subject: Drying Out A Building After Flooding [print this page] Once you have checked that it is safe to return to your property, the first task is likely to be pumping out all of the remaining standing water. This is vital to reduce the structural damage to the property but also for health reasons: standing water can be a breeding ground for micro-organisms which can also become airborne and cause illness and disease. Dependent on the volume of water, you can remove the water by either bucket or by hiring a pump.
The next task is drying out the fabric of the building which can take weeks or months. This partly depends on how long the building has been in contact with the water and is also dependent on the building materials themselves. All stone, brickwork, plaster, concrete and wood are porous to some extent and so will have absorbed varying amounts of moisture.
There are two different methods used to dry out a building and you may need to consult an expert to determine which way will be most efficient in your property. In simple terms they are:
* creating an air flow through the building and adding heat
* closing the building and employing dehumidification
Method 1
You may be able to turn your propertys central heating back on but in many cases it is safer to use a heater powered from a generator. For best results, the temperature should be set to 20-22 degrees and it is essential that the property is well ventilated otherwise there will be a build up of damp and mould if the water vapour cannot escape. Opening doors and windows allows good air flow as does hiring an industrial fan.
Method 2
Dehumidifiers are able to control damp conditions and condensation by taking moisture out of the air and they are frequently used in the aftermath of disasters and emergencies such as flooding. They are often preferred to the heat/air movement solution as it is possible to have better control over the conditions in each particular environment. With dehumidification, the whole area to be dried is sealed off to ensure that the machinery can operate in optimum conditions.
There are further benefits to dehumidification. Due to the control achievable during this process, it is possible to dry out materials at a sensible rate in order to prevent further corrosion, cracking, warping or shrinkage which can sometimes occur during method one if the process is forced and extremes of temperature used. Ultimately the gentler dehumidification process can allow more of the fabric of the building to be salvaged.
To check whether the property is properly dry, it is best to use a meter to gain a scientific reading rather than relying on your own intuition. However, a lack of condensation may also indicate that the building has dried out and it is time to hire a meter.
Flooding damage can be devastating but try to remain patient during the drying out process to ensure that you are not confronted with more problems down the line.
