Water damage is the number one reason for property damage and the most common motive for home insurance claims. It is so easy for most home owners to not pay heed to a sudden, unforeseen moisture problem or postpone that call to fix a broken faucet, that little do they realize the extent of the crisis until the damage has been done.

Structural deterioration, mold growth, rotting of wood growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of plywood and so forth are some of the destructive actions of water damage. Category 1 Water damage resulting from broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows do not pose any substantial threats to human life. However, Category 2 Water or “Grey Water” contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants so as to cause discomfort or sickness when exposed or even consumed. Grey Water damage occurs commonly due to sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic failure and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.

At the extreme end is Category 3 Water or “Black Water” that contains enough unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi to cause severe sickness in humans and contamination of household items. Damage from “Black Water” is usually sourced to toilet back flows, sewage pipe burst or flooding from rivers or streams. Lightning-fast action and quick timing alone can arrest water damage in its initial stage of destruction. Restoration of household articles and belongings are unthinkable if emergency response has been delayed for more than 48 hours. Category 2 Water or Grey Water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant for 48 to 72 hours will be re-classified as Category 3 Water, making restoration efforts futile.

There are plenty of water damage restoration companies in the U.S. that are capable of restoring properties to their pre-incident condition. The services they offer are based on reliable restoration principle coupled with research, practical experience and extensive consultation gathered from numerous sources. A professional company will document the items that have been affected by the water damage and refer to industry standard pricing guides such as The Blue Book so as to determine the proper value of the items lost as well as their restoration service. These damage restoration companies are far more reliable in the middle of a water crisis.