Drying floors can be a lengthy process if they have been
affected by flood. Drying flood damage floors can also be a bigger inconvenience
than you realise as you might have to seal the room completely which could mean
that the occupants have to temporarily relocate.
If you have ever been affected by flood damage (whether it
be as a business or as a home owner) you will know it can be very costly. The
cost either hits the business or the homeowner or the insurance company. The
quicker a floor can be dried out the better in terms of keeping the costs down.
Drying out a floor naturally isn't very cost effective. Fortunately there is
equipment out there that can speed up the drying process.
So what is the most efficient way to dry a flood damage floor?
Step one. Floor coverings such as rugs, mats or
carpets should be removed, then you need to remove as much of the excess water
as possible. This will involve using a specialist pump.
When the pumping has removed all excess water soak up the
rest with mops and sponges.
When you have removed as much water as possible, the next
step will be to dry out the floor.
Heat Drying
Step two. heating a damp surface will make it dry
faster.
However using heat can be tricky as hot air rises so it
might involve having to heat the entire room before it starts to dry out the
floor. This could take a long time.
Using a fan will help circulate hot air around the room.
Ensure that the room is well ventilated this will help moist air to escape.
If the water damage isn't too severe it might be possible to
re-use the carpets and rugs. If the carpet is has been damaged with
contaminated water then it will need to be professionally cleaned. It might
however be cheaper to replace the items
If you are unsure if the carpets where exposed to
contamination you should disinfect them to kill any spores left in the carpet
as these could be very harmful to your health.
The floor must be completely dry before laying any new
carpets or flooring. If they are left damp, it could cause the carpet to
stretch and become raised or cause wooden floors to warp.
Remember if the floor isn't completely dried out, mould or mildew
could grow, causing respiratory problems and potentially long term damage to
your property.
Dehumidifiers
Step three
These work by removing moisture from the air and replacing
it with dry air. One of the problems with using a dehumidifier is that it will
collect moisture from the entire room (not just the wet surface in question).
This basically means that the process will take a lot longer. The room will
need to be sealed throughout the process.
The issues with traditional drying equipment is that the
drying process is not entirely focussed on the wet area. Therefore will be time
consuming.
Sealing the room can be very inconvenient especially for a
business. This may also incur other costs such as the storing of any furniture
or additional equipment whilst the floor is being dried.
Step four. Don’t waste time, remember “ Time is
money” get in touch with the professionals and take away the misery of flood.
Crisp & Brite specialise in providing technical
advice and cleaning solutions for carpets, upholstery and hard floors. Call us
today on 01509 881137 for a no obligation quotation and see what we can do for
you...
