Flooding as well as Water Damage could be ravaging to your house and possessions. A lot of people do not consider the fact that there are various types of problems related to flooding and several causes. The type of damage caused by water in your home will determine the suitable course of action to get the problem resolved so you can return to normal life in your residence.

One of the first considerations is how the flooding happened. Flooding can occur in storm periods or near bodies of water from the outside environment near the residence. Flood damage is a common problem after a fire, due to the fact that what is necessary to extinguish the fire affects several areas in the house. However, flooding can also come from inside the home, from broken or malfunctioning plumbing or pipe work. When you find the source of excess water, you can determine the type of water causing damage in your house.

There are three main classifications of water: clean, gray, and black. Clean water has very few harmful substances in it, for example, when water supply lines are broken, spilling forth clean, fresh water. It can certainly still cause water damage, but there is little chance of bacteria or chemicals causing illness following the flooding. When sinks or tubs spillover, the water is also usually considered clean. Gray water, formally referred to as category 2 water, can cause sicknesses and physical problems because the amount of pollutants in the water is considerable. These impurities may be chemical, biological, and/or physical. Gray water will have micro-organisms present as well. Some good examples of water damage with category 2 implications are sump pump breakdowns, flows from dishwashers, defective washing machines, or leaking toilets(containing urine but not feces). Black water, or category 3 water, has a serious level of toxins and is very unsanitary. This water is highly disposed to induce physical issues, illness, or discomfort. Black water has microorganisms, fungi, chemical pollutants, and other dangerous materials. Category 3 water damage may emerge from lakes, streams, rivers, seawater, ground surface water, sewage leaks, overrunning toilets with fecal material, and stationary water that stands for 48-72 hours after a category 1 or 2 flood problem. The standing of the water increases its dangerous contaminants. Black water clean-up requires the use of protective gear and specific gear to prevent disease or wellness problems as well as safeguard the structure. Trusting clean up and restoration to experts can assist you get your house back rapidly and safely.

Water Damage - Cleaning and Drying

Water damage cleaning involves numerous considerations. One of the most important considerations involved in repairing damage is that of restorative drying. Restorative drying incorporates four general principles: water removal (extraction), evaporation, dehumidification and temperature control. Understanding these water damage principles will help you ensure that your property is restored to its pre-loss condition properly and with the least amount of risk to your health, structure and belongings.

Drying requires that the affected property be brought back into a proper balance. This requires that water damage restoration professionals monitor and adjust air flow, humidity and temperature properly over time. The first principle of effective damage restoration involves water removal (extraction). You would be surprised how much water wet drywall, carpet and carpet pad can hold. These materials can soak up vast amounts of water. It is essential that as much water as possible be removed from these materials to facilitate the rest of the water damage cleaning process.

The second principle is evaporation. Evaporation is the wicking of water out of saturated materials. Rapid air movement is needed to maximize the evaporative process. Carpet water damage can be mitigated by first extracting as much water as possible, removing and discarding wet pad underneath, then using commercial air movers to facilitate rapid evaporation. The third principle of water-related restoration is dehumidification. This can be accomplished using natural or mechanical techniques. Humidity reduction reduces the risk of secondary damage to materials and contents in a property. Air with high relative humidity is more likely to reach a saturation point where water will form on surfaces, which may lead to microbial growth, mold and other bacterial contamination.

The fourth and final principle of flood water damage restoration and drying is temperature control. Warmer air can hold more water vapor and will better facilitate evaporation in a closed environment. It is generally recommended that water damage repair environments be maintained at approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit, whenever possible, to optimize temperature-controlled evaporation. Applying these principles to your home or business restoration job will help facilitate the proper restoration of your structure and contents to their pre-loss condition. Failing to apply these principles may result in mold growth and contamination. Black mold removal can be very time-consuming, costly and even hazardous to your health if not done properly. Always consult with a professional water damage restoration professional when attempting conduct water removal or mold removal in a home.

Hiring a Restoration Company

The Water Damage Restoration Technician test by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). Water Damage Restoration Technician is a designation that a professional restorer needs to prove that he or she is compiling with the most prevalent standards in the restoration industry. It has become increasingly important for a professional who is performing water damage restoration services to have "WRT" designation. Most companies that hire you require it and insurance companies that hire the companies that provide the service require that their technicians be certified.

Since I first took my class ninteen years ago, the material and the test have evolved greatly. There is a lot more information. The class used to be a two day class, but now it is a three day class. There are also five day classes offered that let you take the WRT/ASD (Applied Structural Drying) together. The newest WRT update was published in April of 2006. It is approved by ANSI (Approved National American Standards).

Important items you should know about the test:

Get the book from your teacher prior to attending the class (if possible). Read a few pages everyday. Usually the highlighted parts in the manual are extremely important to know and will defnitely be seen on your test.

C) All of the above

D) None of the above

(7) What does H.A.T.T an acronym for?

A) Hot, Alveolar, Temperature, Test

B) Hydrostatic, Absorption, Toxicity, Threshold Limit Value

C) Haitian Cotton, Absorption, Textile, Temperature

D) Humidity, Airflow, Temperature, Time

It isn't as easy as you think. If you have taken the carpet cleaning technician test before or the upholstery cleaning technician test before, you should know that unless you have a background in Biology, you will have to study hard to pass this one.

Since I received a deluge of requests from people wanting to know the answers to test for CCT. I thought I would just add a link on the my website with the answers. Visit the Magic Wand Company website below and select the Article tab then WRT Test Answers.

The purpose of the test is to make sure that a technician learns as much as possible to do his/her job well. I would be happy to help you in your endeavor to learn. Whether you need carpet cleaning supplies or restoration supplies or not, you are welcome to contact me.

• Lampasas Water Damaged Ceiling
• Coryell Water Removal Service
• Bell Flood Restoration Companies