| Understanding water damage takes a lot more than | | | | Black water: Understanding water damage |
| simply observing your damaged property. You must | | | | Black water comes from things like toilets that |
| first find the root cause of the problem, then you | | | | overflow, sewers that have backed up, or flood |
| can address the water damage cleanup. The 3 | | | | waters. This water contains toxic contaminants, and |
| primary classifications of water that cause damage | | | | care should be taken to avoid contact, it is harmful |
| are: clean water, gray water, and black water. Clean | | | | to your health. |
| is obviously the least toxic, gray is in the middle and | | | | The greater the level of contaminants, the more |
| black water is toxic. | | | | severe the problem. So, no matter what type of |
| One of the best tools for understanding water | | | | water damage you experience, it is made worse by |
| damage is your nose! It is remarkable how sensitive | | | | higher levels of contaminants. |
| the sense of smell is to pick up the odors of mildew, | | | | Once you stop the damage at it's source, you can |
| mold, fungi, and bacteria. This odor is a symptom | | | | minimize the health hazards by a thorough cleaning |
| that you should not ignore. It is much easier to | | | | up. Normally, the use of anti-bacterial soap and water |
| prevent a problem than fix it later on! | | | | are enough to solve the problem. |
| Clean water: Understanding water damage | | | | Bacteria, mold and fungi |
| Clean water damage is usually the result of excessive | | | | Very often, these nasty organisms are forgotten |
| rain water or a burst pipe. Clean water is non-toxic | | | | about in the process of water damage cleanup. This |
| and contains no contaminants. This does not mean | | | | is unfortunate because the health problems can be |
| that it is incapable of doing tremendous damage | | | | quite severe as a result. |
| though. | | | | As long as these living organisms have a suitable |
| Then there is the issue of electronics, such as your | | | | place to grow, they will continue to be a problem. |
| iPhone, Blackberry, laptop computer, and cell phone. | | | | Their unpleasant odor and spores can linger for quite |
| More often than might be expected, these are | | | | some time, causing annoying problems. |
| dropped in sinks, toilets, and puddles. It is extremely | | | | The effects of bacteria, mold and fungi can actually |
| annoying to attempt repairing one of these devices, | | | | be severe enough to cause a house to be unfit for |
| and sometimes it is not possible. | | | | habitation. If there is no treatment and restoration |
| Hot tip! You might fix water damage to your iPhone | | | | done, demolition is the only cure. |
| or other device by putting it in the refrigerator! This | | | | Families who suffer from allergies, poor health and |
| is because the fridge removes moisture from the air. | | | | asthma frequently report that their overall health |
| Just remove the cover and battery and put | | | | improves dramatically when they are away from |
| everything in overnight. Sometimes this works, but | | | | home for an extended period of time. When they |
| not always. | | | | return home, the sneezing, headaches and other |
| Gray water: Understanding water damage | | | | reactions return. |
| Typically, gray water comes from your dishwasher, | | | | Sometimes the remedy for water damage can be as |
| clothes washer, and sink water. Gray water can | | | | simple as a ceiling fan in the bathroom, yet there are |
| contain low level contaminants. Cleaning up with soap | | | | other times when the solution is quite involved and |
| and water is normally sufficient, once you have | | | | expensive. |
| removed the source of the problem. | | | | In any case, water damage to your home or office |
| Other things, such as ceiling damage, flooring damage, | | | | will only get worse if left untreated. The time and |
| or stained walls are a different matter altogether. | | | | money used to prevent further damage is well spent, |
| You should be able to find some good ideas for | | | | it only gets more expensive and complicated if left |
| repairs, inspections, and other services. | | | | alone. |