If you discover water in your basement, leaking from your ceiling, or on your bathroom floor, something may be amiss with your plumbing, roof, or foundation. Water damage can ruin your flooring, furniture, and drywall. It can also lead to mold formation, which can make you and your family sick.
Cleaning up water damage can be dangerous, so it is better left to the professionals. At the first sign of water damage, call a water damage restoration services professional. He or she will assess the damage and will look at the color of the water. Cleaning techniques will differ based on water color. Here is some information the water damage restoration technician may share with you about the color and type of water that has flooded your home.
Clear Water
If the water is clean and clear, chances are it originated with a broken water main or pipe, fresh rainwater, or from a sink or bathtub that has overflowed. Clear water is not considered a health hazard and no special precautions are usually taken when cleaning it up because it is not typically associated with raw sewage.
If you decide to clean up the water yourself, you may still want to wear rubber boots, protective gloves, eye goggles, and a face mask just in case the water contains traces of fertilizer runoff from the groundwater or other irritants that can cause minor skin irritation in those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Cloudy and Black Water
Cloudy or gray water should not be cleaned up by the homeowner because it can cause illness if touched or ingested. Cloudy or gray water often comes from the washing machine or an overflowing washtub, and sometimes from the toilet. Black water is considered the most hazardous type of water because it can cause severe parasitic or bacterial infections if ingested, splashed into your eyes, or makes contact with broken skin.
Black water usually contains raw sewage and often originates from sewer systems and overflowing rivers. A water damage restoration services technician can clean up cloudy and black water safely and will take steps to disinfect your property so that you and your family stay safe.
If your home floods, call a water damage restoration services professional as soon as possible. When clean up interventions are implemented soon after a flood, your home may be less likely to sustain extensive damage and you and your family are less likely to get sick as a result of contaminated water.
Having your home damaged by flooding, a fire, mold growth, or termites can be incredibly stressful. You rely on professionals to repair the damage and restore your home to its former glory. Yet, even though the work is being done by contractors, you want to understand what is happening and what changes are being made to your home throughout the restoration process.
You can learn all of that right here on this website. We've written these articles with homeowners in mind, focusing on the repair and renovation issues that are most relevant these days. Find guides to quick DIY projects, tips for hiring a renovation contractor, and even advice for selecting new materials when your home is being transformed.