cause any harm to those who come in contact with it. In situations of clean water, we can attempt to dry anything that has been affected by the water prior to any kind of demolition work. We can use equipment such as dehumidifiers and air movers to dry any affected area in hopes to preserve the affected area. This helps our customers because we can possibly save them the time and money that the replacement of drywall, insulation, or flooring would take to replace. Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as drying the area quickly when it comes to the other categories of water.

Category 2

The second type of water that we come across is category 2 water. Category 2 water is considered significantly contaminated water. This may have come from many places such as a toilet overflow or a dishwasher leak. This type of water can cause sickness or discomfort if ingested or if it comes in direct contact with the skin. We are a bit more careful when it comes to this slightly more serious kind of water. Our experts will be in protective gear to make sure that they do not come in direct contact with any contaminated materials. They will also apply a strong antimicrobial solution to any affected area that may be able to be saved after the restoration process takes place. We also use specialized vacuums with HEPA filters to clean the area of any harmful carcinogens that may cause discomfort or illness for the people inside the building.

Category 3

Category 3 water is considered grossly contaminated water. Water that is considered category 3 is often from sewage, flooding from rivers or other bodies of water, old sprinkler systems, and many other sources. Dealing with this type of water means removing most porous materials from the area. This includes carpeting, drywall, insulation, etc. Basically, anything that the water could have penetrated has to be taken out and thrown away. Other items with a nonporous surface such as plastics or metal may be cleaned using an antimicrobial solution. With category 3 water it is extremely important to be careful when cleaning. Our team responds to this type of water damage in full PPE and takes the utmost care to make sure that they clean the area safely and quickly.

Give us a Call

At PuroClean our goal is to always try to restore your home rather than tear it down. We will do whatever we can to get you back to your normal life as quickly and safely as possible. If you ever have an issue with water damage, please don’t hesitate to call us. We have a 24/7 Live answering service where you can reach a real person at any time should an emergency appear, please give us a call at our Auburn location at 774-321-3232 or our Natick office at 781-474-0200.