While no property owner wants to deal with water damage, sometimes there is more than water to be worried about. At Restore Pro, we know that water damage isn’t always limited to moisture. We are able to handle all kinds of emergencies. When you are faced with a crisis, call us right away. Some situations can be dangerous for your health if you wait.
Categories of Water
The first consideration is what kind of water is in your home. Many homeowners don’t realize that there are several kinds of water.
- Clean water comes from a source that doesn’t have significant amounts of contaminants and pathogens. It is generally safe for people and pets to come into contact with. Sources include rain or snow, broken water supply lines, and overflowing appliances in some situations.
- Gray water has some contamination. It can cause some problems if you come into contact with it, but is only moderately dangerous. Sources of gray water include failing sump pumps, dishwasher drains, and broken aquariums.
- Black water can be dangerous. Coming from sources like sewage lines, flooded rivers, and backed up toilets, it contains serious pathogens and cause very dangerous health problems.
Most property owners are comfortable cleaning up small clean water spills. For larger ones, or those consisting of gray water, a lot of people prefer hiring a professional. The average general contractor might be able to handle these if they are smaller jobs, although big ones usually need a specialist to prevent future problems like mold. For black water clean up, however, an expert should always be called in. The potential dangers are too serious to take risks.
Black Water Clean-Up Steps
You can expect an experienced professional like the people at Restore Pro to follow steps similar to these when handling your clean up. While there might be some differences, these are generally what you can expect.
- Tell the property owner to leave the property immediately and stay away until clean up is complete.
- Inspect the property, looking for hazards including electrical damage, continuing flooding, or other concerns.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) similar to medical personnel. Waterproof or disposable clothing, gloves, goggles, waterproof boots, and respirators or masks should be worn by everyone entering the building until hazards are removed.
- Identify the source of the water and repair or remove.
- Set up barriers or other methods to prevent spreading of contaminants.
- Use pumps to remove the sewage or black water. Make sure to follow state and local regulations regarding disposal.
- Check home systems like HVAC and ventilation for damage.
- Remove material like carpets, drywall, and belongings that have been damaged beyond repair.
- Dry the area thoroughly, taking care to dry beneath the surface to prevent future problems like mold and mildew.
- Repair or replace damaged materials.
Black water clean up is serious, and if it isn’t done properly there can be real repercussions. If you aren’t sure about the source of water in your home, call in the experts at Restore Pro before you risk exposing yourself to dangerous substances. Our skilled technicians can make sure that the dangers are gone before you and your family return.
