Understanding Your Water Damage

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

2 out of 3 times when experiencing water damage, it's not safe for you to remove the water yourself. Give SERVPRO a call for professional assistance.

We are not talking about phone water damage because the whole world knows you put the phone in a bag covered in rice, the rice absorbs the moisture and your phone is almost as good as new (key word: almost). But we are talking about a large scale water loss like what comes after a flood.

Water damage can be so many things but you know if you have water damage if there is rooting of wood, growth (mold), rusting of steel, and delamination of material such as plywood. For some folks, it is a minor water damage like a stain in the ceiling from water coming in after a rain, but for others it is a bit more catastrophic like with a flood where water comes in and there is no stopping it.

Other than a flood, there are more causes for water damage. There can be a broken dishwasher hose, or maybe a washing machine overflow. It could also be broken or leaking pipes or maybe a clogged toilet. All of these and more could be causes of water damage. I recommend checking all pipes, drains, toilets, and anything that has waterflow or access to water to avoid this loss.

But be careful when going to fix water damage on your own. There are three categories of water and one is safe for you to clean without professional help.

There is “Clean Water” which is water that comes from a broken water supply line and a tub or sink overflowing. This is safe to clean on your own. The second it “Grey Water” which is water that comes with some degree of chemicals and microorganisms that contaminate and can cause health problems if consumed in any way. This water can be coming from toilets overflowing, a sump pump failure and water discharge from a dishwasher or washing machine. The last category is called “Black Water” and this is the gross, unsanitary water that comes from sewages, rising waters from streams and rivers, and standing water. “Grey Water” if not properly cleaned up can become “Black Water.”

In sure there are other cleanup companies that can do all the work but I can tell you with certainty no one will make it look "Like it never even happened."SERVPRO of Baldwin and Monroe is at your service! If you have any questions or concerns about potential water damage in your home or business, give us a call at 478-452-8000 and we will gladly come out and figure out what you need. If you need our services, we will make sure it looks "Like it never even happened.