Over the past 20 years, water damage restoration and mold remediation have advanced from a contractor's sideline to a mainstream branch of building science. Research and technology targeted toward the process of drying homes and commercial structures have identified the most effective techniques in the process known as applied structural drying (ASD).
Discovering what works and discarding what doesn't is the essence of all advancement in technology and science. At Rytech we've distilled the process down to a few fundamental principles that consistently produce a successful outcome in mitigating water damage and mold contamination. While no two projects are exactly the same, laboratory testing and real-world results have identified four general components of ASD success that are critical in most cases.
Extraction
Getting the water out is priority one. For every minute water and moisture remain in an indoor environment, ongoing damage exacerbates. Cutting-edge technology — such as the high-powered Hydro-X extractor as well as the Water Claw — aids in fast water removal without the need for expensive and destructive dismantling. Water extraction today is 35 percent more efficient and effective.
Enhanced Airflow
A water-damaged home requires a higher rate of continuous fresh airflow. Most home ventilation systems including fans and other devices don't move the volume of air required to support the drying process and prevent further moisture migration. Specialized, high-volume fans purpose-built for water damage scenarios are standard equipment on any project.
Dehumidifying
Extracting humidity from the air inside a flooded structure is every bit as critical as removing standing water. High humidity infiltrates the entire house and is a major cause of secondary damage including toxic mold growth. Utilizing refrigerant-based industrial dehumidifiers to condense water vapor and/or silica gel desiccants to absorb it knocks down damaging indoor humidity.
Temperature Moderation
Temperatures that are too high or too low are bad for effective water damage mitigation. Maintaining indoor temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees is the optimal range for effectively using humidity reduction and water extraction technology.
For more, ask the professionals at Rytech about how these components work together to make water damage recovery in your home successful.
