What Are The 3 Categories Of Water Damage?

2/13/2023 (Permalink)

If your home has been damaged by water, you may be wondering what category of water damage it falls into. Knowing the category helps you understand how severe the damage is and how to deal with it. In this blog post, we'll go over three categories: Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3.

Category 1

Category 1 water damage is considered to be minor. Category 1 water damage is also called "Clean Water" and involves leaks caused by a clean water source. Some examples include:

• Leaking Pipes
• Rain
• Melting Ice
• Toilet Tank Leaks (without sewage)

Category 2

Category 2 water damage is the most common type of water damage, and it's also known as "Grey Water". Category 2 refers to water that is slightly contaminated. Examples include:

• Septic backups
• Sump pump failures
• Dishwasher or washing machine discharge (greywater)

The term "Grey Water" is used because this type of moisture has not been exposed to sewage or other contaminants that would make it brown or black (like Category 3).

Category 3

Category 3 is the most severe category of water damage and can cause long-term damage to your home. This type of damage occurs when there's been a water loss from a contaminated source. Category 3 water can include floodwaters, seawater, or sewage water.

When you have this type of water damage in your house, you need to act quickly before irreversible damages occur. Waiting to act can result in a timely and costly mitigation and restoration process.

Knowing the category of water damage helps you understand the level of severity in your home.

Knowing the category of water damage helps you understand the level of severity in your home. The categories are based on the type of water that has entered the home and its potential impact on health and safety. The first step in identifying the category of your water damage is to determine the source of the water.

How SERVPRO Can Help

Water damage can be devastating.

If you've been affected by a water damage event, you need to act quickly. The longer you wait to address the damage, the more it can cost you.

Call SERVPRO of Grosse Pointe today so we can start working on your home immediately. We'll assess your property, identify any issues that need to be addressed, and help you get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Knowing the category of water damage helps you understand the level of severity in your home. The three categories are: Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3. If you have any questions about which category your home falls into and how to proceed with repairs, contact us today!