Three Keys to Prevent Risks of Improper Drying

By Pat Muller, Ready 2 Respond Trainer

Musty odors, bacterial growth, and mold can all become serious problems when a flooded space is not dried quickly and completely.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends thoroughly drying wet carpets and backing within 24-48 hours after water intrusion occurs. Moisture that sits for too long creates a prime environment for mold, mildew, and other harmful contaminants to grow rapidly – leading to a range of health risks for occupants and more costly structural damage.

To mitigate the potential for these adverse effects, ensure your facilities’ drying process includes these three essential steps:

Extraction – Use a professional grade, purpose-built flood extractor to properly remove standing water. Do NOT use a shop vac, as they are not designed to remove large volumes of water or to handle contaminated water.
Equipment – Place commercial-grade dehumidifiers, airmovers and air scrubbers matching the size and quantity to the cubic area of the affected space. Do not attempt to dry using box fans or consumer-level dehumidifiers. Often facilities fail to use enough equipment to dry a large space quickly enough to prevent mold growth or additional damage to building materials.
Evaluation – Carefully measure various surfaces and materials in both the wet area and nearby, unaffected areas throughout the process to ensure that materials get “dry” by comparison. You must use moisture meters to determine moisture levels, as a “touch test” by hand cannot accurately measure dryness.

Proper extraction, effective equipment placement, and precise measurement of how far moisture has spread will help ensure that drying is complete in time to prevent further damage. Ready 2 Respond™ training can ensure that your facilities team is well-prepared to implement these three essential drying processes.

When responding to emergency water damage internally, these steps minimize downtime, prevent serious issues that extend repair time and cost, and restore spaces to a pre-loss condition so they can be reoccupied as soon as possible.