Four Key Factors That Affect Air Moisture Content In Andover

7/13/2017 (Permalink)

Restoring your home after suffering water damage is not a quick or simple process.

What Methods SERVPRO Uses To Return Your Home To Pre-Damage Condition

There is a mistaken belief that removing standing water is all that needs to be done to restore a home after a flooding incident. Each home requires more steps involving additional workers and equipment.

To restore an Andover home after water damage means carefully drying the structure after removing standing water and moisture that was trapped in the floors and behind walls. SERVPRO understands that four key factors affect air moisture content and determine which methods we use to return a home to an undamaged condition.

Temperature
The ideal range to dry a home is from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If the HVAC is not operative, our technicians set-up portable space heaters to raise the temperature in the damaged areas. We make certain that the temperature on the first day is no higher than 80 degrees to avoid accidentally raising the air moisture content level rather than lowering it.

Humidity
The humidity level is based on the actual amount of water vapor as opposed to its total capacity. Any level that is 60 percent or higher means the air is saturated which increases the drying time. To reduce the humidity level, work crews establish dehumidifiers in the affected rooms and hallways. In most cases, we can reduce the humidity level by at least 20 percent in a 24-hour period.

Evaporation
Dehumidifiers also help to speed up the drying process throughout a home. Once technicians reduce the standing water to under two inches, evaporation greatly increases. To increase this pace, technicians examine the speed of the flood waters and then determine which areas were under water the longest amount of time. Knowing this allows us to place dehumidifiers, air movers, and exhaust fans in the key sectors of the home that need attention as soon as possible.

Air Movement
We use the same exhaust fans and air movers to force cooler air out of an affected room and replace it with a dry, warmer air from the outside. This technique is also useful in drying out personal and structural property by forcing warm air over the surfaces to draw out excess moisture.

Restoring your home after suffering water damage is not a quick or simple process. It is not enough to turn over the sofa and set it outside on the deck to dry the legs and skirt; you need a professional service to ensure your home is properly restored to its original state. To get the process started, call SERVPRO of Coon Rapids / Central Anoka County today at (763) 712-9712. We are here to help you and our community recover from water or any other disaster.

To learn more about the city of Andover click here.