Water damage is usually stressful and contractors often use terms you might not know or that are confusing. To help you better understand the restoration process, these are the most common water damage terms and their meanings.
These Are the Most Common Use Terms in the Water Damage Industry and What They Mean
Air Mover: Also known as turbo dryers, fans, blowers, and air dryers, air movers are specialized fans that promote evaporation and help dry your home.
Balanced Drying: Balanced drying is the most commonly used method to dry homes with water damage. It uses air movers to promote evaporation and structural drying dehumidifiers to pull the moisture out of the air.
Baseboards: Usually made of wood, fiberboard, or plastic, baseboards cover the joint between the wall and the floor. Wood baseboards will swell and warp when wet, while fiberboards can fall apart.
Boroscope: A boroscope is a specialized camera that restoration technicians use to look for mold inside walls, crawl spaces, ceilings, and other hard-to-reach spaces.
Category of Water: Water is categorized by how dangerous it is to humans. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recognizes three levels of health risks in water. While water can start as category 1, it will become contaminated with time if not cleaned up.
Category 1 Water: Category 1 water is clean and poses no risk to humans. A water supply line leak or burst is the only source of category 1 water.
Category 2 Water: Also called gray water, category 2 water contains some health risks. Causes of category 2 water include overflowing sinks, bathtubs, and toilets.
Category 3 Water: Also called black water, category 3 water is unsanitary and can make you sick. Causes of category 3 water include sewage backups and floods.
Classification of Water Damage: Water damage is classified by the amount of water absorbed, and how quickly it will evaporate or dry. The IICRC recognizes four classes of water damage.
Class 1: The water only spread through part of the room and did not soak into the walls or carpet. This is most common in rooms with has concrete, brick, or stone walls and floors and there the damage is minor.
Class 2: The water spread through the whole room, soaked less than two feet up the walls, and saturated the carpet and pad. This is common after minor to moderate flooding.
Class 3: The water spread through the whole room and there is extensive damage to the walls, ceilings, and structure of your home. This usually involves a major water leak through the ceiling.
Class 4: The water damage requires specialized cleanup to restore the damaged items. This is most common in crawl spaces or hard-to-reach areas.
Delamination: Delamination is what happens when the backing pulls away from the tuffs of yarn that make up your carpeting.
Drywall: Also called plasterboard, wallboard, sheetrock, sheet rock, gypsum board, buster board, custard board, and gypsum panel, drywall is the generic term for panels of gypsum extruded between thick sheets of paper that are used to form walls. Although usually very strong, drywall expands and crumbles as it soaks up water.
Evaporation: Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into a gas. In restoration, evaporation is a critical step in drying your home.
Moisture Content: Abbreviated MC, the moisture content is the percentage or weight of moisture in a given material. The moisture content is used during water damage restoration to determine when materials are dry.
Moisture Meter: A moisture meter is a specialized tool that measures moisture content. This is one of several tools restoration technicians use to find and repair water damage.
Personalized Protective Equipment: Abbreviated PPE, personalized protective equipment is worn to limit exposure to hazards during the restoration process. The most commonly worn PPEs include waterproof gloves and boots, goggles, respirators, and disposable coveralls with a hood.
Pre-Loss Condition: Pre-loss condition is the state of your home or property before the damage. Insurance companies use this term to describe the extent of the repairs they will cover.
Relative Humidity: Abbreviated RH, relative humidity is the ratio between the amount of moisture in the air and the maximum amount possible at the same temperature. The higher the relative humidity, the longer it takes to dry your home.
Scope of Work: The scope of work includes all of the items and areas that your restoration technician will repair. It may also include specific procedures and safety precautions they will follow.
Structural Drying Dehumidifier: Often shortened to dehumidifier or just dehu, a structural drying dehumidifier is a mechanical device that pulls moisture out of the air. There are two types of dehumidifiers used in water damage restoration. Refrigerant dehumidifiers cool the air until moisture condenses. Desiccant dehumidifiers use crystalline materials that naturally absorb moisture from the air.
Thermal Hygrometer: A thermal hygrometer is a specialized tool that measures the humidity level. It is one of the tools used by restoration technicians to repair water damage.
Water Damage Restoration: Water damage restoration is the process of drying and repairing your home after a severe water problem. Key steps include water extraction, drying, disinfecting, and reconstruction.
Do you have water in your home? Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a free quote on water damage cleanup.
