So it happened, you had water get into your house.  Whether it is from a flood, or broken pipe or a toilet that overflowed, you have water damage and you need to know how to get it taken care of.  It is important to first understand that water damage is broken down into three categories.  These three categories are clean water, grey water and black water.  The category of your water issue will determine the type of removal and clean up that should be done.  Let us explore the different categories. 

Clean water damage, or category number one, is damage that occurs secondary to some type of pip in your home bursting or rain water.  This type of water generally does not contain any contaminants which could harm anything living.  This can be cleaned rather quickly by locating the source of the leak and stopping it.  Once the source is stopped then water extraction should take place; this means getting all the standing water to allow for the drying out process.  If water has sat more then 3 days then usually carpet is completely removed and replaced and the concrete slab underneath will have to be treated to prevent moisture from invading the new carpet.  It can take up to 5 days to completely dry out the area that has been affected by the water damage. 

The second category is grey water.  It is so termed because there is some level of contamination in the water that makes it unsafe for human consumption.  This type of water comes from flooding due to household appliances that break down such as the washing machine or the dishwasher.  It could also come from an overflowed toilet (without human excrement) or even some other type of chemically treated water source such as a large aquarium or waterbed.  It is important to treat this type of water very quickly and with safety precautions.  If you are not sure what you are doing, then it is important to contact a professional right away to get the water extracted, the area dried out and antimicrobial treatment applied. 

The final category is black water.  This is the most dangerous water damage that could occur.  This is usually due to things like natural floods, sewer water or sewage backup or anything that contains contaminants which are extremely harmful if consumed.  This water will look just like the other two categories so it can be difficult to determine exactly what type of water damage you really have, unless you know the cause.  Do not be deceived by the look of the water.  If you are unsure of the cause of the flood, then make sure to contact a professional immediately so that they can access the type of water you have and then clean it up appropriately.  If not taken care of properly, then homeowners will have issues with bacteria and mold down the road. 

Keep in mind that the longer water sits before it is taken care of, the more likely that it is contaminated and can cause potential harmful problems.  As a rule, if you have any water problems that you do not catch right away, is more than 1 foot deep or larger than 10 square feet of damage, then call a professional right away.  They will come and diagnosis the type of water and treat it appropriately while they clear up the mess.