From leaky pipes to surging weather waves

 

When we face reality, nothing is more unexpected than a flooded floor area. As homeowners, you probably fit the standard basic safety profile; upon leaving for the day or retiring at night, you turn off the lights not needed, check any fireplaces that may have been used, extinguish candles, check to see if that stove is off or the crock pot is set to the proper temp and timer, no activity in the laundry room. You get the idea. That few minute precautionary rundowns. It’s a good habit to get into.

 

The one mishap you have no control over is a flood—usually caused by a burst pipe or an after-effect of an extreme inclement weather event; a flooded carpet, area rug, and floor is never easy to clean up after. Messy, foul, destructive, stagnant, or running water is quick to soak into all recesses of the rug fiber, under pad, and, unfortunately, the flooring underneath. 

 

One of the most critical aspects of flood damage is the type of water involved. This can impact the severity of the damage, the cleanup process, and potential health risks. This blog will delve into the three main types of water damage caused by flooding: clean water, gray water, and black water. We will also explore other types of home floods and how our professional water damage remediation service crew will handle your massive cleanup for you. 

 

Types of water damage 

1. Clean Water Damage.

● Caused by water that is free from contaminants. This type of water damage typically originates from a broken water supply line, rainwater, or melting snow. Although clean water flooding is the least harmful, it can still cause significant damage to your property if not addressed promptly. It can soak into carpets, damage wooden furniture, and cause structural damage to your home.

 2. Gray Water Damage.

● Gray water is slightly contaminated, often resulting from appliance malfunctions, such as washing machines, dishwashers, or bathroom fixtures like sinks and showers. Gray water can contain chemicals and microorganisms that may pose health risks if ingested or if they come into contact with the skin. If untreated, gray water can escalate to black water within 48 hours due to bacterial growth. 

 

3. Black Water Damage.

● Black water is the most dangerous type of water damage. It involves highly contaminated water that contains harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This type of water damage typically originates from sewage backups, toilet overflows with feces, or floodwaters from rivers or streams. Black water can cause severe health issues and requires professional cleanup to ensure all harmful contaminants are removed.

 

 Reasons why floods occur

 

 When discovering the source of a home flood, sometimes the answer can be found within the beauty of your landscape and backyard. The topography of the land you live on, the soil and sediment underneath, or even runoff from other surrounding neighbors can all contribute to a long list of why and where your flooding came from. Sometimes flood triggers are found in the most unexpected locations like flower beds, garden plots, improperly installed or damaged weeping tile and even clogged roofing eaves troughs, improperly aerated lawns, or worse, root entanglement from, oddly enough, trees that require excessive water in order to thrive. 

 

The typical home flood.

It may sound odd to say “typical home flood,” as water damage is no laughing matter. The cleanup after it is one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive you’ll face. Just to get a quick idea of what you can expect and take measures to lessen long-term damage is, flood insurance coverage availability, electrical rewiring location of your panel box, rusted out bottoms of appliances like water heaters, washing machines, and exterior faucet pipes. You can be prepared in advance by having a top-of-the-line wet/dry vac, water pump-out device, box fans, portable heaters, and a dehumidifier or two on hand. Some people go all out and opt for an emergency power generator as well, should the flooding affect the electrical, 

pre-shoveled sandbags, rainproof shutters, and longer runoff troughs from the overhead gutters.

 

Of course, these are decent enough for a quick D.I.Y. S.O.S. until professional service centers can dispatch to your location. Knowledge is the key to any problem solving so when you talk with our emergency clean-up professionals you can inform them of what type of flooding you’re experiencing: 

 

1. Basement Floods 

Basement floods can occur due to various reasons, including heavy rainfall, sewer backups, or sump pump failures. These floods can cause significant damage, especially if the basement is finished. It can lead to mold growth, damage to walls and flooring, and ruin any furniture or personal items stored in the basement. 

2. Flash Floods 

Flash floods are sudden and unexpected. They can occur due to heavy rain, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods are hazardous because they happen without warning and can cause severe damage to homes and property. 

3. Plumbing Failures 

Plumbing failures can lead to significant water damage in homes. As previously mentioned, this can include burst pipes, leaky plumbing fixtures, or failures in appliances like water heaters or washing machines. These types of floods can cause damage to walls, floors, and personal property. 

 

Mass flooding in Massachusetts is no match for Mass Carpet clean-up

 

You already know us for our supreme routine maintenance, and now, if you are faced with the disaster left by flood waters, you can count on our professional clean-up crews to stand up to the challenges and leave you with a germ-free, dry, and sanitized space. All within a reasonable budget, exclusive quick repose 24 hours a day, and no-nonsense immediate set up after the assessment. 

 

Don’t wade knee-deep into the unknown. We are on call all the time, day or night.