How Does SERVPRO Find the Water Within a Pottsville Home?

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can advise as well as assist your Pottsville water damage.

SERVPRO technicians bring a host of advanced water detection equipment to Pottsville homes

After a pipe break, storm damage, or toilet backup, just to name a few standard events, you need professional assistance to ensure that the water in your Pottsville property gets extracted and dried thoroughly. That is why it is crucial to outsource the task to a professional restoration services company, particularly one with advanced extraction, drying, and detection equipment. 

What is the Difference in Consumer and Professional Water Removal Equipment?  

When you need water removal in your Pottsville property, there is no comparison between a consumer-grade shop vac and the professional extraction units that SERVPRO technicians have access to use. To highlight just a few of the perks for using a professional restoration services company in terms of the devices used can have an impact on the outcome through the use of:  

• Various types of moisture sensors and inspection equipment to track precise locations of water migration within the home
• Professional water removal equipment for any size or depth water loss situation
• Access to deep extraction tools for various surfaces
• Careful attention during the removal process to ensure that nothing gets left behind by using inspection equipment before moving on to drying

Infrared cameras are an invaluable part of the technician's toolkit. While these devices do not measure moisture within the structure, they give an undeniable look at temperature differences and enable techs to compare readings from moisture sensors to nail down anywhere in the home water migrated into. The use of the inspection equipment negates the need for opening walls to determine the location of the water.

What Should I Expect When SERVPRO Dries My Property  

The extraction phase tends to take time because the more water that gets pulled up and taken away reduces the time needed to dry the structure. SERVPRO techs do not use fans but deploy professional drying equipment such as:  

• Air movers to remove embedded moisture through their high-velocity airflow  
• Dehumidification equipment to capture airborne moisture droplets  
• Air scrubbers to capture any mold spores or odorous molecules
• Drying mats for forcing air into the flooring of all types
• Injecti-Dry systems for delivery of dry air into small spaces

Special Actions During Drying 

Individual structural elements within the home may require specific treatments for the best outcome. A good example is a hardwood floor that receives a large amount of water. The boards may swell and warp in response to absorbing the moisture, but with the training and equipment the techs have, the outlook is positive for saving the hardwood flooring from becoming a loss. The techs try to dry the boards in place whenever possible, frequently using a method known as tenting where the plastic gets sealed over the loss area, and the use of portable heaters assists in the delivery of warm, dry air that gets forced into the boards. Once dry, the boards usually return to their original shape. In some cases, mainly if the exposure to moisture was for a lengthy period, the floorboards may need sanding and refinishing, but not a replacement.

Carpet is another article in the home that requires special handling. SERVPRO techs have the training and know that restoration of a carpet after a water loss is never a one-size-fits-all job. They carefully test the fibers to determine if they can withstand re-wetting to remove water spots or if any shrinkage may occur from the drying process. 

Actively Addressing the Possibility of Mold  

Because there are airborne mold spores that occur naturally both indoors and out, they float harmlessly around unless conditions are favorable for germination. After that, a colony can establish itself quickly and begin to spread. Air moisture readings get taken throughout the restoration process to ensure that the environment is not supportive for germination or growth of mold. The use of professional antimicrobial solutions and, when necessary, the application of sealants assures that mold is never an issue post-mitigation for water damage. 

SERVPRO of Pottsville at (570) 622-8991 serves the local community with any size water removal needs. No matter if the problem is in a single room or an entire home, the certified technicians are available 24/7 to extract the water and bring your home back to its preloss condition.