24/7 Emergency Service
SERVPRO of Franklin County – Union, MO – The Basics of Water Damage
1/16/2015 (Permalink)
Technician reviews damage with customer.
Water damage training is one of the most important skill sets our team in Union, MO need in order to offer comprehensive services. We go into a home or business after a wet disaster, such as flood, burst pipes, or snow destruction. Not only do we clean up the mess, but dry and repair the substructures that have high volumes of moisture. If these items, such as drywall, wood, concrete and metal are not properly dried, not only is mold an issue, but there can be many other problems related to moisture damage. Crumbling drywall, plaster, weakening beams and supports, rusting metal surfaces, and more. If you allow moisture to sit long enough, it will eventually bring a home to ruin. SERVPRO of Franklin County's crew will be able to properly assess the situation and devise the best plan for repair.
According the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), which sets the standards for the cleaning industry and water damage restoration training, there are several different levels and classes involved in liquid destruction. From the IICRC’s S-500 standards, there are three categories describing the type of liquid involved.
•Category 1. This is liquid from a clean and sanitary source, such as faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc. But, category one can quickly degrade into category two.
•Category 2. This category of liquid used to be called grey water, and is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces.
•Category 3. This is the worst classification and is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested. It used to be called black water, and sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.
Next are the classes of destruction.
•Class 1. The lowest and easiest to deal with, this has a slow evaporation rate. Only part of a room or area was affected, there is little or no wet carpet, and the moisture has only affected materials with a low permanence rate, such as plywood or concrete.
•Class 2. With a fast evaporation rate, this level affects an entire room, carpeting, or cushioning, the wetness has wicked up the walls at least 12”, and there is moisture remaining in structural materials.
•Class 3. This class has the fastest evaporation rate, and ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet and sub-floors are all saturated. The liquid may have come from overhead.
•Class 4. This class is labeled as specialty drying situations, which means there has been enough liquid and time to saturate materials with very low permanence, such as hardwood, brick, or stone.
Education involved in water damage restoration has taught our technicians here at SERVPRO of Franklin County to tell the difference between all the classes and categories and form a restoration plan based on those factors. With air movers, air scrubbers, different sizes and types of dehumidifiers, special hardwood dryers, and dryers designed specifically for the sub-floor and inner wall cavities, we are ready to handle any type of loss. Armed with water damage restoration training and the proper tools, we find most situations are salvageable. Give us a call, we will help you address your concerns and make it “Like it never even happened.”