Water Damage Glossary

This glossary explains 65 terms you may hear from a restoration provider, plumber, adjuster or HOA after water damage in Apache Junction and the East Valley. Each definition links to the guide or service page that covers the topic in more depth. Start with water damage restoration in Apache Junction or browse the water damage guides.

A

Actual cash value (ACV)

An insurance payout that subtracts depreciation, so you get what a damaged item was worth at its age, not the cost of a new one.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

Air mover

A low, high-speed fan aimed across wet floors and walls. It pushes moist air off surfaces so water evaporates faster.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

Air scrubber

A portable machine that pulls room air through a HEPA filter to capture mold spores and dust during cleanup.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

Antimicrobial treatment

A cleaning product applied to wet or contaminated materials to slow the growth of bacteria and mold.

Learn more: Sewage backup cleanup

B

Belly wrap (underbelly)

The fabric or plastic barrier under a manufactured home that holds insulation. A plumbing leak can fill it with water out of sight.

Learn more: Mobile home belly wrap leaks

Black water (Category 3)

Grossly contaminated water such as sewage, toilet backflow with waste, or floodwater from outside. It needs protective gear and removal of porous materials.

Learn more: Sewage backup cleanup

C

Clean water (Category 1)

Water from a sanitary source, such as a broken supply line. It can turn into gray or black water if it sits.

Learn more: Burst pipe water damage

Condensate line

The small pipe that carries water away from an air conditioner. When it clogs, water can overflow into ceilings and closets.

Learn more: Why an AC leaks water

Containment

Plastic sheeting and zipper doors that seal off a work area so mold spores or dust do not spread to the rest of the home.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

Cupping (wood floors)

When the edges of wood floorboards rise higher than the centers because the boards absorbed moisture from below.

Learn more: Emergency water removal

D

Deductible

The amount you pay on a covered insurance claim before the policy pays the rest.

Learn more: Homeowners insurance and water damage in Arizona

Dehumidifier (LGR)

A machine that pulls moisture out of the air. Restoration crews often use low-grain refrigerant (LGR) units that keep working as the air gets drier.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

Drying log

Daily records of moisture readings, humidity and equipment used. Insurers often ask for them to confirm the home was dried properly.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

Drywall

Gypsum board used for most interior walls and ceilings. It wicks water upward and can grow mold if it stays wet.

Learn more: Signs of water damage in walls

Duty to mitigate

The policy requirement to take reasonable steps to stop more damage after a loss, such as shutting off water and starting drying.

Learn more: Water mitigation vs. restoration

E

Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)

A roof or window cooler that blows air through wet pads. A stuck float valve or cracked pan can leak water into the ceiling below.

Learn more: Why a swamp cooler leaks

F

Flash flood

Fast-rising water that follows heavy rain over a short time. In Arizona it often comes during monsoon storms when washes fill quickly.

Learn more: Flood damage restoration

Flood cut

A straight cut made in drywall above the water line so wet material and insulation can be removed and the wall cavity can dry.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

Flood insurance (NFIP)

A separate policy that covers damage from outside surface water. Standard homeowners policies in Arizona do not cover flooding.

Learn more: Monsoon season and home flooding in Arizona

Flood zone (SFHA)

An area FEMA maps by flood risk. Homes in a Special Flood Hazard Area with a federally backed mortgage usually must carry flood insurance.

Learn more: Flood damage restoration

G

Gradual damage

Damage from a slow leak that went on for weeks or months. Most homeowners policies exclude it, unlike sudden damage.

Learn more: Homeowners insurance and water damage in Arizona

Gray water (Category 2)

Water with some contamination, such as dishwasher or washing machine discharge, or a toilet overflow with urine but no feces.

Learn more: Washer, toilet and softener leaks

H

Hard water

Water high in calcium and magnesium. It is common in the Phoenix area and wears out water heaters, fittings and copper pipes faster.

Learn more: Pinhole leaks in copper pipes

HEPA filter

A high-efficiency particulate air filter that traps very small particles, including mold spores. Used in vacuums and air scrubbers.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

HOA master policy

The insurance policy an HOA or condo association carries for shared parts of the building. What it covers depends on the governing documents.

Learn more: Condo and HOA water damage insurance

Home warranty

A service contract that may repair or replace failed systems such as plumbing. It usually does not pay for the water damage those failures cause.

Learn more: Slab leaks, insurance and home warranties

Hygrometer

A meter that measures temperature and relative humidity in the air. Crews use it to track drying progress each day.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

I

IICRC S500

The industry standard for professional water damage restoration, published by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

IICRC S520

The industry standard for professional mold remediation. It covers containment, removal and checking that the work is done.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

Insurance adjuster

The person your insurance company sends to inspect the damage, review the cause and decide what the policy will pay.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

L

Loss assessment coverage

Part of a condo or HOA owner's policy that can help pay your share when the association charges owners for a covered loss.

Learn more: Condo and HOA water damage insurance

M

Main water shutoff valve

The valve that stops all water entering the home. In many Arizona homes it sits in a box near the curb or by the front hose bib.

Learn more: What to do when a pipe bursts

Manufactured home

A factory-built home on a steel chassis. Its plumbing often runs under the floor inside the belly wrap, where leaks are hard to see.

Learn more: Mobile home belly wrap leaks

Microbial growth

The industry term for mold, mildew and bacteria growing on damp building materials.

Learn more: How fast mold grows after water damage

Moisture map

A sketch of the affected rooms showing where readings were wet or dry. It guides where equipment goes and what gets removed.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

Moisture meter

A handheld tool that measures moisture in drywall, wood or concrete, using pins or a pinless sensor.

Learn more: Signs of water damage in walls

Mold remediation

Removing mold growth and the materials it damaged under controlled conditions, then fixing the moisture problem that caused it.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

Monsoon

Arizona's summer storm season, with heavy rain, strong winds and dust. The City of Phoenix lists it as June 15 to September 30.

Learn more: Monsoon season and home flooding in Arizona

Musty odor

An earthy smell caused by gases that mold and bacteria give off. It often points to hidden moisture.

Learn more: What a musty smell in the house means

N

Negative air pressure

Exhausting more air out of a contained work area than flows in, so air and spores move into the area instead of out of it.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

P

Parapet and flat roof

A low-slope roof with short walls around the edge. Water must drain through scuppers or canales, so clogged drains can cause leaks.

Learn more: How to find a roof leak

Park model

A small RV-style home common in Arizona resorts and 55+ parks. It has the same under-floor plumbing risks as a manufactured home.

Learn more: Mobile home belly wrap leaks

PEX pipe

Flexible plastic water supply pipe used in many newer homes. Leaks usually happen at fittings rather than along the pipe.

Learn more: Burst pipe water damage

Pinhole leak

A tiny hole that wears through copper pipe from the inside, often linked to hard water and water chemistry.

Learn more: Pinhole leaks in copper pipes

Polybutylene pipe

Gray plastic supply pipe used from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. It is known for failing at fittings and is often replaced.

Learn more: Burst pipe water damage

Post-remediation verification

A check after mold removal, by visual inspection and sometimes air or surface sampling, to confirm the area is clean and dry.

Learn more: Mold removal and remediation

Proof of loss

A signed statement to your insurer that lists what was damaged and the amount you are claiming.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

Public adjuster

An adjuster you hire, for a fee, to prepare and negotiate your claim. In Arizona, public adjusters must hold a state license.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

R

Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

The Arizona agency that licenses contractors. You can check a contractor's license on its website before you sign a contract.

Learn more: How to choose a restoration company

Relative humidity

How much moisture the air holds compared with the most it could hold at that temperature, shown as a percentage.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process

Renters insurance

A tenant's policy that covers personal belongings and liability. The landlord's policy covers the building itself.

Learn more: Renters insurance and water damage

Replacement cost value (RCV)

An insurance payout based on what it costs to replace an item with a new one of similar kind and quality.

Learn more: Water damage insurance claim tips

S

Septic system

An on-site wastewater system with a tank and drain field, common on larger rural lots. A full tank can push sewage back into the home.

Learn more: Sewage backup cleanup

Sewer backup

Wastewater that flows back into a home through drains or toilets because of a blocked or overloaded line.

Learn more: What to do after a sewage backup

Sewer cleanout

A capped pipe opening, often in the yard or by the foundation, that lets a plumber clear a blocked sewer line.

Learn more: What to do after a sewage backup

Slab leak

A leak in a water or drain line under a home's concrete foundation. Signs include warm floor spots, damp flooring and a higher water bill.

Learn more: What is a slab leak?

Subfloor

The plywood or OSB layer under your finished flooring. It can swell or rot when water seeps beneath tile, carpet or vinyl.

Learn more: Emergency water removal

Sudden and accidental

Insurance wording for damage that happens quickly and unexpectedly, such as a burst pipe. It is usually covered, unlike gradual damage.

Learn more: Homeowners insurance and water damage in Arizona

Supply line

The flexible hose that carries water to a toilet, faucet, ice maker or washer. Old or kinked lines are a common source of leaks.

Learn more: Washer, toilet and softener leaks

T

Thermal imaging camera

A camera that shows temperature differences. Wet areas often look cooler, which helps find hidden moisture behind walls and ceilings.

Learn more: Signs of water damage in walls

W

Wash (desert wash)

A dry streambed that carries fast runoff during storms. Homes near washes can take on water and mud in a heavy monsoon.

Learn more: Flood damage restoration

Water extraction

Removing standing water with pumps and wet vacuums before drying starts. It is the fastest way to cut drying time.

Learn more: Emergency water removal

Water mitigation

The first stage of a water loss: stopping the source, removing water and drying the structure to prevent more damage.

Learn more: Water mitigation vs. restoration

Water softener

A system that removes hardness minerals from water. Its tank, valve and drain line can leak, often in a garage or utility room.

Learn more: Washer, toilet and softener leaks

Wicking

Water moving upward through porous materials such as drywall, carpet pad and wood, well above the visible water line.

Learn more: The water damage restoration process