When we say water damage, the possibilities are that you quickly categorize it by what was damaged: ceiling or walls, floors, basement, or roof. Even though these are all familiar places for water damage to transpire, most water damage is categorized based on what type of water caused the damage in the early stages. Actually, there are three different types of water damage based on the contamination level of the water, each of which demands a distinct approach to clean up and restore.
When water damage appears, most Tigard property owners just want to bring things back to the way they were. Yet, to accomplish that as quickly as possible, you need to distinguish what the different categories of water damage are and what to perform to address and repair your property after each one.
Category 1: Clean Water
The most prevalent type of water damage inside residential properties is clean water damage. Clean water comes from broken plumbing in and around the house, particularly sinks and bathtubs, appliance hoses, and supply lines. Clean water damage is the easiest to prevent and clean up after because there is no concern about contamination or toxins in the water.
While even clean water can cause mold if the water damage is not handled carefully, mostly, clean water damage can be handled by the tenant, Tigard property manager, property owner, or, if dangerous enough, by a restoration company.
Category 2: Greywater
The second type of water damage is greywater damage. Greywater (also spelled graywater) is water that has already been used. In a residential setting, greywater comes from the washing machine, the toilets, and bathtub drains. This wastewater is not just water – it contains chemicals, soap residue, detergent, and waste. For this reason, water damage caused by greywater can be more difficult to clean up. The affected area must be replaced and disinfected before being safe for continued use.
Category 3: Blackwater
The third main type of water damage is blackwater damage. Blackwater damage is the most severe form of water damage since it can bring about serious health risks. Blackwater usually comes from sewage, seawater, river or groundwater, and even dishwashers. Blackwater brings harmful bacteria and diseases, which indicates you’ll need the appropriate professionals to help you tidy up and restore your property after blackwater damage.
All products or materials damaged with blackwater must be removed and destroyed – they cannot be cleaned up. This involves flooring, drywall, furniture, doors, etc. Subsequently, the structures underneath must be completely dried and disinfected before renovations can continue.
Water damage can be hard to manage, both for you and your tenants. It’s essential to figure out how to handle the different types of water damage to ensure their safety and rapidly restore your property to being habitable.
The ideal approach to repair and prevent water damage is to engage with Real Property Management Assurance to manage your rental. Our team of rental property management experts can easily assess the situation and take the appropriate steps to get your rental property back to business as usual. Contact us online to learn more.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
