Water Damage Categories: Clean, Gray, and Black Water Explained
Not all water damage is created equal. When water invades your home or business, it can range from mildly inconvenient to dangerously toxic. Understanding the different categories of water damage is essential for safety, cleanup, and proper insurance handling. In this article, we’ll explain the three main types— Clean Water, Gray Water, and Black Water —and what they mean for your <Water Damage Restoration> process. Why Water Categories Matter Water damage categories help determine: The health and safety risks involved What cleaning methods are required Whether items can be salvaged or must be discarded How extensive and urgent the restoration process needs to be Professional restoration teams use this classification to plan the best cleanup strategy. Category 1: Clean Water Clean water is the safest type of water damage. It comes from sources that are free of harmful contaminants. Common sources include: Broken supply pipes Overflowing sinks or tubs (wi...