If you hear about water damage, chances are you instantly categorize it by what was damaged: ceiling or walls, floors, basement, or roof. While these are all familiar places for water damage to happen, most water damage is categorized based on what type of water caused the damage in the first place. There are really three different types of water damage based on the contamination level of the water, each of which involves a different approach to clean up and restoration.
When water damage occurs, most Lakeland property owners just want to get things back to how they were. But to do that as effectively as possible, it’s crucial 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 common type of water damage inside residential properties is clean water damage. Clean water comes from broken plumbing in and around the house, including sinks and bathtubs, appliance hoses, and supply lines. Clean water damage is the easiest to prevent and clean up after because there is no concern about contamination or toxins in the water.
While even clean water can cause mold if the water damage is not properly addressed, most of the time, clean water damage can be handled by the tenant, Lakeland property manager, property owner, or if dangerous 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 already been used. In a residential setting, greywater comes from the washing machine, the toilets, and bathtub drains. This wastewater is not just water – it contains chemicals, soap residue, detergent, and waste. Therefore, water damage caused by greywater can be more difficult to clean up. The affected area must be replaced and disinfected before being safe for sustained use.
Category 3: Blackwater
The third main type of water damage is blackwater damage. Blackwater damage is the most extreme kind of water damage because it can result in serious health risks. Blackwater every so often consists of sewage, seawater, river or groundwater, and even dishwashers. Blackwater carries harmful bacteria and diseases, which means you’ll need to have the right professionals to help you clean 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 includes flooring, drywall, furniture, doors, and so on. Then, the structures underneath must be completely dried and disinfected before renovations can begin.
Water damage can be difficult to deal with, both for you and your tenants. It’s important to know how to handle the different types of water damage to ensure their safety and quickly restore your property to habitable.
The easiest way to repair and prevent water damage is to hire Real Property Management Lakeside to manage your rental. Our team of rental property management experts can quickly 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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