Drying a structure

 Finding hidden moisture in the structure is essential to the drying process. By utilizing a moisture meter or even an infrared camera we can locate moisture that is hidden to the naked eye. We can detect moisture inside and behind walls, in the ceiling, under floor boards, and anywhere else moisture is present. You cannot successfully dry a structure to its pre-loss condition without locating all sources of moisture.

In most cases we can successfully dry a structure without demolition by locating all sources of moisture and understanding thermal dynamics and psychrometrics. The process of drying a structure to its pre-loss condition can be broken down into four principles:

The first principle of drying structure is the removal of excess water. In less severe cases, this can be done by simply mopping or soaking up excess moisture from hard surfaces or furnishings. When a significant amount of standing water is involved, a machine called an extractor is the most efficient way to remove excess water. The easier excess water can be removed, the faster the structure will dry. It is far easier to physically remove water than it is to remove it through evaporation and de-humidification.

Evaporation is the process of by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor. Evaporation does not remove moisture; it just moves it from the materials to the surrounding air. Once evaporation is occurring, the moisture can now be removed through de-humidification.

 De-humidification is the removal of moisture in the air. This is achieved by using low grain refrigerant de-humidifiers that lower the temperature of the air to the dew point. Once the air reaches the dew point, the moisture in the air changes from a vapor state to a liquid state and is dispersed through the drain tubes of the dehumidifier.

The fourth principle of drying a structure is to control the temperature within the impacted area. Controlling the temperature within the affected area directly impacts evaporation and de-humidification efforts. The understanding of the correct temperature for each specific type of loss is extremely important.

Our state of the art equipment combined with the understanding of these principles is what gives us the capability to dry any structure to its pre-loss condition.