QUICK SUMMARY
Water damage can be devastating but quick action will help you minimize the damage to your home. With the help of a professional, start the water restoration process immediately to reduce the impact on your home, family, and life.
Are you experiencing a home damage emergency? Call Disaster MD Michigan
A.Water Damage: Causes, Repair & Restoration
Periodically the harm from water is caused when an issue abandons being taken note of. It might require weeks or even a very long time before the harm appears.
Time is of the pith when you are managing any sort of harm from water, and the key is to move quickly!
Not exclusively can the water ruin your rugs, roof, and furniture, yet it can likewise annihilate valuable family assets, significant archives, and indispensable, individual things.
You may have to empty your home during the fixes, and the disturbance of your typical routine could truly colossally affect your lifestyle. Remaining in lodging or at a companion’s house isn’t the manner in which you need to go through your week, or in some cases, weeks.
B. Common Types of Water Damage
B.1. Sewage Cleanup
Sewage cleanup may be required when toilets or sinks are backed up. Sewage spills result in the seepage of toxic black water or gray water, which has been contaminated by human, animal or biological waste. Sewage cleanup is a messy part of the restoration process that can pose a health risk and should always be completed by a trained professional.
B.2. Structural Damage
Water can cause structural damage to your home, making a previously safe environment inhospitable.
Water seepage inside walls, the foundation, or wood or concrete framing can weaken your home or property’s structure and potentially lead to collapse. Non-structural water destruction to the drywall and ceiling can also wreak havoc on your home.
B.3. Broken Pipes
Burst or broken plumbing pipes can cause significant damage and must be dealt with immediately. You may need to work with a plumber in addition to a water restoration company.
Some broken pipes are covered by insurance claims, but burst pipes that result from aging or neglect are typically excluded from homeowners’ insurance policies.
Additionally, damage due to leaking or malfunctioning water heaters may be covered by a building or product warranty.
C. Causes of Water Damage
Water damage can be caused by many things, including leaky roofs, broken pipes, or gutters. Homes that aren’t properly maintained or ventilated are particularly susceptible to a type of damage that will lead to mold—especially in often neglected areas like crawl spaces and basements.
In some cases, water destruction is entirely beyond your control, resulting from storms, floodwater, or other environmental incidents. Understanding the cause can help you stop the water and prevent additional damage.
C.1. Leaky Roof
Leaky roofs can allow water to get into your home, causing significant damage. Aging roofs and roofs with existing damage may result in water deterioration. Many older or damaged roofs will seem adequate until a particularly bad rainfall or heavy snowfall.
In other cases, the damage will occur slowly, over time, and homeowners may not notice for months or years.
C.2. Broken Pipe or Gutter
Broken pipes can damage your home via a slow leak, a sudden gush, or a combination of the two. Plumbing issues vary depending on the amount of water.
Broken pipes can become apparent quickly, for instance, when the toilet or sink pipes back up, outdoor gutter systems fail, or faucets, dishwashers, and washing machine hoses burst. But broken pipes can also cause problems that develop gradually, starting with slow dripping from worn parts.
C.3. Condensation
Condensation is one of the most common causes of water contamination in older and newer homes alike, but can easily be ignored for months or years.
Condensation occurs when air conditioning units leak or malfunction or aren’t properly drained and maintained. Over time, condensation can penetrate walls, ceilings, and floors and lead to mold.
D. Classifications of Water Damage
The IICRC categorizes water and flood damage into one of four classes that indicate the degree of damage done to the property. These classes allow restoration companies to estimate the amount of water in your home, the extent of water absorption and damage and predicted drying and repair times.
D.1. Class 1 Water Damage
- Class 1 damage occurs when minimal water absorption has occurred
- Highly porous materials are only present in 5% or less of the impacted space.
- Water is potable and uncontaminated.
- The origin of the damage is often from clean.
- The remaining low evaporation materials have minimal moisture.
With Class 1 damage, the area will dry with minimal evaporation once the water is removed.
D.2. Class 2 Water Damage
- Class 2 damage occurs when 5-40% of the materials in the impacted area are porous.
- This type of damage commonly occurs after a burst or broken pipe within walls or floors with drywall or insulating materials.
- The amount of time required to remove and evaporate it is greatly increased.
D.3. Class 3 Water Damage
- Class 3 damage is determined when porous materials comprise more than 40% of the impacted area.
- Significant water absorption has likely occurred.
- Water evaporation in Class 3 homes is time-consuming.
- Class 3 damage may occur if a water main breaks or if a home is leaking from storm damage or flood water.
D.4. Class 4 Water Damage
- Class 4 damage occurs when water is deeply absorbed into non-porous materials such as:
- Plaster
- Wood
- Concrete
- Class 4 damage is often caused by flooding.
- Water removal is time-consuming, complex, and expensive to resolve.
- With Class 4 damage, water restoration companies will require additional specialized equipment and a longer drying process.
E. Water Contamination Categories
Water categorization helps water restoration companies determine the contamination level of water within a home or building.
All water contains microorganisms, but the quantity and type of those microorganisms determine whether the water is safe to consume, inhale or touch. Water can be contaminated at the source, or contamination can occur afterward when water enters a contaminated space or microorganisms can multiply over time.
Category 1
Category 1 water has had minimal contamination and comes from a sanitary water source by the surrounding environment.
Melting snow and ice, rainwater, and toilet tank water is also likely to fall within Category 1.
This water is typically safe and tends to originate from a home’s water supply line or water heater.
Category 2
Category 2 water is often contaminated and can potentially cause illness.
Category 2 water is commonly discharged by dishwashers, washing machines, and other appliances, and aquariums, waterbeds, and toilets with urine.
Category 3
Category 3 water is highly contaminated and may contain toxigenic, pathogenic, or other highly harmful agents such as pesticides or chemicals.
Category 3 water can cause people to become significantly ill after exposure.
Examples of Category 3 water include sewage, seawater floods, water that rises from rivers, and wind-driven water from tropical storms or hurricanes.
Our Thorough Water Damage Clean Up & Restoration 1 Process
To ensure quick and effective water damage restoration services, the Disaster MD Michigan team has developed a proven protocol for responding to water damage.
As soon as we reach your house, we will:
- Inspect in Depth – We begin by studying the extent of the damage and provide a comprehensive assessment.
- Study the Source – If the water damage is due to a plumbing leak, we will find the source. If it is due to a flood, we will identify where the water is entering your property. Stopping the source is key in preventing the damages from continuing.
- Drying Process – We will begin removing the standing water. This prevents the damage from spreading and makes it easier to inspect for other problems. We then follow by placing drying equipment in the area to avoid secondary damages such as mold.
Common Water Damage Risks
Water destruction poses many risks to homeowners and can take its toll financially, emotionally, and physically.
Property Damage
One of the most immediate risks is to your property, possessions, and family heirlooms. It can be incredibly difficult to see these items ruined.
Water can rapidly destroy your belongings, including furniture, important papers, carpets and rugs, clothing, and electronics. It can also damage key structures in your home as well as cosmetic structures such as drywall and flooring
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