Types of Flood and Their Degrees of Destruction

According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), there are three categories of liquids that can flood your home and cause destruction. You can tell one from the other based on their sources or the typical level of contaminants they contain.

The first one is clean, sanitary, and potable liquid like water from your faucets and drinking fountains. The second category are those commonly known as gray water, such as dishwater, laundry runoffs, and toilet overflows, or leaks without feces. Lastly, the third type is the clearly unsanitary liquids, including sewage water, flooding from rivers or streets, and stagnant water teeming with bacteria or pests like mosquitoes.

When these liquids flood a building, the possible effects can also be categorized as follows:

•       Class 1 – Only part of a room is affected.

•       Class 2 – An entire room is flooded, and 12-inch high portions of the walls are wet.

•       Class 3 – Multiple rooms (including their ceilings) are affected.

•       Class 4 – The flood has had enough time to saturate materials like hardwood, brick, and stone.

It takes professional training to identify the possible contaminants in the flood, the exact extent of the water damage, and the appropriate measures to dry and clean the affected areas and materials. No matter how limited or extensive you think the damage in your home is, trust only certified flood restoration companies to perform the needed inspections and repairs.