Water extraction followed by drying
When it comes to water damage, too many people mistakenly believe that it is just about wiping up the spill. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even minor spills require a significant amount of work to take care of properly. Don’t believe me? Think back to the last time you spilled a glass of water or had a sink overflow. You scrambled to make sure everything was properly dried, hoping to avoid an unsightly water stain, and then despite your best efforts, a few days later you find yourself wondering “what’s that smell?”
Whether your case of water damage is major or minor, the overall water removal process is still the same, to completely remove all excess water and dry everything out completely in order to avoid long term problems.
Of course the first step is to remove the excess water from the damaged area. This may be largely accomplished through the use of shop vacs or gas powered submersible pumps, depending on the depth of the spill. The vast majority of the water may be removed in this initial step.
While surfaces may appear dry following the water extraction process, just a touch to any surface will reveal that they are in fact still wet. Secondary drying will need to be performed to complete the water removal process, and this is accomplished through the use of air moving equipment such as high velocity fans, blowers, and dehumidifiers. Utilizing as many of these units as possible, and changing their position every few hours, will complete the drying process and make sure all residual moisture is removed from surfaces and the surrounding air.
Water removal from carpet may be a more difficult task, requiring that the carpet be taken up and moved outside where it can lay flat to dry. A patio or driveway is the perfect location for this. Make sure the carpet dries flat or else it may not reinstall properly. While the carpet is drying out, take care of the flooring beneath it. Laying dry carpet back down on a wet floor will do no good, and subsequent problems such as mold are guaranteed to appear.
Both the carpet and the flooring will need to be dried out, cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized, and then the whole process will need to be repeated. It may sound like overkill, but it makes sure that you do not end up dealing with any long term issues.
Water may also damage drywall, and this is usually evident by discoloration or swelling of the drywall. Damaged drywall can be cut out and replaced.
If the level of water in your home or business was considerable, say more than a foot or two in depth, then you may have also suffered damage to your electrical or heating system. No electronic devices should be activated until they have been inspected by a qualified electrician. Likewise, heating and air systems should be checked out by a qualified HVAC tech.
For best results with your water removal needs, contact your local water removal professionals. They will have the equipment, training, and experience to handle even the largest water damage or flood damage problems.
