Drying and Dehumidifying the Home After Water Damage

When your home suffers from water damage, it is imperative that you have it dried and dehumidified as soon as possible. Mopping up the puddles and using a wet vacuum are just the initial steps of the water-removal process. If the water sat for a long time, it would have been absorbed by your walls and equipment in your home. Drywall loves soaking up water. It is very porous and will take as much water as possible. Thus, the trapped water will not find a way to exit your home and will continue to cause damage.

After water damage occurs, lots of water hides in various parts of your home that are not easy to detect. This is the reason why proper drying and dehumidification of a home after water damage is so crucial.

Proper Structural Drying

Proper structural drying is essential for protecting your home from significant damage. There could be water beneath the floor, in the ceiling, or inside of the walls. It might not be apparent but you can’t take any risk.

The result of failing to dry your home or improper drying can be devastating. The trapped water will continue to spread. This can eventually lead to damage in the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, or basement simply because the walls are all connected. Water may even start breaking down your home’s structure. Ceiling or walls could potentially collapse. Hardwood flooring might buckle and require replacement. The trapped water can also travel to the electrical systems in your home, putting you at risk for a fire.

Home restoration experts use several advanced methods to check your home’s structure and they have tools to measure moisture levels. They can spot the absorbed water and dry the affected areas to prevent the problem from getting worse. This is why you should hire a home restoration expert to dry your home after water damage.

Mold Presents a Risk

Mold loves damp areas and it can form in these locations in just one day. If water is present in your home’s structure, mold will set up camp there. Mold will quickly take over when there is nothing to prevent it from growing. When the mold is under the floor or in the walls, you won’t know about it until it has spread through the surface.

Mold is not only unattractive but can also be fatal to certain people. If your home isn’t dried properly after water damage, it can serve as a breeding ground for mold.

How Professional Drying and Dehumidifying Works

When a professional detects moisture in the walls and other areas of the home, they will set the stage for advanced drying and dehumidifying. They will first locate the area where moisture is present and then remove any items that have been impacted by the moisture. If there is upholstered furniture in the area where the water damage has occurred, it will have to be removed and dried properly to prevent the growth of mold.

After the furniture has been removed, the restoration professional will place industrial grade driers around the affected area. These large, powerful fans will throw air on parts of the home that have absorbed water. These strong fans expedite the process of evaporation.

As the powerful equipment dries your home, the water that is being removed from the walls and other surfaces will enter the air. Advanced dehumidifiers remove this water from the air using a special fan. The moisture is drawn in with cooled coils that are built to attract water. All the water drops into a reservoir from the coils and is stored there. Once the reservoir is full, the operator will empty it. Some high-end dehumidifiers have attachments that directly funnel the water out of the house.

During the home remediation process, the water damage restoration expert will use a moisture detector to measure the level of moisture in the affected areas. If any adjustments are required to promote the drying process, the restoration professional will adjust their strategy. Once your home has been completely dried and the professionals have dealt with the damage, they will move personal possessions and dry furniture back into the home.

Call the Experts for Drying and Dehumidifying

The water damage restoration experts at STOP Restoration (S.T.O.P.) can properly dry your house after water damage. We offer 24/7 emergency services. We offer our restoration services in the areas of Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Montgomery County.  You can call us at 215-631-3298 to set up an appointment for an estimate. If you need immediate emergency services, we will arrive at your doorstep with all the required equipment to complete the drying and dehumidifying process.