Flood, leaks, a broken pipe, or high humidity are some of the most common accidents every home experiences. If there is water damage in the home, it is essential to remove the water and start the restoration process in the house within 48 hours. However, before beginning the restoration process, an individual needs to address a few things.
The first and foremost task of restoration services involves addressing the source of water. The more the water flows and spreads into the house, the more damage it will cause. For instance, if there is property damage caused due to a pipe burst, one should focus on getting the piper repaired, which would prevent more water from spilling and causing massive damage to the property.
The Drying Process
Prioritize water extraction from the property after dealing with the water source. Post water extraction, the professional contractors start with the drying process. Reacting quickly to the water damage will help prevent rust and mold in the home.
While dealing with the water extraction and drying process, take the help of the professionals, as their services help prevent excessive damage and decrease the risk of development of bacteria and fungus. The professionals with their latest tools and equipment will effectively remove water and dry out the home.
Enlisted below are the steps involved in the effective drying process until your appointed residential restoration service arrives.
Fans
Using fans is the best way to dry water in damaged areas, as they circulate air in eliminating moisture more effectively. However, in the presence of molds, using fans for drying poses a severe danger. The forceful air applied causes the mold spore to spread in other areas of the home. Hence, professional restoration services recommend inspecting the home for signs of mold growth before applying the drying process using fans.
Air Drying
Air-drying wet water-damaged homes is simple and easy, as it often includes opening the exterior doors and windows for better circulation of air into the house. However, the method works the best in small spaces and fails to work with high humidity levels. Moreover, one can apply the procedure in a sunny or dry season, when the sun’s heat can effectively dry out the affected area.
Dehumidifiers
The dehumidification process involves the removal of moisture from the air and surrounding materials in the affected area. Larger spaces affected by water damage use the method, as it helps in drying the water quickly from the site.
Usually, professionals use a combination of the three methods for effective, thorough, and faster drying out the home.
Amount of Time Required to Dry Water
Unfortunately, no one can tell the exact or the estimated time required for the drying process. Generally, a water-damaged home takes around five days to dry up. However, it takes a couple of days in some cases, whereas in some cases, it takes several weeks. One needs to consider several aspects before determining the amount of time for drying a home.
Factors to Consider While Figuring Out the Drying Time
The Source of Water
Not all types of water damage have the same effects and take some time to dry up. It is the same with the kind of water affecting the property. If the home experienced water damage due to a local pipe or rain bursting, it is easier for the professionals to clean the house and apply the drying process.
However, if the home experienced water damage due to flooding or bursting of sewage pipe, or water overflowed from nearby lakes and rivers, it isn’t easy to clean and dry the home. The latter involves dirty water, which might contain contaminants, which takes longer to clean up and dry the home.
The Amount of Water Affected the Home
While determining the drying time of the home, one needs to consider the amount of water entered the house. The more water entering the home, the longer it will take to dry up the property. If a few inches of water entered the property, it is easy and quick to pump out the water. If the property experienced four feet of standing water, it would take several hours or even days for drying up.
The Drying Equipment
The types of drying materials a professional service uses to make a huge difference. Using an ordinary fan will take more time and longer in drying out water from a property’s basement than using a high-volume fan and dehumidifiers.
Besides, the more drying equipment the professional uses, the quicker it would take to dry the home. Hence, it is better to take the help of professional restoration services. They use the latest, advanced, and efficient equipment for drying out water from water-damaged homes.
The Damaged Materials
The type of materials that experienced water damage also plays a vital role in the drying time. Generally, carpet and other upholstery materials take longer hours to dry out than metals and plastic materials. Besides, one also needs to consider the different building materials affected due to water damage. Buildings made from drywall and wood floors are more challenging to dry out than stone buildings.
If the house’s carpeting encounters clean water, simply drying out the carpet will eliminate the water. However, if the carpeting meets with dirty water, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly, which lengthens the time of drying out the home.
Conclusion
Water damage is genuinely a stressful disaster to deal with, and an individual needs to be quick and efficient in taking actions to prevent worsening problems. Mostly, drying out water- damaged homes is both tricky and challenging. Even if an individual might think everything dried out, the house and its belongings might still be vulnerable to water damage problems.
One might, later on, find the development of issues behind the walls or under the floors. While the individual is still unsure, call a professional restoration service provider. It is best to inquire about the services in one’s locality and keep their contact numbers handy so that they do not have to hassle in finding the benefits when the accident occurs.
