CLG Mold Xperts - The differences between water damage and flood damage

Broadly speaking, water damage is categorized as any destruction caused by water to the house and property. But, there is a significant difference between water damage restoration and flood damage restoration, especially when taking insurance coverage for the property.

What is water damage?

Water damage is often caused by seepage and spillovers of water within the house due to plumbing faults, heavy downpours, poor construction, and neglect. The leak can occur due to a leaky faucet or a burst water pipe. Appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and HVAC systems also use water and can develop malfunctions which could lead to seepage.

What is flood damage?

Flood damage happens due to natural disasters like excessive rainfall, hurricanes, cyclones, and heavy snowfalls, which can cause the rivers and seas to overflow and fill the surroundings with water. The amount of water flowing in is so large that the ground cannot soak up the excess water. Therefore, flooding affects large areas and affects many properties in the exact location at the same time.

Differences Between Water and Flood Damage

Source

The water damage is self-induced, and the water does not touch the ground or even seep from the ground. The pipelines and appliances generally develop a fault to cause a leak. Disrepairs in the roof and external walls can also lead to seepage from excessive rainfall.

Flood damage is through natural disasters, where the water touches the ground and seeps into the properties in large quantities. The flooding is massive and disrupts life and property in a big way.

Cause

Water damage is caused by human errors or wear and tear, like plumbing faults which can be prevented with routine checks and inspections.

Flood damage occurs due to natural disasters, and there is no way to control such catastrophes.

Extent

Water damage is minor, often located within the house itself in a small area. It is present in one home only due to internal issues. Not every item in the house is affected if one place has water damage.

Flood damage is massive and is present not just throughout the house but also throughout the entire area/colony and affects other homes in the vicinity too. Not a single item is spared from damage during flooding.

Type of water

Water damage is usually relegated to clean (faucets, pipelines) and grey water (drain outlets, appliance wastewater), which is not too toxic and is cheaper to clean up.

Floodwaters bring in a lot of dirt, debris, sewage, and toxic effluents, which are hazardous to health and are costly and difficult to clean up.

Effect of damage

Water damage is localized and does cause disrepair to items (carpet, drywall, floor, ceiling), but often the extent is slight and can be cleaned and dried out to be reused.

Flood water stands for a long time and is in tremendous quantity. As a result, the entire house is submerged underwater for a long time. This leads to porous materials (soft furnishings, drywall, wooden flooring) becoming thoroughly waterlogged and unusable. In addition, structural items can lose stability and strength and need reconstruction.

Why CLG Mold Xperts?

CLG Mold Xperts provides flood damage restoration in Kissimmee, FL, with a well-experienced team of IICRC-trained technicians.

CLG Mold Xperts have the latest equipment and knowledge to mitigate and restore water, fire, and storm damage. They are also highly knowledgeable in mold testing and removal, reconstruction, and rebuilding the property to its pre-loss condition.

CLG Mold Xperts document the damage and cost of restoration properly and bring much-needed peace of mind to their customer by taking care of all insurance claim settlements.

Services include