After the cause of standing water has been taken care of and the damage has been assessed, it’s time for the drying process to start. Water damage is a major contributor to loss of property. Restoring a water damaged home means to return it a livable, pre-damaged condition and involves water removal, decontamination and drying. You need to act fast because standing water and moisture create the perfect environment for bacteria and mold. Prolonged exposure to an environment like this can cause allergic reactions and even disease. Homeowners will feel more comfortable with the process if they understand what’s going on. Let’s go over some of the equipment and supplies you’ll see while your home is being restored.
Flood & Water Damage Restoration Equipment
Technicians are looking for moisture content, temperature and relative humidity readings.
Moisture content readings– You will see the technician walking around with a hand-held device called a moisture sensor. The device will be held up to the surfaces of your home. The key to drying out carpet, hardwood floors or walls that are soaked is to first measure the moisture content of the surface. This reading will tell the technician how much moisture is trapped in the surface and will be tested throughout the process to see if the moisture is all getting removed. All surfaces naturally have some moisture in them, so they will need to have a baseline reading of an area that has not been affected because no surface is ever entirely dry.
Temperature & Relative Humidity Readings—The other important element in the water restoration process is to determine the condition of the air. There are many different measurements that can be taken in the air but the important ones here are the temperature and the relative humidity. Temperature is easy, but the relative humidity is the amount of moisture in the air compared to the moisture the air can hold at that same temperature. A device called a hygrometer is used to measure temperature and relative humidity. Higher temperatures will dry a surface faster and lower relative humidity means it’s easier to get water vapors pulled out of a surface and into the air. To determine the number of dehumidifiers that will be needed for the job it’s necessary to know how quickly water will evaporate. These readings will be done through the process to see if changes need to be made.
Water Damage Restoration in Waco, Dallas, Arlington, Harker Heights, Cedar Park, Allen & the State of Texas
Specialized equipment is then used to dry out the interior and remove moisture. These include industrial strength vacuums, industrial fans and air movers. Water restoration is a complex task and needs to be done by professionals. It requires a lot of technology and expertise to ensure it’s done correctly. If your home has been flooded because of a broken pipe, a leaky roof or a natural disaster, it’s imperative to get the restoration process started as soon as possible. Contact Heart of Texas Chem-Dry to get the process started. We are certified with the IICRC in water damage restoration!