Water Damage Restoration Is A Job For The Professionals
Water damage restoration is not a simple process. It involves many stages using high powered machinery and expert knowledge so as not to cause further damage.
Water damage cleanup has become a bona-fide science. What used to consist of a contractor setting up a few fans in a flooded basement has now become a bona-fide science, largely in part to the greater understanding we now have of the serious negative health repercussions that can be caused by mold, mildew, and bacteria growth, and the better technologies available to tackle a water restoration job.
Water damage cleanup or water damage restoration is so advanced that they have developed a word for the process and science of drying; Psychometry
Psychometry Definition: the science and practice associated with atmospheric air mixtures and water vapor, their evaluation, control and effect on materials.
A professional water damage restoration contractor will use these innovative methods for water extraction and removal that involves drying of carpets, rugs, mats, floors and walls to deodorizing and disinfecting effect that restores your damaged areas.
Water Removal Equipment
- Moisture detectors, hygrometers and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation.
- Infrared camera may be used to identify water location for thorough water removal.
- Submersible and commercial grade pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water.
- Truck mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal.
Sanitizing Agents, Germicides, & Anti-Microbial Treatments
- Deodorization products control odors from excessive moisture.
- Disinfection products stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms.
State-of-the-Art Drying Equipment
- Drying equipment helps prevent property water damage like swelling and warping of floors, walls and furniture.
- Industrial grade dehumidifiers minimize secondary water damage.
- High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads and furniture, evaporating moisture.
- Some situations call for special drying techniques that require other state of the art equipment and training.
Initial scoping needs to be done to determine how extensive the water damage is. Water always seeks equilibrium with its environment and wet always goes to dry, if it can. Just finding the extent of water damage on the floor isn’t enough. The water damage needs to be mapped to determine how far up the walls it has wicked, and how far down into the substrate the water damage has gone, including possibly entering the crawlspace in a conventional foundation. This can’t be done by touch. Very specialized water damage inspection tools and meters will be required, and an experienced water damage professional has them.
A thorough understanding of water damage demands every water damage contractor be familiar with the “science of drying” also called psychrometry. Ask your water damage contractor what the dry standard is of each structural component suffering potential water damage. With proper water damage inspection tools and water damage experience, he should be able to tell you on a scale of 100 points the moisture content of the water damaged materials.
If he can’t, call a different water damage restoration professional. Make sure your water damage restoration contractor draws a “moisture map” of the affected areas showing the full extent of the water damage migration, and that he updates the map regularly to show the progress of the water damage/structural drying project.
A professional water damage restoration contractor should select the structural drying equipment in a scientific method based on materials, size of the water damage area, and the class and category of the water damage. Minnesota homeowners, property managers, building owners, and churches suffering the effects of ANY kind of water damage, cleaning needs to be done right to avoid further damage. At the very least he should be certified in applied structural drying and water damage restoration.
