Flood in the Basement: More on Water Damages
As we soon enter the season of Summer, I wanted to escort Spring off the stage by diving into its shadow: water damages. April showers bring May flowers, right? In Madison alone we’ve experienced a handful of tough storms that left trees falling and basements flooded. In today’s article we’re reviewing the different types of water damages, their sources and the effects that can occur over time if left untreated.
When assessing a water damage the first step is to understand what type of water loss situation is at hand. There are three identifiable categories of water losses, starting with the least amount of risk to higher probability of causing serious adverse reactions. Once the category is pinpointed, restoration and drying techniques can be more easily determined. Let’s get into it.
Category 1
Category 1 water stems from a sanitary source and does not produce any considerable risk from dermal, ingestion or inhalation exposure. This is the most common category of water damage that we remediate at T.C., some examples of Category 1 water damages are: tub or sink overflows (without any contaminants), broken water supply lines, appliance malfunctions with lines of water-supply, broken toilet tanks and bowls (without any contaminants) and environmental impacts such as: melting snow or ice and active rainwater.
When not addressed, a Category 1 water damage can quickly develop into Category 2 or Category 3, so it's best to act quickly and give us a call. There are several factors that go into the transition into a higher risk category. If a Category 1 water damage flows into an uncontaminated building, the status doesn’t change, however if the building is contaminated then the transition into a higher category is immediate. This is due to the microorganisms present in the space and once they are introduced to water their numbers multiply rapidly. A good tip is if there is odor detected, that could be pointing to Category 1 water deteriorating.
Category 2
The shift from Category 1 to 2 signifies a notable amount of contamination and has the ability to cause adverse effects such as discomfort or illness if consumed or contacted with. Category 2 water can likely carry unsafe amounts of microorganisms or nutrients for those microorganisms to form, as well as chemical or biological organic matter. Some examples of Category 2 water may include: overflow of water from washing machines as well as discharge, overflow of water from toilet bowls on the side of the trap with possible urine, seepage due to hydrostatic pressure, leaking aquariums, and if you’re from the 80s, punctured water beds.
The same rules are applied to Category 2 if left untreated, the potential development of moving up to Category 3. Once potential microorganisms are exposed to water, depending on the amount of time they are wet and the temperature, they can multiply extensively and affect the water category.
Category 3
Category 3 water poses the highest risk as it is excessively contaminated and can carry pathogenic, toxigenic, or other dangerous agents. This can cause serious reactions to humans if consumed or contacted. Some examples of Category 3 water include: sewage water, backflows from waste lines stemming from beyond traps regardless of visibility or color, all forms of seawater floodings, and rising water from streams or rivers. Other natural environmental influences that can cause a Category 3 water damage are: wind-driven rain from hurricanes and tropical storms. Trace levels of hazardous materials can be found in Category 3 water such as toxic substances (i.e. pesticides).
There are immediate effects of water damages that are easy to spot, checking in for the signs is critical to address the issue before it gets worse. These are the effects:
In under one hour, moving water spreads to surrounding areas quickly. Furniture could create permanent stains in carpets and discolor; paper goods are damaged.
In the first 24 hours, furniture may swell and delaminate with the possibility of the legs splitting, this is caused by pressed wood swelling and disintegrating. Bacterial odor is present and uncoated metal surfaces may begin to tarnish and any odor present will strengthen.
Within 2 to 7 days, there may be growth of microbial matter along with a musty odor. Objects such as musical instruments and the-like may warp with swelling. Drywall will act similarly. Uncoated metal surfaces may show signs of rust. Doors, windows and wood decking will swell, split and distort alongside delamination. At this stage, electronic elements may stop working or malfunction. More importantly, people with any respiratory complications or those with compromised immunity may experience signs of affliction.
After one week or longer, there may be growth of microbial agents along with a strong musty odor. Wood elements may continue to split and warp, while the chemicals present in the wood begin to emit and dissolve. At this time, the costs of claims start to increase exponentially and serious health hazards skyrocket. If possible, do not wait to get to this point – call T.C. Carpet Care immediately.
Keep this knowledge on hand as the rainy season continues on for your awareness and safety. At T.C. Carpet Care (and T.C. Building Services) our professional and trained staff are equipped to remediate water damages from any category at any time of day, give us a call on our 24-hour emergency water extraction phone line. Cheers to Spring!
— AZ
Sources:
This Old House, “Water Damage Statistics and Information (2024)”.
Precisional Environmental, “Essential Water Damage Restoration Facts”.