Category three water damage requires a long restoration process for your home because it presents the most severe risks to health and safety. Contamination from category three water damage spreads to possessions, furniture, walls, and carpets. A necessary focus on safety, sanitation, and thoroughness throughout the restoration process slows work.
CATEGORY THREE WATER DAMAGE DEFINED
Gross and unsanitary, category three water contains contaminants that result in severe illness and even death for people exposed to it. Inside the home, category three water occurs when sewage presents in the leak. A backed up sewer drain, septic tank malfunction, or toilet overflow can all lead to dangerous water spreading throughout the home.
Sewage is not the only cause of category three water leaks. Contamination by chemicals or heavy metals can also make a water leak an instant category three concern. Typically, a garage or workshop is a location for chemical or heavy metal concerns with leaks.
Lastly, category three water could be a worsened state of category one or two water. If the water sits stagnant bacteria and mold grow and thrive. For example, you come home after a long vacation to find a pipe has burst while you were away. These biological concerns also present extreme health risks and can move water damage into category three.
SANITATION CONCERNS EXTEND THE RESTORATION PROCESS
The basics of dealing with all categories of water damage are the same. The goal, in general, is to stop the flow of water, identify any damage done to the structure, sanitize the area, and dry it out. Category three water extends this process because safety takes precedence at every step. Water damage restoration workers have to outfit themselves in the proper safety gear before they can assess the damage. Sanitizing the area requires a lot of thorough work. Restoration professionals take extra safety precautions when using strong anti-microbial cleaners to sanitize your home. Double-checking for mold growth or areas where bacteria could grow occurs once the area is dry. This takes precedence over all but the most urgent repairs.
WHAT DOES CATEGORY THREE WATER DAMAGE MEAN FOR YOUR FURNITURE?
Your water damage restoration team will assess your belongings for damage. Furniture and decoration are sometimes salvageable. The depth of the water and type of material will help determine whether something is salvageable. In the case of porous items, it is often easier and safer to replace these items than to sanitize them. While it is possible to restore nonporous items or items with intense sentimental value, restoring these items can be both time consuming and expensive.
Repairing category three water damage is not impossible. The general process is similar to the process used for less extreme water damage but longer and with greater care. If your home has sustained category three water damage, prepare for a longer restoration period and consider which items of furniture or decoration you really can’t live without.