Plumbing leaks and water intrusion can cause incredible amounts of damage. Over time, excess moisture can cause issues from mold, which leads to poor indoor air quality, and even structural rot, which leads to building structures that are structurally unsafe. Whether it’s a small plumbing leak, a burst pipe, flood damage, or any other potential causes, water damage needs a quick and effective water damage restoration plan.

The need for a quick response comes down to the fact that the longer that standing water sits, it potentially become more contaminated. As the water continues to sit, not only does the risk for bacteria development start, mold growth will continue to rise, and additional water damage will likely develop that require additional restoration.

WATER LOSS

Water loss is usually associated with plumbing leaks, appliance leaks or a disruption to a building’s plumbing water supply. Water loss usually occurs on the interior of a building from issues related to a building’s plumbing supply lines.

WATER AND MOISTURE INTRUSION

Water and moisture intrusion is usually associated with an uncontrolled movement of water or water vapor into a building structure from an exterior source. Water intrusion usually occurs from issues related to roof leaks, window leaks, stucco cracks and environmental flooding.

EXAMPLES OF WATER LOSS CATEGORY

Cat 1 Water Loss is Clean Water, or Water from a clean source that does not present a large risk for causing sickness or discomfort. More examples include broken water supply lines, bathtubs or sink overflows with no contaminants, and supply lines from appliances.

Cat 2 Water Loss is Gray Water. This means that the water is contaminated and may cause sickness if ingested. This type of water contains microorganisms. Causes of this type of damage include broken toilets, broken sump pumps, and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.