You're faced with major water damage! What happens next?
In the event of water loss, such as a flood or bursted pipes, you should do the following:
A. Call Local Water Damage Services at 786-345-6260 or 954-671-1040.
B. Determine the eource of the water and eliminate the source.
C. Contact your Insurance Company.
The Process From Beginning to End:
Once Local Water Damage Services is contacted by an owner, we will dispatch professional technicians who can meet your special needs, based on the amount water in the loss location and the number of rooms and or floors that are affected, the right men will be sent to you. Once our experienced technicians arrive, they will explain and discuss the entire project with the owner and develop the best course of action.
The first step during a water damage situation is to extract the water from the floor coverings which could include a combination of carpeting, wood flooring, tile and vinyl. The water must be removed or it will continue to damage the building's structure and contents. The longer the water is allowed to contaminate the area, the more likely the contents of the area are to damaged due to the standing water. The technician will determine if the pad and the remainder of the floor coverings can be dried or if they need to be removed.
After the floor area has been addressed, the technician will use an advanced moisture detection tool to monitor the water damage including the drywall/plaster, trim work, cabinets, Carpet, Upholstery etc. When our experienced technicians have determined how saturated the building materials are, they will decide to either dry these items with drying equipment or the building materials will be removed.
The final step during a water damage situation is to determine the amount and type of equipment that should be used on the project. For a typical water damage loss, there will be a combination of drying fans, dehumidifiers and potentially negative air machines. The amount of equiment necessary for each project will be determined by our highly experienced technicians at the loss location since there are many factors to take into consideration including: when the loss occurred, how wet the contents of the building were and the size of the affected areas.
The Science Behind The Drying Process
Understanding the specific relationship between temperature, humidity and air flow (psychometrics) can help dry materials dry faster and more thoroughly. Water damage restoration is as simple as 1, 2, and 3:
1. Have a highly trained professional remove as much water as quickly as possible.
2. Have a highly trained professional vaporize the remaining moisture as quickly as possible.
3. Have a highly trained professional remove the vaporized air as quickly as possible.
Drying Equipment
Air Mover - Air Movers are specifically designed and engineered to deliver a high volume of airflow over and under surfaces to expedite the drying process. This is the most common type of drying equipment used in the water damage industry.
Refrigerant Dehumidifier - Refrigerant Dehumidifiers work on the principle of condensation, the same as an air conditioner or refrigerator. As warm moist air passes over cold coils, moisture condenses on the coil fins and forms droplets that are collected. These units do not work properly in cold conditions or in areas with low relative humidity.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers - Desiccant Dehumidifiers create the lowest vapor pressure and use the absorption principle of removing moisture from the air. Desiccant disadvantages include more efficient operation at lower relative humidity below 20% relative humidity and temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Disadvantages include their high unit costs, high energy consumption and they must be vented outside of the building.
Moisture Detection Tools
Moisture Sensor - The most basic moisture detection instrument. It is designed to detect the presence of abnormally high levels of moisture in carpets and pads. Moisture Sensors indicate abnormal moisture levels through an audible beep that increases in frequency if moisture levels are higher.
Thermo-Hygrometer - This instrument measures temperature and relative humidity. Some of the more advanced units have the ability to calculate the GPP and display these figures on the digital read out so that users can read the surface temperature. These units are used to monitor any air that can influence the drying environment. They are used to verify equipment operation and to evaluate the need for additional equipment, particularly with equipment intended to reduce the humidity and/or control the temperature within a drying environment.
Infrared Camera - This device is capable of reading the surface temperature of most materials without any direct contact. Surface temperature readings are acquired by measuring infrared light. The key aspect in using infrared technology is to not forget the importance of moisture meters. If you have suspected areas that appear wet with a thermal imaging camera, you cannot act upon the readings until they have been verified by one of the moisture meters.
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