According to industry reports, home water damage emergencies affect 14,000 people daily, with an annual total cost of $20 billion nationwide. In addition, emergency water damage leads to the most expensive home repairs.
Water damage can start in your basement, kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere in your house or establishment. In order to prevent losses and costly repairs, it is important to prevent water damage from happening. ServiceMaster by Wright discusses the basic facts about water damage and how it can be avoided.
Causes of Water Damage
Water damage can be a result of many events, but these are the most common:
- Leaking or broken pipes – Trees near your pipelines may cause broken or leaking pipes. Avoiding them can help you maintain and secure your pipes.
- Faulty appliances like refrigerators or washing machines – When you notice a leakage in your refrigerator, washing machine, or dishwasher, call a repair service immediately.
- Plumbing issues – Any plumbing problem should be fixed by professionals. When your water heater, faucet, toilet, or drain line act up, call plumbing services to avoid water damage.
Categories of Water Damage
The ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration categorizes water damage into three:
Category 1: Clean Water
- Category 1 does not pose a threat to humans. It usually comes from broken appliances or sinks.
- However, Category 1 can quickly turn into Category 2 if not removed right away.
Category 2: Grey Water
- Category 2 is contaminated and may cause sickness if ingested. It contains toxic microorganisms that can cause serious health threats.
- Category 2 comes from broken toilets, broken sump pumps, and seepage.
Category 3: Black Water
- Category 3, or black water, contains significant pathogens and is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested.
- Category 3 includes sewer backups, flooding from rivers and streams, toilet overflows, and stagnant water that has begun to support bacterial growth.
Classes of Water Damage
When performing water damage restoration, the class of the water damage is determined to choose the most suitable repair option.
- Class 1 - the least harmful form of damage. Materials absorb very little of the water from this type of damage. Water damage repair can be performed easily.
- Class 2 - has a fast rate of evaporation, which means that carpets and cushions may be damaged. Water damage repair is more difficult compared to Class 1.
- Class 3 - can involve demolition. It has the fastest rate of evaporation. Water may be sourced from broken sprinklers or other overhead sources, soaking the walls and furniture. Ceilings may be wet and damaged, along with other materials such as wet insulation and the area behind the walls.
- Class 4 - requires special water restoration and water removal techniques. This type of damage may affect hardwood floors, plaster, and concrete. Special drying methods and longer dry-out times are usually involved in these types of situations. It requires the most complicated water damage repair work.
How to Prevent Water Damage?
Clean roof gutters
- Remove leaves, bird nests, and sticks from your gutters. They have to be cleaned for water to flow freely and to avoid clogging that may cause water to seep into your home.
Don't plant near pipelines
- Know where your pipeline is located and plant trees away from this area.
- Tree roots may grow in your sprinkler system, pipes, septic system, and drainage system and cause clogging, leading to future flooding or overflows.
Check water bill
- If you notice a drastic increase in your water bill, you may need to check your water line for leaks.
Inspect appliances regularly
- Your refrigerator, washing machine, and water heaters may have leaks that can cause water damage.
- Invest in a water leak detector to monitor leaks down the pipelines.
Make an Appointment With Water Damage Restoration Technicians
Follow the steps above to prevent water damage. When disaster strikes, call ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 for a FREE quote. You may also connect with us online to schedule an appointment.
- Southwest Florida’s leading water damage restoration company
- Trained and equipped technicians
- IICRC Certified Firm
- 24/7 live answering service
We service residential and commercial properties in Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Englewood, Fort Myers, Longboat Key, Naples, Marco Island, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Venice, Florida. Contact us today.
