How To Dry Water Damaged Things

A free article on Home and Family

By: Byron Zoucks

Water Damage can occur in varying degrees depending upon the cause. Mild to moderate water damage can occur due to leaky pipes, ice dams, clogged drains, unbalanced ducts and improper vents while severe water damage can occur due to heavy floods, rainwater and heavy and prolonged water leakages.

Many things at home can be affected by water damage. Hence, precautions must be taken while trying to salvage items from water damage.

The method of drying primarily depends on the material of the items. Different materials have different drying methods. As a safety precaution, it is suggested that latex gloves and long sleeves are worn as a protective measure. Drying can be done in a lot of ways. Here are some:

* Fans can be used to improve the circulation of air. It is not very advisable to use them directly to dry things.
* Excess moisture can be absorbed using paper towels or sponges. Newspapers or any other printed paper should not be used for absorbing excess water because the ink can blot.
* Paper is very delicate and so a lot of care must be taken while drying them. They can be gently blotted with paper towels to absorb the excess water. Since, they are fragile, trying to separate wet pieces of water can cause more damage. So, it is better to leave them together until they dry.
* While drying framed items, they have to be kept upside-down and all the back materials have to be removed. After this they have to be air dried.
* Books can be dried by placing the driest part on the ground for support. As every part dries, they can be interchanged until all the parts of the book are dry.
* In order to dry photographs, the picture or image side must face up. The wet picture should not be touched. If the photograph is covered with dirt or mud, it should be cleansed with clean water. A photographic conservator's help can be taken to restore them.
* If the items are covered with active molds, they have to be dried by keeping the item in the sun or by improving the circulation of air. Active mold is slimy and when dried it becomes powdery. After the mold dries, it can be removed using vacuum cleaner or a soft brush.
* Freeze process is a process used to dry photographs, x-rays, documents, manuscripts and other valuable items damaged by water. This process uses specialized drying chambers to dry delicate items.
* Sometimes, cabinets can get soaked with water. To dry them, they have to be removed first. After that access holes can be drilled or injection process can be used to dry the cavity of the cabinets.
* Electronic Equipment can also be damaged and extreme care must be taken to restore them. The outer components can be gently cleaned using a nice dry towel. The inner components can be cleaned using dry ice, soda ash or low pressure washing. Cleaning materials must be non-ionic and finally clean mineral free water must be used to wash off the detergents. Electrical and mechanical connections should be cleaned with non-ionic detergents followed by clean mineral-free water. It is advisable to read manuals before cleaning.

Utmost care and caution must be taken while cleaning items that went through water damage. In most cases, seeking water damage professionals help can save a lot of hassle and time. They have the required training, experience and equipment to handle such situations.