The Different Types of Flood Water We Work With In New Orleans

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

Category 1: Clean water from a broken pipe or rainwater that has not mixed with contaminants. Saving a carpet damaged by Category 1 water is possible if the carpet has been wet for less than 24-48 hours. Otherwise, the water may “degrade” into Category 2. Professionals can restore both padding and carpet through proper sanitation and remediation procedures. 

Category 2: Greywater which is contaminated and can cause sickness if swallowed or if it touches the body. This includes overflow from washing machines or dishwashers, toilet overflows with no solid matter, broken aquariums, sump pump failures, etc. With this type of loss, the padding needs to be replaced, but the carpet can be salvaged. Not treating a Category 2 loss within 24-48 hours will turn into a Category 3. 

Category 3: Blackwater that’s highly contaminated with pathogens or other harmful agents and materials. Examples include sewage, toilet backflows, flooding from seawater, rivers, streams, and water from hurricanes, storms, or other weather-related events. Cleaning your flooded carpet is nearly impossible if Category 3 water saturated it. 

Every water damage situation is different. So, you cannot know for sure if or when your carpet and pad can be salvaged until you have a professional restoration company inspect the carpeting. 

Also, the faster you report the disaster, the lower the costs will be. If you’re dealing with a flooded carpet problem, contact us today!