Water vs. Flood Damage: Key Differences in Water Damage Restoration

Water and flooding affect properties, making it difficult for people to distinguish between them. Water and flood damage have many differences that are crucial for property owners to understand. Plumbing failures, household pipe cracks, and malfunctioning HVAC systems result in water damage. It impacts a particular premise and deteriorates the floor, carpet, and other household items. Houses and businesses are at risk due to catastrophic natural events like excessive rain, storm surges, or hurricanes, commonly known as flood damage. As a result, water damage restoration service is essential to remediate the affected premises. There are hairline differences in the restoration processes of both damages, which we discuss in this blog.

Different Reasons for Water and Flood Damage

Sometimes, people think the same causes are responsible for both types of damage. These casualties occur for various reasons. The following are the key differences between water damage and flood damage.

Contributing Reasons for Water Damage

1. Leaky Roof: Bad storms, lost shingles, or old roofs can weaken the roofing integrity, resulting in cracked and water-penetrating attic space and other house areas.
2. Plumbing Leak: Pipes have a lifespan. Water exposure weakens the quality and structure of pipes, loosening the fittings and leading to pipe bursts and cracks. As a result, water damage occurs.
3. Household Devices Failure: When household appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, break down, they can leak excess water onto the floor, potentially damaging cabinets and other items.

4. Blocked Toilet Drains: Clogged or failed toilet drains may lead to contaminated water seeping inside your house, which might risk your health.

Below Are the Causes of Flood Damage:

1. Severe Rainfall: The drainage system clogs due to extreme rain, resulting in city flooding.
2. Hurricanes: Fierce gusts and continuous rainfall overload the rivers and the city’s drainage lines, causing water intrusion into homes and offices, particularly in flood-prone areas.
3. Storm: Hurricanes significantly displace seawater. Powerful winds push the water towards the shore, flooding coastal areas.
4. River Overflow: Hurricanes, storm surges, and tropical storms are common causes of flooding along rivers and shores. This leads to flooding in homes, particularly in those prone to it.

Does water damage and flood damage vary?

Water and flood damage are two events that wreak havoc on property owners and leave severe consequences for their residential and commercial properties. In the following section, you will examine how these two differ.

	Water Damage	Flood Damage
Extremity and Damage Extent	It is a localized issue arising from burst pipes and leaky appliances, affecting a specific home area.	More severe events cause extensive damage to residential properties. It affects many homeowners.
Scope of Health Problems and Risk of Contamination	Usually, clean or less contaminated water contains water damage. This has minimized contamination levels and health problems.	Garbage, dirt, and other pollutants from the flooding make people sick and affect the structural integrity.
Water Damage Restoration Process	Professionals dry the affected space, repair the leaks, and replace the impacted materials.	The flood restoration process is not simple and necessitates the entire property restoration. It involves cleaning, removing hazardous materials, and repairing the home’s structure.
Insurance Coverage	Sudden and accidental water escape damages household belongings, and home insurance policies in Canada cover this.	Flood insurance coverage varies by policy. Some insurance companies may include or exclude certain coverage. Normally, insurance companies do not cover flood damage, and homeowners must purchase separate plans.

Steps of Water and Flood Damage Restoration

Water Damage Restoration Process	Flood Restoration Process
Professionals inspect and assess the water damage using advanced technology to develop effective restoration plans.	During the flood damage restoration, experts adhere to safety protocols and wear appropriate PPE.
The restoration team removes standing water to prevent additional flooding and further damage to the building.	A special and powerful pump draws out the floodwater. The expert team disinfects and cleans an affected area to decrease the contamination.
Restoration professionals dry the water-damaged items and belongings and sanitize the premises to prevent mold exposure.	Industrial dehumidifiers and air circulators dry out the flooded homes.
And restore the buildings to their pre-damage condition by repairing drywalls, ceilings, and walls.	Similarly to water damage restoration, professionals repair severely damaged areas to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the occupants.

Conclusion

Understanding these differences helps property owners determine whether their property has sustained water damage or flooding. Accordingly, they can call a water damage restoration service; in both cases, the restoration team helps them restore their property to its pre-damage condition.

Why Choose Us?

• We stand around the clock to address emergencies.
• Our team is skilled in using the latest equipment and resources to provide comprehensive water and flood damage restoration.
• We directly submit invoices to your insurance providers for a swift claims process.