Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between water damage and flood damage? After all they both involve water? According to the knowledgeable experts at Disaster Services there is and understanding those differences will help you develop the appropriate clean up restoration plan. Keep reading to learn more about water and flood damage including the different categories of water damage, the causes, insurance coverage, and the clean-up process involved with both? Disaster Services explores this further below.
Causes of Flood & Other Water Damage
Water damage can be sustained due to a variety of different sources such as a leaky water heater or appliance, a burst water main, an overflowing toilet and many other sources within your home. Flood damage on the other hand is caused by overflowing water from lakes or rivers, runoff surface water as a direct result of heavy rainfall and storms, and mudflow along with many other sources.
What is the Difference Between Flood & Water Damage?
Think of it this way, if your home is the only one affected and the issue occurred inside your home then you are typically dealing with a water damage problem, if your neighbor is experiencing the same issues as you are and the water source is located from a source outside your property you are likely dealing with flood damage.
Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
In most cases water damage is covered by your homeowners insurance. If you fall victim to water damage caused by a leaking appliance or faulty plumbing etc. contact the Disaster Services team for professional restoration and cleanup services and insurance claim assistance. Unfortunately flood damage such as damage experienced during extreme weather conditions is not covered by your homeowners insurance instead you would require a separate flood insurance policy that would need to be in place before the damage occurs.
What are the Three Water Categories?
There are three basic types of water damage: category 1, 2 and 3.
Category 1: can be defined as clean water which comes from a faucet, water line or other water source that has no contamination. The cleanup process for category 1 involves extracting the water, before the drying and dehumidification process can begin.
Category 2: is defined as “grey water” sources of grey water include a leak from a dishwasher, malfunctioning sump pumps or any water source which has a small degree of contamination. The cleanup process will involve a degree of sanitation and decontamination.
Category 3: is defined as “black water” sources of black water include standing water, sewage and other sources of water that are contaminated with pathogens or toxins. It requires a specific degree of sterilization before the structure is safe to reenter. Flood water is always categorized as a category 3.
How Do You Clean Up After Flood & Water Damage?
Category 3 water damage will require additional restoration measures including:
Removing all traces of mud and other types of debris: if you have experienced water damage due to a natural disaster for example such as a heavy rain which has resulting in flooding or broken sewer lines which have allowed dirt and sediment to be carried into your property with the flow of water any mud will need to be removed before the disinfecting processes can begin. Your Disaster Team restoration experts will bleach and disinfect all of the surfaces and depending on the damage, many of the contents within your home. Water damage often results in mold growth so your technicians will begin the cleanup process within the first 24 hours before applying anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agents to stop mold and mildew from taking hold. Once the water is removed, the structure is disinfected; sanitized and professionally dried the complete restoration process can begin.
Flood & Water Damage Restoration in Baytown, Pasadena, League City, Pearland, Missouri City, Sugar Land, Cypress, The Woodlands, Spring & Greater Houston, Texas
To learn more about water and flood damage clean-up, restoration and repair, contact the knowledgeable experts at Disaster Services today.
