Have you ever heard of "The Science of Drying?"

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

Water extraction and structural drying of a water-damaged home in  Crete IL, or anywhere else, is a science, referred to in the Restoration Industry as "The Science of Drying".  It involves the use of established equations, applied knowledge of material properties,  psychometrics (the relationship between relative humidity, absolute humidity, and temperature).

 Another factor is the physical state of the water (ice, liquid water, and water vapor).  We often deal with water-damaged homes in which water is present in all 3 states at the same time.  It also requires specialized extraction and drying equipment, and a thorough knowledge of the operating principals of each piece. This machinery is powerful, capable of removing moisture rapidly, but can also damage materials if not used correctly.  The  Certified Water Restoration Technician considers all of these factors and then applies established equations to determine the most efficient extraction rate possible without causing additional damage.

Aside from the damage moisture can cause to materials, due to the potential for mold or other microbial growth, it can also present a hazard to human health.  So the offending water should be extracted as soon as possible.   

There is often non-visible mold present on surfaces that must be tested by a Certified Mold Technician, who will take samples by swabbing the surface of affected materials.  The samples must be sent off to a certified lab for analysis.  

Mold can also grow in concealed spaces, such as inside walls or beneath the flooring. To treat mold under these circumstances usually requires removal of drywall or flooring to access areas for testing and drying.  Under most conditions non-porous materials can be dried, disinfected and restored by the technician. Structural wood materials can usually be restored.  They must be dried and then sanded to a specified depth.   Sometimes porous materials, such as carpet, drywall our upholstered furniture cannot be restored and must be discarded.