Unwanted water in your home
comes from two sources – the water system inside your home, or sources of
nature, such as rain or a local stream. Before you grab the guest hand towels
from the downstairs bathroom, take a minute to understand what type of problem
you have to clean up. Either the source can be ‘pretty’ clean, or REALLY dirty
and require professional remediation.
The Institute of Inspection
Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has set a standard to classify
water damage situations in order to follow industry practices for safe,
effective cleanup. For example, in a
category 1 situation, the
source is usually a toilet tank, a drinking fountain or a water faucet. While
always sanitary and clean, if it isn’t cleaned up quickly it can become
contaminated and lead to a Category 2 water loss.
Category 2 water (or grey
water) loss involves water that has biological, chemical or physical
contaminants that would cause illness if ingested. Examples are washing machine
overflow, dishwasher overflow, sump pump failures, flush from sink drains and
toilet overflow with urine only.
Category 3 is the worst
classification and is extremely unsanitary and hazardous to your health if
ingested. Once referred to as ‘black water’, it may contain heavy metals, organic
matters, silt, pesticides or toxic organic substances. Additionally, flood
waters can be contaminated with soil bacteria, decaying insects, animal
droppings, oils and fluids from roadways, and fertilizers to pesticides from
fields or gardens.
General
Safety Tips
Use caution when entering
buildings. Make sure electrical power has been turned off and the structure is
sound before entering and inspecting a flooded building. Small animals or
reptiles may also seek shelter inside a structure, so be cautious when
repositioning contents or removing materials.
Protect yourself with an
organic vapor respirator, rubber gloves, eye protection, and protective
clothing. Ventilate affected areas by opening windows or using fans.
Don’t keep germy items; know
what items to throw away. Have a professional inspect and advise you salvaging
or disposing of drywall, carpet and pad, mattresses, pillows, box springs, and
particle board.
Clean aggressively in hidden
areas like wall cavities. Floors, exposed studs, and joists should be cleaned
with detergent solutions. After
thoroughly cleaning and flushing salvageable materials, apply a disinfectant
solution liberally. Be sure that the entire area is completely dry to avoid a
future mold problem.
When
You Have A Water Emergency:
Turn off the water source,
or contact a certified professional to do it for you.
Don’t Panic! Contact CPR for
immediate assistance.
Remember to put your safety
first. Do not unplug any electrical devices, or remove any contents without
shutting off the breaker or cutting-off electricity.
If it is safe to do so,
remove furniture and contents from wet areas. If you have questions about
personal property that could be saved, CPR can help. Many items that look
destroyed might actually be salvageable. Don’t throw out anything before you’re
sure.
Advice
From The Experts
Dry out before you rebuild.
To prevent dry rot and future structural damage, don’t cover up wood materials
until its moisture content falls below 16 percent. Moisture meters are
available for home but hire a water restoration professional with professional
equipment and expertise to confirm proper drying before reconstruction.
Beware of scam artists
targeting storm victims. When approached by any company for water restoration
services, ask to see the technician’s certification, proper licensing and
liability insurance.
Wait
for help-
Don’t use your vacuum to
remove water.
Don’t use any electronics or
appliances that are plugged into the walls.
Don’t use your ceiling fans
if the ceilings are wet.
Don’t go to rooms with
sagging ceilings.
The IICRC serves as an
independent, certification body, that sets and promotes high standards and
ethics, and advances communication and technical proficiency within the
inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. The IICRC also ensures that
when consumers hire a certified firm or technician, they have hired experts who
will provide reasonable assurance that work will be completed in accordance
with the industry’s “standard of care.”
