When you read about water damage, the possibilities are that you quickly categorize it by what was damaged: ceiling or walls, floors, basement, or roof. While these are all typical areas for water damage to happen, most water damage is categorized based on what type of water caused the damage at the start. There are truly three different types of water damage based on the contamination level of the water, each of which needs a different approach to clean up and restoration.
When water damage happens, most Chesterfield property owners would like to restore things back to the way they were. However, to accomplish it as effectively as possible, it’s necessary to know what the different categories of water damage are and what to do to address and repair your property after each one.
Category 1: Clean Water
The most popular kind of water damage inside residential properties is clean water damage. Clean water flows from broken plumbing in and around the house, such as sinks and bathtubs, appliance hoses, and supply lines. Clean water damage is the simplest to prevent and tidy up after since there is no worry about contamination or toxins in the water.
While even clean water can cause mold if the water damage is not treated properly, in most cases, clean water damage can be handled by the tenant, Chesterfield property manager, property owner, or, if serious enough, by a restoration company.
Category 2: Greywater
The second type of water damage is greywater damage. Greywater (often spelled graywater) is water that has previously been used. In a residential setting, greywater comes from the washing machine, the toilets, and bathtub drains. This wastewater is not only water – it includes chemicals, soap residue, detergent, and waste. As a result, water damage caused by greywater can be harder to tidy up. The affected area must be replaced and disinfected before being safe for continuous usage.
Category 3: Blackwater
The third main type of water damage is blackwater damage. Blackwater damage is the most severe type of water damage since it may lead to serious health risks. Blackwater is frequently comprised of sewage, seawater, river or groundwater, and even dishwashers. Blackwater contains deadly bacteria and diseases, implying you’ll need the correct professionals to help you tidy up and restore your property after blackwater damage.
Any object or materials damaged with blackwater must be removed and destroyed – they cannot be cleaned up. This contains flooring, drywall, furniture, doors, and so forth. After that, the structures underneath must be completely dried and disinfected before renovations start.
Water damage can be hard to manage, both for you and your tenants. It’s necessary to understand how to handle the different types of water damage to guarantee their safety and easily restore your property to being habitable.
The simplest approach to repair and prevent water damage is to employ Real Property Management Three Bridges to manage your rental. Our team of rental property management experts can immediately assess the situation and take the appropriate steps to get your rental property back to business as usual. Contact us online to learn more.
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