Water Damage: How the Contamination Level Changes the Mitigation Process

Information may not be reliable

Water damage can stem from a variety of sources, such as a flooding event. Flooding can be caused by a broken pipe, a damaged appliance, or heavy rains. Whatever the reason for the flooding is, the professional water damage mitigation process that comes after will vary depending on the level of contamination, which is why it is not recommended to perform it as a do-it-yourself project.

Professional water damage restoration service providers, such as ServiceMaster by Wright, know how to treat each water damage event the proper way. Read about the categories of water damage, how differently each category contaminates the property, and what must be done to address them individually. 

Categories of Water Damage

• Category 1: Clean Water - clean water does not pose threats to human health. It comes from broken appliances or sink overflows. It can quickly escalate to Category 2 if not treated immediately.
• Category 2: Grey Water - grey water can come from broken sump pumps, toilets and seepage. It may contain harmful microorganisms and cause sickness if ingested.
• Category 3: Black Water - black water is a highly unsanitary type of water, containing a significant amount of pathogens and harmful substances. Water in this category can come from sewer backups, flooding from rivers and streams, overflows from toilets, and standing water with a significant amount of bacterial growth. 

How Contamination Levels Affect the Mitigation Process

• Category 1 - for Category 1 water, the process can be as easy as drying the damaged area without having to remove a significant amount of damaged material.
• Category 2 - for Category 2 water, cleanup may be performed as the water involved may contain contaminants. There may not be a need to dispose of materials as long as they aren't saturated and can be sufficiently disinfected. 
• Category 3 - Category 3 water cleanup can be a complicated process, since the water involved is grossly unsanitary. Materials that came in contact with the contaminated water would have to be removed to ensure that all microbes are gotten rid of. 

Our Water Damage Restoration and Repair Process

• Contact ServiceMaster by Wright
• Inspection and Assessment 
• Water Extraction 
• Structural Drying and Dehumidification 
• Cleaning and Disinfection
• Restoration and Repairs 

Contact ServiceMaster by Wright for Professional Water Damage Mitigation in Florida

Comprehensive and complete water damage mitigation can only be performed by professionals. Do not be tempted to do it on your own, because improper methods and equipment may worsen the damage and rack up costs. ServiceMaster by Wright has been Fort Myers, Florida's leading water damage restoration and cleaning company for over 40 years. We have helped thousands of residential and commercial property owners bring their property back to pre-loss condition after water, storm or flood damage.

We have been certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) and have conformed to the highest quality restoration products, equipment, and methods available in the industry. ServiceMaster by Wright is also a Preferred Vendor for some of the top insurance carriers in Florida. Our Certified Technicians have undergone extensive training to receive multiple certifications, and can handle any disaster-cleanup claim associated with fire, storm, and water damage.

Contact ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 or connect with us online for more details. We are servicing residential and commercial properties in Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Captiva, Englewood, Estero, Fort Myers, Iona, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Longboat Key, Marco Island, Naples, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, San Carlos Park, Sanibel Island, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Venice, Florida.