Water Damage and Property Loss
Water damage is a general term used for losses due to the presence of water that destroys any given material or system through a destructive process like making steel rust, wood rot, etc. Generally, the damage incurred by water is visibly slow and is not a cause for any major concern if immediate action is taken when the problem has been discovered; although the damage is considered catastrophic like when a flood occurs. But whether the occurrence is fast or slow, water damage is considered to be a primary contributor to all kinds of property loss including vehicles.
The common causes of water damage are a failed sump pump or a broken water line. However, a homeowner’s insurance policy does not normally cover all the incorporated cost of water damage because the payment of the monthly premium does not include the whole cost of repair that needs to be undertaken.
Categories of Water
It is best to know that water is categorized. The classification of water damage is classified into the subsequent types:
Category 1 Water – pertains to water sources which do not pose as an adequate threat to human health and in general is termed as “clean water”. The water usually comes from broken pipes, overflow from sinks and tubs; and the malfunctioning of any appliance or equipment which has something to do with lines for water supply.
Category 2 Water – is a water source that has a significant amount of chemical, biological and any physical impurity which can cause a number of illness or distress when consumed or when it comes into close contact with a person/individual. Typically known as “grey water” this type contains various microorganisms since it usually comes from toilet bowls, sump pumps, pipe seepage and water discharges from equipment like washing machines and dishwashers.
Category 3 Water – commonly known as “black water”, it is very unsanitary since it carries with it pathogenic organisms like bacteria and fungi which causes various types of illness or sickness once ingested or accidentally comes into contact with various human body orifices that includes open wounds and lesions. The various sources of black water are waters from rivers, streams, sea water, sewage effluent, stagnant surface water, etc. Back flows from toilets which come beyond the toilet trap is classified as black water whether there is perceptible solid content or not; and whatever color it may be. Category 2 water or grey water which is not removed, left stagnant or cleaned out for the next forty-eight (48) to seventy-two (72) hours can re-categorized as black water or category 3 water.
What causes Water Damage in Cars and How to Handle It
While there are many ways on how to remove water from within indoor environments and surfaces, there are also some methods on how to remove water from cars.
Cars are important innovative kinds of transportations that also need to be maintained and properly cared for because they are used often to ferry us from and to various destinations. Appropriate car maintenance requires correct prevention of car water damage. It is best to remove water from the car by drying it properly and completely after every washing. If a car dryer is used, considerable time must be spent to wipe off the excess droplets of water to remove any formation of water spot later on especially on the car’s surface, windows and rims of tires.
If the car is left to dry on its own overtime, hard water spot will eventually occur. The primary step to prevent water damage on your car is to identify said water spot. The water spots could easily be seen on light colored vehicles. The spots must be eliminated immediately once they are seen because these generally have an effect on the car finish if not fixed overtime.
The best time to clean water spots from a car is late in the afternoon where the temperature outside is much cooler. Prior to commencing water removal process, park or put your car under a shaded location and give it adequate time to cool off, especially if it has been left basking under the sun for sometime. Be warned that the water spots are not easy to remove, and they are more difficult to remove when the cleaning is done on a hot surface because the minerals which are naturally contained in water will further set into the car paint finish.
Tough water spot on cars may be removed by using white vinegar, which is mixed with equal amounts of water. Place the solution in a spray bottle and spray the mixture on the car. Use a clean cloth rag to wipe off the solution after. Although the white vinegar solution can clean off the water spot it can also remove the car paint’s sheen, so it is advisable to have a car wax applied every time the white vinegar solution is applied.
Those who could afford, lubricants and polishes formulated for water spot removal on cars can be purchased at car shops. These types of polishes and lubricants provide a better finish than the white vinegar solution since no marks are left after application and will give a good shine while fixing the problem at the same time.
Water spots removal from the car’s glass panes necessitates the utilization of a fine grade steel wall. During the stain removal process on the glass, be extra careful as not to incur any damage on the glass for this will result to easy breakage once extra pressure is applied. On the other hand, flood water removal from cars is another dilemma usually faced by vehicle owners who live on flood prone areas. While such incidents may not be that plenty and the occurrence of which are far in between, a car that gets soaked in flood water endangers not only the interior and exterior finish but also some of the electrical functions of the car. This normally comprise dirty wet upholstery, dimming or fogging of lights and outcrops from the wheels.
When flood water has invaded the interior of a car the first best thing to do would be to remove the accumulated water from inside the vehicle. While cleaning it all out personally may not produce the best result, try removing as much grime and dirt on the rug and car upholstery before cleaning the exterior parts. If you have any seat covers, rugs and other items inside the car, be sure to remove them first and allow them to drip dry separately by either propping them up on walls or hanging them. Next, clean all inside surfaces of the car with soap and water using a cloth rag. Rinse by using a pail of water and a rug. Allow the inside of the car to dry sufficiently by leaving the doors and windows open to allow air to circulate within the interiors. If needed, you can use a portable dehumidifier to suck out the remaining moisture content. Do not attempt to put back any items inside the car until it is thoroughly dried and the items likewise cleaned and dried. Be sure to watch your car while doing the cleaning and drying process. Do not leave it unattended at all times. If you need to do something else then lock the car securely and continue cleaning or drying it later.
Having been soaked in flood water, try starting the car and turning all its mechanical and electrical functions after it has already been cleaned and dried out. This must be done in order to identify whether everything is functioning normally.
But if your car insurance covers restoration of the car from flood water damage then it will be better to allow the insurance to handle the necessary paper work so car cleaning professionals can do a good job that will have satisfactory result. Limitations and clauses are important when you get insurance for your car, it is recommended that you inquire about the actual coverage from the insurance adjuster or agent before you purchase one.
Some important documents may have been left inside the car when flood water entered it. The documents must be retrieved at the very first opportunity to prevent further damage. Remember that paper left in water too long will be hard to restore. Freeze drying the documents after excess water has been allowed to drip from them is the best course on how to preserve the papers. The restoration of such from water damage can be handled by a document drying company. And while the outcome or result of the repaired paper may not be as good as its pre-soaked condition, the important thing is that the writing contained therein a legible and could be used again when needed.
Losses and depreciation of valuable properties due to water damage happens all the time and most of such occurrences cannot be prevented no matter how careful you are. To be able to salvage some of your belongings should water damage strike be sure to have insurance for your car and other valuable possessions along with the basic know-how on how to deal with such disasters if they ever occur. Information is often available at the internet or your local disaster coordinating office.
