Unlocking the Power of Humidity, Airflow, and Temperature

By Pat Muller, Ready 2 Respond Trainer

Understanding how heat, airflow, and temperature (HAT) work together helps facilities teams create optimal conditions for faster drying and less downtime after water damage. These three elements significantly affect how quickly wet materials dry by influencing the state of water – solid, liquid, or gas – and the evaporation rate.

By effectively managing HAT, facilities can take control of the drying process and speed recovery.

1. Humidity: Humidity directly impacts how quickly wet materials dry. When air is saturated with moisture, evaporation slows down because there’s nowhere for the water to go. Lowering the humidity in a water-damaged area creates conditions for faster evaporation, allowing wet surfaces to dry more efficiently. Dehumidifiers are a common tool used to reduce moisture and boost drying.
2. Airflow: Proper airflow – created by adding airmovers – is essential for removing moist air from around wet surfaces and replacing it with drier air. Without adequate airflow, air remains more saturated near wet materials, slowing evaporation. It’s also important to maintain consistent circulation between affected areas to dry more consistently throughout all spaces.
3. Temperature: When water gains or loses energy, it changes states – for example, heat turns liquid water into vapor. The higher the surface temperature of wet materials, the more energy is available to speed up evaporation. Therefore, increasing the temperature in an affected area helps the air to hold more moisture – accelerating the drying process. However, it’s important to maintain a balance, as excessive heat can damage some materials, leading to issues such as warping.

Simply put, evaporation increases when drier air is used, air is moved more rapidly across surfaces, and wet materials are made warmer. HAT is the ideal starting point for any drying project.

Facility professionals must understand these foundations of structural drying as they are responsible for protecting both assets and occupant health. Proper management of humidity, airflow, and temperature prevents long-term building damage, maintains occupant satisfaction, and sustains healthier indoor air quality. By mastering these concepts, facility managers can respond more effectively to water incidents, minimize business interruption, and demonstrate the kind of strategic thinking that can advance their careers.

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