Water damage glossary.
Plain-English definitions of the terms insurance carriers, adjusters, and restoration crews actually use. Reviewed by the EcoClean field team.
Published definitions.
- Glossary
Air mover
An air mover is a high-volume fan placed on wet surfaces to accelerate evaporation during structural drying.
Open definition - Glossary
Category 1 water
Category 1 water is clean water from a sanitary source — typically a supply line, water heater, or appliance inlet — that has not yet contacted contaminants.
Open definition - Glossary
Category 2 water
Category 2 water is significantly contaminated water — for example dishwasher or washing-machine discharge — capable of causing discomfort or illness on contact.
Open definition - Glossary
Category 3 water
Category 3 water is grossly contaminated water — sewage, rising floodwater, or any water carrying pathogens. PPE is required and porous materials are generally discarded.
Open definition - Glossary
Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier removes water vapor from the air. Restoration crews use refrigerant-style LGR units and desiccant units depending on the dry-down profile.
Open definition - Glossary
Flood cut
A flood cut is a horizontal cut through saturated drywall — typically 12-24" above the floor — that removes wet wallboard so the cavity can dry and so insulation can be replaced.
Open definition - Glossary
IICRC S500
IICRC S500 is the industry standard that defines the procedures and principles of water damage restoration in North America. It is the standard most insurers reference when reviewing scope.
Open definition - Glossary
Moisture meter
A moisture meter is a hand-held tool that measures moisture content in building materials — used to map the wet area and confirm drying progress.
Open definition - Glossary
Mold remediation
Mold remediation is the controlled removal of mold growth and the underlying moisture source. It is not just cleaning — it requires containment, source control, and a clearance step.
Open definition - Glossary
Structural drying
Structural drying is the controlled removal of moisture from building materials — drywall, framing, subfloor — using air movers, dehumidifiers, and moisture monitoring.
Open definition - Glossary
Water damage restoration
Water damage restoration covers the full recovery — mitigation, structural drying, then reconstruction back to pre-loss condition.
Open definition - Glossary
Water mitigation
Water mitigation is the emergency phase of a water loss — extraction, containment, and structural drying — performed before any repair or reconstruction begins.
Open definition
Reviewed and published as each one is finalized.
- Antimicrobial
- Containment
- Drying log
- HEPA air scrubber
- Psychrometrics
- Sewage backup
- Thermal imaging
How EcoClean uses this glossary.
What is the water damage glossary for?
Plain-English definitions of the terms insurance carriers, adjusters, and restoration crews actually use. Each entry links to related cause-of-loss pages and decision aids.
Are these definitions standardized?
The categories of water and classes of loss come from IICRC S500, the industry standard. EcoClean cites the standard by name; we don't reproduce its protected text.
Why are some terms listed without links?
Those entries are still being reviewed by the EcoClean field team. They'll go live as each one is finalized. Linked entries are reviewed and published.
Cited material informs EcoClean’s field practice. Excerpts from copyrighted standards are not reproduced on this page. Nothing on this page is legal, medical, or insurance-coverage advice.
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