Dehumidification & Drying
Objective -The objective of any dehumidification procedure is to reduce the moisture content - of the building air in order to draw excess water from the structure and contents and return the environment to pre-loss conditions. Key questions such as: HOW? HOW DRY? HOW MUCH? should be addressed to determine the most expeditious and cost effective solution for each situation.
There are two major methods of dehumidification - desiccant and refrigeration. In either case, a number of air movers are stationed inside the building to circulate the dry air from the dehumidifier into all areas and to speed the drying process. As much of the water saturated debris as possible (fallen ceiling tiles, boxes, ruined sheet rock, etc.) should be removed to minimize the water load on the dehumidification process.
Contrary to popular belief, a building cannot be dried too quickly. The least damage is caused when the building contents are dried as quickly as possible. The drying process is monitored by measuring the humidity ratio daily and by plotting the results on a chart. Individual items’ moisture content should be measured with appropriate instruments to evaluate the effectiveness of the process.