Reference

Category 1 water (clean water)

Water from a sanitary source such as a burst supply pipe, a failed water heater inlet or an overflowing tub with no contaminants. Still damaging, but the lowest health risk of the three categories - and it degrades to Category 2 the longer it sits.

Category 2 water (gray water)

Water carrying significant contamination that could cause illness, such as washing machine or dishwasher discharge, or toilet overflow with urine only. Requires protective handling and antimicrobial treatment during cleanup.

Category 3 water (black water)

Grossly contaminated water: sewage backups, rising flood water, anything that has travelled over ground. Carries bacteria and pathogens, and porous materials it touches are usually removed rather than dried.

Class of water loss

A 1-to-4 rating of how much of a space is wet and how hard it will be to dry. Class 1 is a small, contained area; Class 4 means deeply bound water in materials like hardwood, plaster or concrete that need specialty drying.

IICRC

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification - the body that sets the training and certification standards restoration technicians work to.

IICRC S500

The industry's reference standard for professional water damage restoration, covering categories, classes, drying procedures and documentation.

Water extraction

The physical removal of standing water with pumps and vacuum extractors before drying begins. Every gallon extracted is many times cheaper to remove than a gallon evaporated by drying equipment.

Air mover

A high-velocity fan positioned to push air across wet surfaces, speeding evaporation. Jobs typically use several at once, repositioned as materials dry.

Dehumidifier (LGR)

A low-grain refrigerant dehumidifier - the commercial unit that pulls evaporated moisture out of the air so it cannot re-absorb into cool surfaces. Works in tandem with air movers.

Moisture meter

A handheld instrument that measures moisture content inside materials, not just on the surface. The readings decide where drying equipment goes and when it can come off.

Thermal imaging

An infrared camera technique that shows temperature differences caused by hidden dampness - behind walls, under floors, above ceilings - without opening them up.

Moisture mapping

Recording moisture readings across every affected surface at the start of a job and daily after, producing the documentation insurers rely on to see the loss and the drying progress.

Dry standard

The target moisture content for each material, based on readings from unaffected areas of the same home. Equipment stays until readings hit the standard - not until things look dry.

Structural drying

Drying the building itself - framing, subfloor, drywall, insulation - as opposed to contents. Typically takes several days of equipment time with daily monitoring.

Antimicrobial treatment

Application of EPA-registered agents to affected surfaces to inhibit mold and bacterial growth during and after drying.

Containment

Plastic sheeting and negative air pressure used to seal a contaminated or moldy area off from the rest of the building so cleanup does not spread the problem.

Mold remediation

The controlled removal of mold and mold-damaged materials: containment, removal of contaminated porous materials, cleaning and treatment of what remains, and verification that the source moisture is gone.

Flood cut

Removing drywall to a set height above the waterline (often 12-24 inches) so the wall cavity can be dried and treated. Standard practice after Category 3 water.

Pre-loss condition

The state of the property before the damage - the benchmark a full restoration works back to, covering structure, finishes and function.

Scope of work

The written, itemised plan of everything the restoration will involve, produced after inspection. It is what the estimate and the insurance claim are built on.

Adjuster

The insurance company's representative who inspects the damage and values the claim. Independent documentation - photos, moisture maps, drying logs - is what you walk them through.

Deductible

The portion of a covered loss you pay before insurance pays the rest. With direct insurance billing, it is often the only bill the homeowner sees.

ACV (actual cash value)

A payout basis of replacement cost minus depreciation - what the damaged item was worth, not what a new one costs.

RCV (replacement cost value)

A payout basis covering the cost to replace at today's prices, usually paid as ACV first with the held-back depreciation released once replacement is proven.

ALE (additional living expenses)

Coverage for reasonable extra costs - hotels, meals - when damage makes the home temporarily unlivable.

Duty to mitigate

The policyholder's obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss. Delaying extraction and drying can reduce what a claim pays.

Hearing these terms because you are mid-emergency? Water damage restoration in Smyrna is available 24/7, and the insurance questions on the homepage cover what Georgia policies typically pay for.