Structural Drying Processes Can Help Prevent Further Water Damage

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Many restoration teams regard structural drying as being one of the best ways to alleviate water damage since it removes excess moisture which is trapped within building materials. Plue, the experts can do so in a reasonable timespan. Below is a detailed analysis of how this process works and the different phases that must be completed.

Water Extraction and Air Movement

Water extraction simply involves the elimination of excess liquid, which enhances drying efficiency. However, air movement is also a necessity, because without it the water will continue saturating the surface which will slow down the evaporation rate. This in turn can lead to the development of mold or rot. Before air movement can occur, the restoration specialist will test the surfaces for asbestos or mold, and once it has been confirmed to be safe, the movement of air can commence.

Dehumidifier

Once the water has been extracted and air movement has occurred, applying a dehumidifier is essential. The reason is that moisture is capable of trapping itself within building materials when dehumidifiers aren’t utilized to capture excess liquid vapor. Just because a surface is dry by touch doesn’t mean that it has low water content. Relative humidity might still be higher than usual, and if this is the case it will promote the growth of mold.

Temperature

It is crucial to maintain a consistent temperature. This is because operating within optimal temperatures for dehumidifiers will maximize drying. Most experts recommend a temperature between seventy-five and ninety degrees which will accelerate evaporation while releasing moisture from the construction materials. You’ll want to avoid turning on air conditioners or allowing cool air into the area as it will slow the process of drying, but increasing the heat should also be avoided as it can inhibit dehumidifier effectiveness.

Additional Drying Techniques

There are a number of additional techniques that restoration specialists will use in certain situations, with two of the most popular being aggressive and disruptive drying:

• Aggressive drying

This technique is usually reserved for drying within a place and is well suited to small water damage incidents.  The drying equipment must be used for enhancing the rate of evaporation by spiking the airflow and temperature. The water category must be clean and free of sediment or building materials such as hydraulic fluid or asbestos. This technique is also popular because it is cost effective and minimizes downtime.

• Disruptive Drying

In order to perform disruptive drying, the construction materials (rather than structural materials) must be removed. This includes baseboards, pads, insulation, flood cuts, and anything which can’t be efficiently dried within a short time span. This technique is preferred for drying structural objects which are normally concealed by finishes. It is applied to category two water, which is also known as grey water, as well as black water (category three). This is a standardized technique that gives you the ability to accurately assess moisture content within studs, wall cavities, and other areas which are hidden, ensuring that the structure is completely dry.