Water damage occurs through many different means and on many different scales. Some can easily be dealt with and repaired with little danger to human health, while others require special precautions to be taken since the water may contain chemicals, bacteria and other substances that are harmful to both humans and animals.
Clean, Gray and Black
Clean water is fairly safe to work in during repair and restoration. This category typically poses no danger to humans or animals because it has no harmful impurities or chemicals.
Gray water may contain some harmful matter. It's not typically life threatening, but may cause illness. At the very least this type of water is uncomfortable to work with.
Black water is incredibly dangerous. Harmful bacteria fungi or chemicals are definitely present and may cause illness or even death for those who come into contact with it. This type of contamination should be handled by professionals who have the equipment, knowledge and expertise to remove it without harming themselves or others.
Preventing Water Damage
Common problems that are easily avoidable cause the majority of water damage. Regular inspections of your plumbing, roof and foundation can prevent many of the small issues that grow into major problems. Even seemingly insignificant situations can quickly cause serious destruction.
Never discredit a small amount of moisture dripping down an interior wall. Whether the leak is caused by a faulty roof or a rusty pipe, it needs to be staunched right away lest it cause further harm to your home. Even if the outer part of your living room wall seems to be fine, the water is probably causing unseen and costly damage within the interior of your wall.
Since wood rots when it's wet, a damp proofing compound should be used on any part of your foundation that comes in contact with water. Otherwise the moisture will slowly rot away the wooden framing of your house and begin to compromise its structure.
Bathrooms are a primary location for water damage caused by steam from your shower. Unless you have an exhaust fan, mold can quickly grow and your wallpaper can begin to peel.
Roof maintenance is extremely important when you're trying to prevent unnecessary problems caused by rain and wet weather. Stopped up gutters will prevent drainage and cause rot issues along the trim of your roof. This problem could even lead to leaking inside your home.
Finally, a house with inadequate insulation can pose a serious problem. Water vapor easily forms inside the walls and up in the attic space. The moisture itself can cause serious damage, and it also creates an ideal environment for insects, which also cause problems. If you find that your home is under-insulated, a professional can come and add more insulation to certain parts of the home. And if your attic retains moisture, you may want to invest in an attic fan, which will help to dissipate that moisture before it has time to cause permanent water damage.