Does it matter where the water came from?

YES! One of the first things a professionally trained water restoration technician should know is the category of water that caused the damage. There are three categories of water:

Category 1

This is basically clean water. Sources can range from a broken pipe, icemaker and drain over flow among other sources. Category 1 water is classified as not containing waste or contaminants.

Category 2

This is gray water. Sources can range from washing machines, dishwasher and roof leaks among other sources. Category 2 water is classified as containing some soils and contaminants. 

Category 3

This is black water. Nasty stuff. Sources can range from sewage drain backups, backed up toilets and flood water among other sources. Category 3 water is classified as containing a high degree of waste and contaminants. 

Knowing the category of water present is important in determining the drying methods that can be used to safely and quickly restoring the damaged area.