Failure to take immediate action against water damage can result in serious consequences. Moisture promotes the growth of mold and other organisms. This greatly increases the risk of health problems because mold has a great impact on indoor air quality. Allergies and asthma symptoms may be aggravated by mold exposure, especially in children or people with weakened immune systems. Exposure to mold may also increase the risk of respiratory diseases.
The EPA states mold can grow anywhere – on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. Mold destroys things it grows on which can end up costing you thousands of dollars. The way to prevent mold is to prevent moisture. Thus, if you have water damage in your home or business, you need to take action immediately.
Types of Water Damage
There are many things that can cause water damage. Floods, heavy snow, heavy rain, broken pipes, leaky dishwashers, clogged toilets, overflowing washing machines, leaky roofs, plumbing leaks, and foundation cracks are just some of the possible causes of water damage. Too much water damage can result in minor problems like water in basement areas, or it can result in destruction of your home or business.
One of the most dangerous types of water damage is from sewage. Sewage contains fungi, bacteria, and viruses which can lead to diseases. The IICRC lists key principles homeowners should know about sewage backup. If your home or business is infiltrated by sewage, you should evacuate immediately and call a reputable restoration company. An experienced, trained can assess the damage and begin the remediation process.
Water Damage Categories
There are three categories of water damage. The IICRC explains these categories as such:
- Category 1. This is liquid from a clean and sanitary source such as faucets, toilet tanks, and drinking fountains. But, category one can quickly progress to category two.
- Category 2. This category of liquid used to be called “grey water”, and is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces.
- Category 3. This is the worst classification and it is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested. It used to be called “black water”, and sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.
As you can see, water damage progresses quickly and the hazards to your and your family’s health as well as the destruction of your home are not worth the risk of delaying remediation.
Call the Professionals
Rainbow International Restoration has a Remediation Team standing by to help you 24/7. They are IICRC-certified which means their technicians know the difference between all categories and classes of water damage and they form a restoration plan based on those factors. Using a WRT (Water Damage Restoration Technician) and ASD (Applied Structural Drying) certified technicians who know the math and the science of drying your home or business, they restore your home or business to the way it was before sustaining water damage.
If you are the unfortunate victim of water damage, call Rainbow International Restoration immediately at 877-853-2445 to minimize damage to your home and your health.
