Guide to the Classes of Water Damage in Toronto
While all water damage must be treated with urgency and care, not all types of flooding and leaks are equal. Depending on the source of the water damage, its effects on the property and the health of those nearby can vary. When you need emergency restoration, don’t try to DIY it. Instead, contact the IICRC-certified water damage restoration, cleanup, and remediation experts at CPR24 Restoration for a fast and safe response. Our experienced technicians understand the dangers of water damage and will implement a safe approach to remediation that minimizes exposure to hazards.
To learn more about the different classes of water damage and what their classification means about the severity, read on.
Categories of Water Damage in Toronto
The category which water damage falls into will usually depend on the source of the intrusion. The state of the water infiltrating your property will be affected by the materials along its path and influence its contamination levels.
- Category 1: Clean Water
- Usually, this is water coming into your home or business through water lines and has not been contaminated. However, if flood cleanup or water damage restoration does not occur promptly, the water can become affected by contaminants, including mold. After that, you will need mold removal in Toronto. Even if water damage falls into category 1, contact CPR24 Restoration for emergency water damage cleanup services.
Category 2: Gray Water
Water damage that occurs from appliances like dishwashers, fridges, and washing machines often have some level of contamination from household chemicals like detergents, soaps, bleach, etc. In most cases these chemicals are not incredibly harmful but exposure can cause some problems as water sits out.
- Category 3: Black Water
- This is the most severe category of water damage. Here, water comes from heavily contaminated sources, primarily sewer lines and drain backups. Since drain pipes and sewer lines are designed to move waste and contaminated water away from the property, backups can put those hazardous materials back into your property. You should never attempt do-it-yourself flood cleanup or water damage restoration after a sewage backup. Always contact a trusted emergency restoration company for the safest response.
Classes of Water Damage & Flooding
Water damage is divided into four classes, which indicate the scope of the damage. Understanding water damage classes will help you assess the area affected and provide insights into water damage restoration costs. The key to fast and effective water damage and flood cleanup is quick action. Not only does this help mitigate the need for mold removal, but it helps to address water damage before its effects spread.
- Class 1 Water Damage: This is the least severe of the four, which makes it the easiest to deal with. In class 1 water damage cases, only a small area of a room has been affected, and the materials affected have low permeability.
- Class 2 Water Damage: Unlike Class 1, Class 2 water damage is a more urgent situation. Here, an entire room or designated area is contaminated with water, including carpets, cushions, and materials that are porous. Class 2 water damage can affect building materials and cause changes to structural integrity.
- Class 3 Water Damage: Compared to the other classes of water damage, Class 3 has the highest absorption rate, causing many building materials to be affected. In most cases of Class 3 water damage, the water source is overhead, such as a burst pipe, overflow, or serious leak.
- Class 4 Water Damage: During Class 4, water damage seriously affected building materials with low permeability, such as concrete, plywood, and hardwood. This can be identifiable by deep pockets of moisture and saturation or signs of mold. Because these materials require specialized treatment for effective flood restoration and water damage remediation, it’s imperative that you work with a trusted emergency restoration company.
Emergency Water Damage Cleanup with CPR24 Restoration
When you experience a flood, leak, or overflow, don’t leave cleanup to chance. Get the job done effectively and efficiently with 24-hour emergency restoration services available with our team of IICRC-certified experts in Southern Ontario.
