How do you dry out your basement?

Dry Out Your Basement

A wet Michigan basement can be a disaster, especially if your basement includes finished living space. From moldy drywall to ruined furniture, sump pumps and sewage backup’s can cause expensive property damage. However, wet basements aren’t without hope. Follow these steps to eliminate wetness in your basement.

1. Extraction

Principle 1: Water Removal

The first step in how do you dry out your basement. Water removal, in the liquid state is 500 times more efficient than changing liquid to vapor with air movers and removing the vapor with dehumidification. Remember remove as much standing water as possible, and remove as much wet material as possible to begin the drying process.

2. Air Flow

Principle 2: Evaporation

After removing as much water as possible, the remaining water must be evaporated using high-velocity air movers. Usually one air mover is installed for every 200 to 250 sq. ft of floor space. Today’s air movers sit on top of the floor and face the wall at a 45° angle. These are typically placed at 1 per 12-16 linear feet of wall space. Therefore, a 10 x 12 room could have four air movers with this system, as opposed to two with the old system. More equipment is used but the structural drying is faster. This increased airflow evaporates the water from the wet structural materials much more rapidly and the dehumidifiers do the rest.

3. Dehumidification

Principle 3: Balanced Evaporation

Dehumidifiers are used to balance evaporation. In other words, the moisture being put into the air from the air movers blowing against wet materials has to be taken out of the air, or secondary damage will occur. Without dehumidifiers,building materials would absorb moisture out of the air and become damaged, drying would be delayed, and mold growth could occur. By utilizing the new low grain refrigerant dehumidifiers we can remove much more moisture from the affected area than ever before!

4. Temperature

Principle 4: Temperature Control

Maintaining proper temperature is critical in rapid structural drying. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air; therefore, warm air will increase the rate of evaporation. However, there are certain variables to consider. First, refrigerant dehumidifiers are most efficient between 70-90 degrees. Second, the equipment itself generates heat that could easily accelerate temperatures to above 90 degrees. Usually within the first 24 to 48 hours, because of the cooling effect of moisture evaporating from materials, temperatures are easily maintained. Keeping the temperature of the affected area between 80° – 90° for the first 36 – 48 hours can assist drying enormously. Drying chambers can be utilized to contain the warmer temperatures to the affected area.

flooded-basement-structural-drying-services-mi

Rapid Structural Drying Benefits

  • Saves property owner and insurance company time & money.
  • Healthier, safer and less inconvenient for the occupants.
  • Minimizes replacement of costly structural materials.
  • The property owner is more satisfied because of less disruption and stress.
  • Reduces the potential for mold growth by drying the structure quickly.
  • Focuses on complete rapid structural drying, not just carpet & cushion.
  • Most structures and contents dried within 3-4 days.