Water Restoration Glossary

Water damage terms

• Air mover: a high-velocity fan that blows air across wet surfaces to speed up evaporation.
• Dehumidifier: a machine that pulls moisture out of the air. Air movers and dehumidifiers work together.
• LGR dehumidifier: “low grain refrigerant,” a type that keeps removing moisture even when the air is already fairly dry.
• Desiccant dehumidifier: uses a moisture-absorbing material instead of cooling coils; useful in cold or very dry conditions.
• Extraction: removing standing water with a wet vac or extraction unit before drying begins.
• Water mitigation: the emergency work of stopping further damage: extraction, removal and drying. Rebuild work comes after.
• Restoration (rebuild): repairing and replacing what was removed, like drywall, baseboards and flooring.
• Category 1, 2 and 3 water: clean, gray and black water. The category tells you how contaminated the water is and what can be saved.
• Class of water loss: a way to describe how much water is involved and how hard the area will be to dry.
• Flood cut: cutting drywall a set distance above the wet line so only the damaged part is removed.
• Moisture meter: a tool that measures how much moisture is in a material. The one tool to own from day one.
• Pin vs. pinless meter: pin meters push probes into the material; pinless meters read through the surface without damage.
• Thermal imaging camera: shows temperature differences that can point to hidden moisture behind walls and ceilings.
• Hygrometer: measures humidity and temperature in the air.
• Relative humidity (RH): how much moisture the air holds compared to the most it could hold at that temperature.
• Grains per pound (GPP): the actual amount of moisture in the air, used to track whether drying is working.
• Dry standard (dry goal): the reading of an unaffected area of the same material. You’re done when wet materials match it.
• Moisture map: a sketch of the affected area with your readings marked, updated during drying.
• Drying log: the daily record of readings, equipment and changes. It’s what gets you paid.
• Wicking: water traveling up or through materials like drywall and wood beyond where it first landed.
• Secondary damage: damage that happens after the original leak, like swelling, warping or mold, usually because drying was slow.
• Cause of loss: what caused the water damage, like a burst supply line or failed water heater. Insurers need it documented.
• Scope of work: the written description of what you’ll do on the job. Get it signed before you start.

Mold terms

• Mold assessment: inspecting and testing to find mold and write a plan for removing it.
• Mold remediation: removing and cleaning up mold according to that plan.
• Containment: plastic barriers that keep mold spores from spreading to clean areas.
• Negative air pressure: pulling air out of a contained area so spores don’t escape into the rest of the building.
• Air scrubber: a machine with a HEPA filter that cleans particles out of the air.
• HEPA: high-efficiency particulate air filtration, used in vacuums and air scrubbers on mold jobs.
• PPE: personal protective equipment, like respirators, gloves and suits.
• Post-remediation verification (clearance): checking after removal that the area is clean, often by a separate assessor.

Business and insurance terms

• Adjuster: the person who reviews an insurance claim and your estimate.
• Xactimate: estimating software widely used by insurers and restoration contractors.
• Symbility: another estimating platform some insurance carriers use.
• Direct-pay (cash) job: the customer pays you directly, without an insurance claim.
• Work authorization: the signed document that lets you start work and spells out payment terms.
• AR (accounts receivable): money customers owe you that hasn’t been paid yet.
• IICRC: the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, which sets industry standards and certifies technicians.
• WRT: the IICRC’s Water Restoration Technician certification, the first credential most new pros get.
• S500 and S520: the IICRC standards for water damage restoration (S500) and mold remediation (S520).
• Referral partner: a realtor, property manager, plumber or other pro who sends you jobs.

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