Finding water damage on a home inspection report is often a very scary thing. Water damage is a common occurrence in homes. In fact, water damage emergencies affect nearly 14,000 people each day in the U.S. When the destruction is due to Category 3 water damage, the consequences are even more devastating. Here’s what to expect with this type of water source.

Why is previous home water damage a big deal?

A homeowner who faces water damage will also face a high repair bill—but especially if the water damage is Category 3 water damage. Water damage is classified into three categories, with the upper categories being the most severely contaminated.

Category 1 water is the cleanest and comes from sanitary sources, like water supply lines or snow. Category 2 water, such as water from a dishwasher or washing machine, contains contaminants that could cause sickness. Category 3 water is grossly contaminated.

Category 3 water (black water) comes from toilet overflows and sewage backups. Flooding, too, can be a source of Category 3 water damage. Storm water damage that results in flooding over the ground as well as rising floodwater from rivers and streams are examples of Category 3 water.

What are the three classes of black water damage?

Category 3 water damage can be further classified into three categories. Level 1 Category 3 water damage, like a toilet overflow, is limited to a small area and time frame. The damage originates from inside a property, is not absorbed into porous materials and does not penetrate building materials.

Level 2 Category 3 water damage also develops inside the home. However, the levels of contamination and loss are significantly higher. Porous and nonporous materials are equally affected. Contaminated items, like cabinets, must be removed, and porous goods, like carpets and upholstery, must be discarded.

Level 3 Category 3 water damage originates from outside the property. Water and waste from a septic system or main sewage line are examples of outside sources. Overflowing rivers and ocean storm surges also cause the highest levels of contamination. Health hazards increase due to longer periods of contamination.

What are the hazards of Category 3 water exposure?

Due to its severe levels of contamination, Category 3 water is highly dangerous to people and pets. This type of water damage carries bacteria, mold and viruses, including but not limited to salmonella, hepatitis, e. coli, enterovirus, giardia, helicobacter pylori, and clostridium tetani.

Diseases caused by exposure to the viruses and bacteria contained in Category 3 water include acute respiratory illnesses that can result in bronchitis, wheezing, or chest tightness. Tetanus is possible after exposure to clostridium tetani in black water. Hepatitis and gastroenteritis can also occur.

Time is critical when Category 3 water damages a home. Sewage, for instance, will seep onto the floors and through the foundation. The black water is absorbed into building materials, like wood, drywall, carpeting, and concrete. The dirty water will travel behind walls and even enter the attic.

The black water damage must be cleaned up quickly, since the various pathogens harbored in the water require few food sources to thrive: moisture, an organic food source (like drywall or wood), warm temperatures, and sufficient time to spread, such as hours or days.

Why should homeowners turn to experienced cleanup experts?

Cleaning up the Category 3 water damage is best left to experienced sewer damage cleanup professionals. Homeowners who attempt to clean black water risk cross-contamination, especially if the area is not contained, and could inadvertently contaminate other areas of the property.

Homeowners also face hazardous conditions when attempting to clean black water. The waterborne pathogens in Category 3 water enter the human body through direct contact with the skin. It is also possible for people to breathe in contaminated air and become sick.

Mold colonies will flourish in the aftermath of Category 3 water damage, if left unaddressed. Using the wrong products, like bleach, can exacerbate the mold problem. Experience and professional skill are a homeowner’s best weapons against the unwelcome effects of black water damage.

If the basement is flooded with Category 3 water damage, the homeowner is urged to consult a water damage restoration company to clean up the mess. Black water is highly toxic and can result in illness or even death, especially when handled improperly.

Contacting a Sewage Cleaning Company

Skilled water damage restoration professionals arrive onsite with specialized equipment that pumps out the excess water safely and quickly. The experts are careful to contain the affected areas to avoid cross-contamination to other parts of the home. They also wear personal protective equipment.

A house inspector who finds that the basement had a Category 3 water damage should be satisfied if the area had been promptly cleaned by water damage restoration professionals. Flood damage cleanup technicians clean, dry and fully sanitize the area so that it is safe to inhabit once again.

Category 3 water damage is an emergency situation and requires the attention of qualified water damage restoration professionals that provide thorough and quick sewage cleanup to area homes and businesses.

Water damage specialists will attack the Category 3 water damage with skill. They extract contaminated water from building materials and furnishings. Carpeting and upholstery damaged by black water will have to be removed and thrown out to protect the homeowner’s health and safety.

Professionals restore healthy environmental conditions by cleaning and disinfecting the affected spaces. Odors that result from the black water will likely permeate the property, so specialists utilize powerful deodorization methods to ensure the air quality inside the home is returned to an optimum level.

Dehumidification and drying are two key components of effective water damage cleanup processes. Professional efforts deter mold growth and the further spread of water damage. If mold colonies have already appeared, technicians will provide mold removal services.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.