Water Damage Restoration in Florida

Category 1 - Minimum Risk

Category 1 water damage involves clean water from a source with minimal contaminants. This may include a sink overflow, broken water or steam line, or rainwater infiltration. Category 1 water represents the lowest health risk, as it typically does not contain harmful pathogens. Additionally, damaged building materials and furnishings have a high potential for being salvaged. 

However, responding as soon as possible is important, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Beyond that timeframe, microbial growth can begin, lowering the water quality and increasing the risk. 

Category 2 - Moderate Risk

Category 2 water damage refers to water containing significant chemical, biological, or physical contaminants. This category includes water from storm drain back-ups, treated cooling water, surface water, fire suppression systems, and equipment discharges. 

The presence of contaminants and microbial growth makes salvaging damaged building materials more challenging. Therefore, prompt action is crucial to minimize health risks and prevent further damage. 

Category 3 - Maximum Risk

Category 3 water damage involves highly contaminated and unsanitary water. This category includes sewers, rivers, seawater, and surface water. 

Category 3 water poses the highest risk of containing infectious viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other harmful substances. Exposure to Category 3 water can lead to severe health issues for occupants through direct and indirect contact. 

Commercial property owners must treat Category 3 water damage with extreme caution and take immediate action to prevent the spread of contaminants. Salvaging materials in this category is often not feasible, and thorough decontamination and restoration are necessary. 

Inspect

Our restoration crews arrive promptly to assess the water damage situation. They wear proper protective equipment and take other necessary precautions to avoid contact with contaminated materials. Before entering the affected area, we brief all occupants about potential risks. We also isolate or shut down air handlers to prevent the spread of contamination. Our experienced industrial hygienist conducts a detailed water damage analysis, documenting the findings in a comprehensive report. 

Diagnose

Based on the analysis, we establish a treatment plan and project scope tailored to your situation. If the water is categorized as Category 2 or 3, we prioritize environmental health and safety measures. We work closely with you to make informed decisions, including using biocides and determining salvageable materials. We aim to restore your commercial property to its pre-damage condition or better. 

Treat

We take immediate action to stop the flow or intrusion of water and remove excess water and contaminants. The industrial hygienist’s air-testing results guide us in determining if the affected area requires treatment for microbial growth. We employ advanced techniques to sterilize all porous and contaminated materials, ensuring thorough decontamination. The environment is stabilized using HEPA filtration and air scrubbers. We construct barriers and install ingress/egress zipper doors to contain airborne particulates. 

Document

Once the restoration process is complete, we request client satisfaction approval sign-off, ensuring you are satisfied with the results. We provide all completion documentation and settle outstanding claims with insurance adjusters on your behalf, making the entire process seamless.