What To Expect
The property has been flooded and
is wet with higher than usual humidity. It may be without
heating and there may be a smell from a number of incident
related causes. The WATER OUT drying system has been deployed
to the property with a view to removing all the excess moisture
caused by the incident and to ensure no mould growth.
Fresh air from outside the property is drawn into the system
via an inlet port. This air is filtered to remove various
particulates. It is then drawn into the processing unit where
it is "superheated" to a set temperature and its
moisture content lowered to around 2% relative humidity. (The
average humidity in a flooded UK property in average conditions
will usually vary up to about 80%). The processed hot dry
air is then ducted into the property through an agreed access
point. As the processed air is pumped into the property this
hot dry air with a reduced moisture grain (laden moisture
weight) content begins to take up the existing damp within
the property. Another duct, the extractor duct, which has
been strategically placed draws out the air from within the
property, together with moisture, odors and particulates.
The number of exchanges of the air within the property depends
on the size of the building but reduction of the humidity
within the property can be considerable and noticeable within
a very short time. This humidity and odor reduction is brought
about by the continual exchange of the damp smelly air in
the property by the clean dry hot air from the WATER OUT system.
By exploiting the Theory of Thermodynamics, we ensure that
moisture from within the solid structure is drawn outwards
to be absorbed into the dryer processed air - remember the
air in the property is being constantly exchanged with drier
processed air so that continually humidity is kept low as
moisture is being removed at a very significant rate. Quite
often to hasten the drying process we instal air movers to
create rapid air movement which causes moisture to be released
from the structure at an even faster rate.
The speed at which the property dries can be considerable.
We are often "told" that drying too quickly will
result in timbers shrinking, cracking or warping etc, but
it is our experience that by using the WATER OUT system, the
drying rate of structural materials is kept in equilibrium
and we have rarely seen any secondary damage from drying too
quickly.
How do we monitor the drying process?
From the start we install data logging equipment which will
record at set intervals, temperature, humidity, dew points
and structural wood moisture equivalent and we will eventually
be used to produce a simple to read chart of the job from
start to finish. During the drying program we will also carry
out structural moisture checks using scientific industry standard
moisture detection equipment such as Protimeter MMS and more
advanced thermal imaging fro temperature differential. We
are trying to achieve what can reasonably be argued to be
a pre-incident condition.
Inherent long term damp problems can be improved and sometimes
removed temporarily but unless the water ingress is secured
expect to see the problem return. WATER OUT technicians can
carry out nitrate and chloride salts detection testing to
prove a long term inherent damp problem which ideally needs
to be addressed. Nitrate and chloride salts within a structure
resulting possibly from a long term dampness problem will
show as high moisture content on damp testing. The inexperienced
technician of another organisation might interpret this as
a still wet building, keeping their dehumidifiers
in longer than is necessary. Efflorescent salts associated
with structural drying can often be expected and seen as white
salty or fluffy looking deposit which can be treated without
too much difficulty. Please ask our site manager for advice
on al these conditions.
|
