Category 3 Water Damage

6/16/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage: Category 3

Unfortunately, you’ve had a flood in your building in Falcon Heights, MN. What do you do now? That depends partly on the source of the flood water. There are several categories of water that might be the cause of a flood. Your clean-up process will be determined in part by which type of water is involved.

The most serious flood damage occurs with black water, which originates from a toilet overflow or a sewage leak, and contains bacteria and other contaminants that are hazardous to handle. This is called Category 3 Water Damage, and the cleanup is best left to the water damage repair experts. 

The Clean-Up Process
There are four steps to ensure that the flood damage is properly remedied and that the building is returned to a safe and habitable condition.

1. Remove Standing Flood Water and Sewage
The cleanup begins with pumping as much of the water as possible out of the building. A large volume of water can be extracted quickly, preventing damage from spreading unnecessarily.

2. Dry Completely
Once the visible water has been removed, dehumidifiers and other types of drying equipment are used to draw out the water that you can’t see. The drying process can take significant time, depending on the extent of the flood.

3. Sanitize or Dispose Of Contaminated Material
Porous building materials and interior contents exposed to the flood will need to be decontaminated or removed. Insulation, wood flooring, carpeting, and drywall will require replacement if they have absorbed flood water. If left untreated, these materials can develop black mold.

4. Repair and Construction
Once the building is clean, structural repairs can safely be performed. Finally, lost or damaged contents are replaced, returning your building to its original condition.

With any flood, you’ll need to clean and dry the building completely and ensure that any contamination is addressed. This is especially important if the flood involves black water. Left untreated, residual water can lead to additional structural problems or mold.