Water DamageUncategorizedNovember 10, 2016Water damage has surpassed fire as the primary reason for home insurance claims. This is happening more and more as climate change alters traditional weather patterns, and the 2013 floods in Calgary and the GTA a few years ago demonstrated this hypothesis very well. While water may be a crucial to sustaining life on Earth, it can also be devastating and leave lasting damage on your property if not dealt with quickly. Although you may think it’s just water and that it will evaporate away, the longer you wait to have it treated the greater the damage done. Three different classifications of water exist in relation to water damage. Not all water damage can be cleaned up the same way, so learning what type of water has affected your home is important in learning how to deal with the damage properly and efficiently. These are the three types of water, according to the Institute of Inspecting, Cleaning and Restoration Certification program (IICRC): Category 1 (Clean Water): The water does not pose a hazard if consumed by humans. Category 1 water primarily comes from the normal sources of water we as society can use, such as water pipes, supply lines, vertically falling rainwater. Category 2 (Gray Water): This kind of water is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine, but no fecal matter. Category 3 (Black Water): This classification of water is the worst of all three. The common sources of black water include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with excrement, and other stagnant liquid that provides an environment that is beneficial for bacterial growth. Black water is incredibly unsanitary and if ingested could cause serious illness or worse. To find out more on how to properly ensure that you are adequately covered from water damage contact us at (416) 494-1268.