Water damage is a fact of life.
Many homes in the Greater Toronto Area were built over the network of streams and tributaries that flow into Lake Ontario. When the weather is extra wet, as it often is in the spring, there is always the risk of water damage.
That’s just the forces of nature that can work against you! When you factor in the damage that can come from man-made sources like broken water mains, burst pipes and defective appliances, it’s easy to see why a lot of Toronto homeowners find themselves needing to learn more about water damage restoration.
To help you understand what questions to ask after a flood in your house, it’s important to learn more about water damage restoration.
Not All Water is Created Equally
When it comes to water damage in the home, the type of water involved affects the clean up almost as much as the volume of water that is present.
Clean Water (Category One)
Damage caused by clean water means that it came from a sanitary source. It’s the bathtub that overflowed. It’s the burst supply pipe in the kitchen. It’s the spring runoff of melting snow. Though it still requires a thorough cleaning to prevent mould, water damage from clean water isn’t generally harmful for any us to handle.
Gray Water (Category Two)
Gray water may contain bacteria or microorganisms. It’s the toilet that overflowed after a toddler tried to flush a toy car. It’s the dishwasher or washing machine that started to leak in the middle of a cycle. Gray water could cause a problem to your health if you come into contact with it, though it is generally not thought to be a serious health hazard.
Black Water (Category Three)
Water damage from black water is the stuff that you probably wouldn’t even think about trying to clean up yourself, and with good reason! Black water is extremely likely to contain pathogens that are harmful to human health. It’s the raw sewage backup after heavy rains. It’s the flood waters that have come in from outside from sources of unknown origin.
Though it’s our qualified opinion that all water damage restoration projects should be managed by companies that are specially trained to handle it, in the case of black water it’s absolutely essential to engage the services of a professional.
Professional Water Damage Restoration
The biggest concern when cleaning up after any significant flood or accident involving water in the home is what comes next. Failure to completely address water damage in the home leaves the house and the family living in it susceptible to the damaging effects of mould.
It’s important to know what kind of water damage may be present in the home. When you have had a flood or a major leak in your house, be sure to contact an environmental remediation firm to make sure the clean-up job is done right.
