| |
|
|
|
Category 1-2-3
Waterloss, Extraction and Restorative Drying |
|
The
Inner Workings of Water Extraction and Restorative Drying
Just as the amount of water is important to consider when
determining damage levels, so is the kind of water that's involved.
Depending on the circumstances, what seems like a relatively easy
cleanup can turn vastly more complex and hazardous the longer it
goes unattended. At DRC Contract Cleaning and Restorative Drying,
we're well-prepared to respond to each of the following three
categories of waterloss:
|
 |
|
Category
I: Clean -
Watersanitary, originating from a source that does not pose
substantial harm to humans |
Category
I: Clean -
Watersanitary, originating from a source that does not pose
substantial harm to humans |
Category
III: Black Water -
grossly
contaminated, containing pathogenic, disease-causing agents
(sewage may be present) |
|
Evaluation,
Treatment and Documentation
DRC follows a
strict protocol in the field, taking a step-by-step approach in the
way we evaluate, treat and document our water extraction and
restorative drying practices. Here is a brief overview: |
|
Step |
Category I |
Category II |
Category
III |
|
1 |
Determine extent of water
migration (surface area size) and moisture content of affected
areas and materials, including subfloor, wallboard, framing,
cabinetry, etc. |
|
2 |
Extract water with a
subsurface extraction tool and a high-velocity extractor
designed for water removal; proper equipment will remove water
within carpet while providing a cushion for increasing drying
efficiency |
|
3 |
Dry carpet, pad and
contents in place
|
Remove and dispose of
padding |
Set up containment and
establish negative air with HEPA filtration |
|
4 |
Padding should not release
water when squeezed if extraction was properly completed |
Steam clean carpet with an
EPAapproved carpet cleaning sanitizer and wipe down affected
materials |
Remove and dispose of
porous contaminated materials: carpet, pad, base, tack strips,
drywall, etc. |
|
5 |
Use HEPA air filtration
with drying equipment to scrub airborne particulates |
Clean with an EPA-approved
disinfectant on all sub-floors,
structural framing and other
affected hard surfaces |
|
6 |
Evaluate materials to be
dried and cubic footage of affected area for drying equipment
placement; contain unaffected areas to maximize drying
efficiencies, and setup air-movers, dehumidifiers and
supplemental wall-drying systems |
|
7 |
Consider paint, trim and
wall coverings for removal, if necessary, to install wall cavity
drying equipment; document atmospheric and moisture content
readings at least every 24 hours; and manipulate equipment as
needed until structural components reach their dry standard |
|
|
|
