The Dangers Of Not Drying A Property Out After Flooding

April 4, 2011 - PRLog -- Flooding doesn’t necessarily happen as a result of living near a river – in this case, the water tank in the property had burst whilst the property was vacant and for sale. When the leak was eventually discovered the water to the property was turned off and the excess water within the property removed. It was then that a mistake was made in the clean up process. The property was not dried out correctly and the property was left closed up. Due to the amount of moisture held within the property and lack of ventilation the perfect breeding ground for mould and fungal decay was created. As a result of the extent of mould and fungal growth within the property all timbers within the property had to be spray treated to protect against fungal attack.

The images show mould growing across the floor area in the lounge. In the kitchen area standing water can still be seen on the floor. The second photo shows more mould growth on the ceiling (possibly the early stages of dry rot (http://www.timberwise.co.uk/our-services/timber-preservation/wet-and-dry-rot/)) along with black spot mould formations (http://www.timberwise.co.uk/our-services/envirowise-solut...).

What should I do if my property is subjected to flooding?
The best plan of attack if your property has been subjected to flooding is call in the professionals at an early stage.  A reputable company experienced with flood damaged properties, such as Timberwise, would be able to diagnose the best way to ensure the property is dried out fully to avoid future problems.

There are various ways to dry a flooded property – these include:

Speed drying: This uses heaters and hot air to force the moisture out.

Dehumidification: Desiccant and heat exchange types are commonly used by flood drying companies.  Desiccant dehumidifiers operate by absorbing moisture from the air. Heat exchange dehumidifiers work by drawing air over a cold surface were water is condensed out of the atmosphere. These dehumidifiers are most effective where the air is warm and relative humidity can be held at a high level. Timberwise can also provide smaller dehumidifiers (http://www.timberwise.co.uk/our-services/envirowise-solut...) for home usage should you need one,

Fresh air: When conditions are right large volumes of relatively dry warm air over a damp surface will be enough to achieve very effective drying. Sometimes at certain times of the year the best way to achieve drying is to open all the doors and windows and simply let the air blow through the property!

If you have a property that has been subjected to flooding give Timberwise a call to see if they can help you. Call 0800 288 8660 or complete their on-line survey request form.

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Timberwise is a leading Property Care Company with branches throughout the UK providing domestic & commercial building preservation from basement waterproofing, dry rot, damp & woodworm surveys & treatments, structural repairs & flood damage restoration.