What You Should Know About Category 1 Water Damage

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage at an office building in Linwood, NJ.

If your business in Linwood, NJ, is affected by water damage, starting the restoration process quickly can save you time and money. However, category 1 water damage, known as clean water, is often handled differently than other categories of water damage. Knowing what category of water damage your business has sustained can help you prepare for the cleanup process.

What Are the Causes of Category 1 Water Damage

Category 1 water damage is generally considered to be the least severe category of water damage. Common causes of category 1 water damage can include, but are not limited to:

• A damaged supply line
  
• A broken pipe
  
• Overflowing water from an appliance
  
  
  

What Do Categories of Water Damage Mean?

Water damage categories are referred to numerically, with the least severe category being 1 and the most severe category being 3. Specifically, categories are classified by the following:

• Category 1: known as clean water, the water is not contaminated and isn’t hazardous to be around
• Category 2: known as gray water, the water is somewhat contaminated and should be removed with caution
• Category 3: known as black water, this type of water damage is highly contaminated and can be hazardous to a person’s health

Can Water Damage Change Categories?

Although category 1 water damage is generally simpler to clean up, it is possible for water damage to change from one category to another. Though water damage is unlikely to become less severe, category 1 water damage can easily turn into category 2 water damage, just as category 2 water damage can turn into category 3 water damage. Even if the original source of the water was clean, sitting water can become contaminated over time, making mold growth likely.
Even though category 1 water damage is considered less severe than other categories of water damage, clean water can still be costly to a business. If your business has sustained water damage, consider contacting professionals who are experienced in water damage restoration.