When you say water damage, you typically categorize it by what was damaged: ceiling or walls, floors, basement, or roof. Even though all of these are common areas for water damage to occur, most water damage is categorized based on what type of water caused the damage in the beginning. In reality, there are three different types of water damage based on the contamination level of the water, each of which needs a particular approach to clean up and restore.
When water damage transpires, most Weatherford property owners just want to restore things back to how they were. But to achieve that as efficiently as possible, it’s necessary to examine 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 familiar kind of water damage inside residential properties is clean water damage. Clean water flows from broken plumbing in and around the house, including sinks and bathtubs, appliance hoses, and supply lines. Clean water damage is the quickest to prevent and tidy up after since there is no threat of contamination or toxins in the water.
While even clean water can cause mold if the water damage is not addressed appropriately, in most instances, clean water damage can be handled by the tenant, Weatherford property manager, property owner, or, if worrisome enough, by a restoration company.
Category 2: Greywater
The second type of water damage is greywater damage. Greywater (also spelled graywater) is water that has been used earlier. In a residential setting, greywater comes from the washing machine, the toilets, and bathtub drains. This wastewater is not just water – it has chemicals, soap residue, detergent, and waste. Therefore, water damage caused by greywater might be more complex to clean 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 damaging type of water damage as it offers serious health risks. Blackwater typically originates from sewage, seawater, river or groundwater, and even dishwashers. Blackwater features harmful bacteria and diseases, which means you’ll need trained professionals to help you clean and restore your property after blackwater damage.
Any objects or materials damaged with blackwater must be removed and destroyed – they cannot be cleaned up. This includes flooring, drywall, furniture, doors, and so forth. Then, the structures underneath must be completely dried and disinfected before renovations start.
Water damage can be stressful to handle, both for you and your tenants. It’s critical to learn how to handle the different types of water damage to ensure their safety and quickly restore your property to being habitable.
The best alternative to repair and prevent water damage is to partner with Real Property Management Trailhead to manage your rental. Our team of rental property management experts can easily 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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