Restorative drying is a process that involves extracting moisture, dehumidification, and rolling to dry out a structure. It's a strategy that aims to create an imbalance in vapor pressure between wet materials and the surrounding environment, which encourages the release of excess moisture. The goal is to restore a structure to a condition that's at least as clean and attractive as it was before water damage occurred, while also being economical and efficient.
Here are some steps that can be taken to dry out water:
Identify and stop the water source
Ventilate and dehumidify
This can be done by opening windows and doors, using high-powered fans, and replacing moist air with fresh, dry air.
Clean and disinfect
This can involve removing debris or mud, cleaning all surfaces with a mild detergent or commercial disinfectant, and sanitizing to remove any remaining bacteria.
Enhance evaporation
Technicians can try to enhance evaporation by:
- Lowering humidity in the air.
- Increasing airflow across wet surfaces.
- Controlling the temperature of air and surfaces.
- Using outside air when possible.
- Creating a drying chamber.