If your home has recently suffered water damage, it is important to quickly and correctly classify the amount of damage sustained. Even if the damage appears minimal, it is important to verify the level of damage and to address it as quickly and efficiently as possible. A speedy resolution prevents the situation from deteriorating to a more advanced class of water loss or destruction.
What signifies class 1 water loss?
A class 1 water loss affects only part of a room with low-permeance or low-porosity materials. In a class 1 loss, the materials most likely affected include:
- Plywood
- Particle board
- Structural wood
- VCT (vinyl composition tile)
- Concrete
Class 1 Water Loss Damage
In this class, there is little damage to carpet or cushioning material, the damage was confined to a small area, or the area was only wet for a short period of time. With class 1 damage, minimum moisture is absorbed by these materials, which release moisture slowly.
Jump to another class of water loss:
- Class 2 Water Loss: Fast rate of evaporation
- Class 3 Water Loss: Fastest rate of evaporation
- Class 4 Water Loss: Specialty drying situations
How to Prevent Further Damage
- Timing
Though you can prevent further damage to materials before professional help arrives, it is important to have the situation addressed as quickly as possible in order to prevent further deterioration and progressive damage. Class 1 water loss can rapidly degrade to class 2, and stagnant water can easily progress to category two or three water contamination given the right factors. - Circulate and ventilate
Water, time and temperature promote the growth of bacteria and can cause clean, category one water to degrade to category two (grey water) or three (black water). It is important to keep the damaged area as dry as possible by ventilating and circulating air. Fresh moving air discourages microorganism growth and aids in drying damaged areas. - Remove unsalvageable debris
When possible and safe, removing unsalvageable debris exposes saturated areas to air circulation and reduces microbial growth. - Stay safe
If you cannot wait for professional restoration help, be sure to stay safe by using gloves, splash goggles, and an organic vapor respirator or paint respirator to prevent exposure to microorganisms or spores.
