Do you know what type of water you're dealing with?

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

Contaminated water should only be handled by professionals. If your home or property floods with contaminated water, call the experts at SERVPRO!

Did you know that not all water is the same, and that there are different types of water that can damage your home or property? Being able to identify the type of water that caused damage in your home or property is important. Knowing the type of water ensures that the clean up will be done quickly and correctly. There are three different types of water that everybody should know about: Clean water, Gray water, and Black water.

If a pipe breaks in your home, or if rainwater floods your basement, it is considered clean water. When clean water is left untreated, it becomes gray water. Gray water refers to untreated clean water that has been exposed to bacteria and other variants, which makes the water unsafe. Black water is hazardous, highly contaminated water full of fungi, chemicals, and bacteria. This type of water is normally caused by sewage damage, or any kind of natural disaster. It is extremely important that black water is only handled by trained professionals. Keep reading for some ways you can help minimize water damage while you wait for help to arrive!

Before help arrives, shut off the water source, and turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building or house. Only shut off the circuit breakers if there is a safe way to get to the power distribution channel. Do not go into rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may be present. The next thing you can do is remove as much of the water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe away excess water from wood furniture, and prop up any wet upholstery to allow more drying. When it comes to contaminated water, stay away from sewage and items affected by sewage. Make sure not to walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread contaminants to unaffected areas. Do not use house hold fans to dry the contaminated water, as the air flow could spread bacteria. Throw away any food or personal hygiene items that have come in contact with black or gray water.

Here at SERVPRO, we care about your home and your safety. When you have a water damage, don’t leave your home or property to chance. Call the professionals at SERVPRO of NE Grand Rapids! Our expert teams will make the damage “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Big Rapids/ Fremont specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after vandalism, water, storm, smoke, mold, or any other damaging event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

If you need help with cleaning up after home or property damage, call the Professionals at SERVPRO of Big Rapids/ Fremont! (231) 796-2342