When you have an inch of water on the floor of your Augusta establishment, you realize that you are woefully unprepared for the world of water damage restoration. We at Southeast Restoration know that in general, the process of water damage cleanup includes many steps to repair your structure and prevent the problem of molding in the future.
Thankfully, the best water restoration companies use the latest equipment and many techniques. Therefore, before you hire any service company, make sure they use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to speed up the restoration process.
Sometimes, the situation only warrants mopping up with some towels or a mop. If you spilled less than a cup of liquid less that 5 minutes ago, you can probably safely remove the water, then add some ventilation. The concept is simple: increase airflow circulation within the room, which speeds up the process of evaporation, thus allowing the water to dissipate from the environment. It’s a relatively inexpensive method for restoration since no expensive equipment is required.
In some cases, an indoor heater may be placed inside a room to increase the rate at which water evaporates from the room. If there’s excessive sunlight, the windows can be opened for better circulation. Again: simple and cheap.
Faster drying is better; with little or no moisture present, mold and mildew can’t flourish. So in many cases, the flood damage company may resort to dehumidification. The decision to use a desiccant humidifier or a refrigerant-based humidifier depends on your situation.
The professional Low Grain Refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers to reduce relative humidity as low as 10%, removing up to 16 gallons of water from the air, per day of operation . This represents a vast improvement in efficiency — 24 to 48 hours as opposed to four or more days with older equipment.
Another new type of moisture-eliminating equipment dries the inside of walls without removing drywall. So in this process, baseboards are removed and small holes are drilled through walls near the base. Air is forced into the cavity behind the wall, dramatically reducing drying time for the wall. This method is especially appropriate when water damage originates from above the room being treated.
Today’s powerful water extraction equipment is far more effective at removing moisture than your simple home vacuum unit. Properly trained professionals use highly effective equipment, procedures and techniques to extract water from the pad through the carpet, leaving the underlying pad slightly moist but not wet. Less expensive = no removal of carpet; discarding of the pad or buying new carpet.
In the right setting, a restoration professional will turn to a desiccant dehumidifier. Desiccants use silica gel that absorbs moisture from the air. Desiccant dehumidifiers generate extremely dry air (down to 5% RH) and very warm temperatures (up to 110° F). Many customers prefer the desiccant dehumidifiers because they are lighter and quieter in operation because of the lack of a compressor. When there are humidity-sensitive processes, or indoor air quality is a high priority, desiccant dehumidification is the most favorable option for climate control.
Using the appropriate advanced drying techniques will remove moisture from the structure of your house to prevent irreversible swelling. High moisture levels in the home don’t just affect wood; they have a devastating effect on metal. When exposed to high moisture, metal starts to rust and weaken. When your home suffers water damage, you need the experts on site immediately. Of all the tools and techniques available, the right method for you is the one that fits 1) the type of water, 2) the materials damaged, 3) the length of time and 4) your budget. When you need emergency water damage services, SRG provides professional consultation before a full range of services: deodorization, complete sanitizing, air duct cleaning, odor removal, and structural repairs. Southeast Restoration Group wants to bring your home back to ‘whole’ so your family can enjoy your safe, clean home.