SERVPRO Can Provide Germantown Property Owners with Safe and Measured Water Loss Restoration

4/27/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with a toilet overflow? Team SERVPRO has the experienced technicians and the water removal equipment needed for the job. Call right away!

Is the Water Damage In Your Germantown Home Caused By Contaminated Water In Your Toilet?

Have your floors become water damaged from an overflowing toilet bowl? Do not touch the affected areas - they may be contaminated. We place water into three different categories depending on the level of contamination, and this determines what remediation procedures are needed.

Category 1 Water - Sanitary Water

Category 1 water is safe, uncontaminated water. The water damage from your Germantown home is less likely to be in Category 1 if it came from the toilet. Even if the toilet bowl is clean and the water is clear, it is still not safe to touch the water until remediation technicians can identify the level of contamination present.

Category 2 Water - Gray Water

SERVPRO technicians typically identify water from the toilet bowl as Category 2: significantly contaminated. This defines water that is absent of fecal matter, but present with urine and other unsanitary particles. Water that goes through the toilet tank and spills out onto the floor requires the use of gloves to reduce skin contact when handling the areas damaged by it.

Category 3 Water - Black Water

The most contaminated type of water, Black Water is present with fecal matter and possibly bacteria and other microorganisms. This water is grossly contaminated and needs to be handled with caution. Black Water can also be groundwater from flooding and water from a burst sewer. While on the job and dealing with this cleanup, SERVPRO technicians don protective gear to avoid contamination.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes:

- Gloves, Nitrile, Latex, Work Gloves

- Full-body suit

 - Respirator with particulate filters

- Waterproof boots

Black Water Removal And Home Sanitation

There are also different engineering controls needed to ensure that the contaminated water does not spread to other parts of the home. HVAC units are turned off to prevent contamination by air. Air scrubbers using HEPA filters can capture airborne moats. SERVPRO technicians can isolate the bathroom from other rooms with plastic sheeting 6-mil thick. Generally, this is needed when there is a blockage, not just a malfunctioning commode.

Is your bathroom carpeted? If so, the carpet may need to be removed. Most powder rooms and bathrooms are tiled or have a linoleum flooring material which resists water penetration.

Get rid of contaminated water as quickly as possible. Contact SERVPRO of Gaithersburg/Germantown at (301) 973-6257 for water removal and restoration services.