Dealing with Water Damage: Be Safe and Effective while Waiting for Emergency Restoration Services

Always know the type of water and wear protective gear! For more info, check out our Water Damage page

   Scenario #2 Grey Water Damage: You walk into the kitchen for an afternoon snack and notice that the dishwasher has leaked everywhere.  The water has soapy bubbles and pieces of egg and toast from breakfast are floating around in puddles on the floor.

   This kind of water is classified as 'Grey Water' because it has been used once, but doesn't contain anything toxic – this includes water from dishes, washing machines, showers, kitchen drain pipes, leaking rooftops, etc.

   Grey water can be more 'gross' to clean up than clear water, it may contain skin cells, food particles, dirt, oils, detergent and other yucky but not toxic materials – its best to wear gloves, boots, and other protection.  If not completely treated and dried, these particles will end up in other places of the home or building.  A mop, and towels will be needed at a minimum, and then a thorough cleaning is required to remove the rest of the particles.  A bucket or container can be used to collect any leaking water, after shutting off the dishwasher, to prevent further spread.  Turning off the water to the machine or main water line can help, if you can do so safely and know where it is.

   Grey water should be treated by a pro, its not quite something that you can easily clean with products on hand.  If grey water should seep into flooring, this can cause bubbling in laminate floors, and rot in wooden flooring and beams.  The property should be inspected for further signs of water penetration in areas below the leak.

   Scenario #3 Black Water Damage: It has rained for weeks on end, maybe even a month, and you hear gurgling coming from the basement...only to find that it is the worst kind of gurgle, because the sewer line to your home has backed up into your basement.

   This is contaminated black water, it is toxic, and is harmful to humans in varying degrees.  It is not recommended to try to clean up black water on your own, this is more than a DIY project, even if you have adequate PPE, you need a professional.  Black water contains toxins, it can be from flood waters, backed up sewer lines, overflowed toilets, standing water, and even ocean water is considered black water because of the dead organisms it contains. 

   This type of water needs to be treated by a professional, not only for the water pump-out and clean up, but also a complete sterilization of the area.  Unified Restoration Systems uses the Steramist system for our decontamination.  It destroys microorganisms, spores, and bacteria at a cellular level, using ionized hydrogen peroxide, for quick decontamination of the surfaces in the area.  We can also restore and rebuild your lost property in the event that it cannot be saved due to black water damage.

These three scenarios can happen to anyone, home or business, water damage comes in all forms and sizes

   Now that you know which types of water are safe to interact with, you can determine if you require a professional restoration company to help at the time of the accident and to restore any lost property.

Unified Restoration Systems works with business or residential insurance companies for the cost of restoration so there is no need to be nervous about the costs of restoring your property or wonder where the money will come from! 

Give us a call today if you have water damage, want to have a plan to mitigate water damage, or have questions about the process! (234) 571-2005