Drying Techniques As Part Of Flood Damage Restoration!

Flood damage restoration in Tomball Texas

The biggest challenge that flood damage restoration services face when repairing water damage is getting everything dry. Water extraction must be done quickly, then various techniques must be used to dehumidify affected structures and items before they are damaged beyond repair. Besides air drying, which can take too long in many cases and invite mold and mildew growth, flood damage restoration services utilize a number of faster and more efficient drying methods. By using a more advanced system, even severely affected items and surfaces can be restored.

Structural Drying Methodology

Structural drying is a flood damage restoration process used to restore building materials and other surfaces that soak up water. Once an event has been classified as a Category 1 or greater flood, it is necessary to look for damage to floors, drywall, and other structural elements and restore them by thorough drying. Through humidity testing and experience with various materials, flood damage restoration services carefully assess the situation and then design the best plan to dehumidify everything as quickly as possible and replace what cannot be properly dried.

Structural drying plans are based on science and an understanding of how to approach different types of damage to achieve the best results. To ensure that restorers have the required knowledge and can make the best decisions on how to proceed, the IICRC now offers a certificate in Applied Structural Drying.

In-Place Drying Process

Once a structural drying plan has been devised, in-place drying of structures and items can begin. In-place drying is the process of removing all moisture from the affected area without actually having to remove carpet, flooring, and furnishings from a home. Although removing everything and individually drying it out is how flood damage restoration was previously handled, important developments in drying technology have made this unnecessary. By using high-powered water extractors, blowers, ventilators, and dehumidifiers, flood damage restoration services are now able to get an area restored in a matter of days, while everything stays in place.

It is important to note that in-place techniques are generally only acceptable for Category 1 clean water damage and only when restoration begins within 24 hours. Gray or black water damage generally requires the removal of items, some of which may not be salvageable and others that may require special cleaning and disinfecting. A Category 1 event can progress to Category 2 if mold or mildew growth begins because drying efforts were not quickly begun.

Air Drying and Evaporation

Although there are many new and advanced methods to dry out structures and items today, there are still times when natural air drying and dehumidifying are preferable. Depending on the building materials from which a building is constructed, fast forced hot air drying can cause damage that is avoidable by simply allowing materials to air dry. This is generally the case with older or historic buildings, which must be dried slower by using air ventilators and powerful dehumidifiers to obtain the best results. Preventing mold and mildew is always a challenge in these instances.

When damage after an incident involving water is significant, flood damage restoration usually entails more than simply mopping up water and opening windows. Flood damage restoration services must act quickly to assess the degree of destruction and determine the best methods for drying out structures and other items. Application of the right drying techniques can be the difference between successful restoration and having to rebuild and replace instead!

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The marvel of modern plumbing has made every home a cleaner, safer, and more convenient place to live. Still, there are times when things go wrong with the plumbing or other items in the home that use water, resulting in a need for flood damage restoration. Fortunately, most of these risks are easy to monitor and control. Before they are forced to deal with a flood in their house that warrants a call to a flood damage restoration company, homeowners should pay attention to the five following risks that are known to cause the most damage!

Home Water Heaters - Although they can last a decade or more, most homeowners only think about their water heaters when they are not producing hot water. Yet it is important to realize that water heaters can fail in other ways. Avoiding the need to call a flood damage restoration company means keeping these appliances properly maintained and inspecting them frequently. Drain and flush the tank yearly to prevent sediment buildup. Check for corrosion, monitor intake feeds, and set the unit in a pan designed to prevent water damage in the event of leakage. If any evidence of a leak is present, consider having the unit replaced before a more significant leak can occur.
Toilet Water Intake Line - Even though the toilet itself may be working fine, the water intake feed is a common source of leaks that can go undetected for a long time. It can also cause significant damage to bathroom walls and flooring, as well as the floor structure beneath the toilet. Rather than waiting until flood damage restoration is necessary, check the feed lines behind the toilet frequently and always investigate any leak, no matter how small it is.
Washing Machines - Washing machines can cause flooding in multiple ways. The most common cause of water damage from a washer is when the intake line leaks or bursts. A large discharge of water can also happen when the drain tube gets damaged or clogged. The answer to both problems, and a way to prevent needing flood damage restoration, is carefully monitoring these tubes and hoses. Replace cheap rubber intake feed lines with more durable braided metal ones and frequently inspect the drain hose. Installing a shutoff valve in the washer feed line also provides a fast way to cut off water in case a hose does burst.
Icemaker Feed Lines - Tucked away behind the refrigerator where nobody can see them, icemaker inlet lines are a common source of leakage. This is not usually noticeable until the damage has been done, since smaller leaks typically do not interrupt the unit from making ice. Since it can be hard to inspect these lines, they can be replaced with a woven steel water feed. Installing a leak detector for the water line can also help, alerting appliance owners before there is a need to call a flood damage restoration company.
General Home Plumbing - Whether it is a feed line or a drain line, pipes age over time and can be affected by weather, corrosion, and many other things. Homeowners must routinely check under their sinks for leaks and anywhere else where there are water or drain lines. All pipes should be properly insulated in the winter to prevent cracking or bursting. At the first sign of a leak or finding evidence of an old one, a plumber should be called to inspect the pipes. Homeowners should also learn where the main water shutoff is in case a leak or burst pipe is discovered. Stopping the water flow quickly will reduce the amount of damage that is caused.

Keeping up with these home maintenance tasks helps every homeowner reduce their risk of leaks and floods that could require flood damage restoration. Rather than having to call a flood damage restoration company, preventive steps can be taken to keep a flood from occurring in the first place!

Category: Flood Damage Restoration in Conroe Texas