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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Flood Damage In Your Amherst Home

2/3/2020 (Permalink)

Living room with a grey couch and coffee table floating in pooling water Let our experts save your flood damaged property

Early Thaws Lead to Flood Damage in Amherst

Extreme weather patterns and sharp shafts in temperature can expose your Amherst home to flooding at previously unexpected times. When heavy snows are followed swiftly by spring-like thermometer readings, the resulting meltdown can find its way into your basement or crawl space. The swings in outdoor conditions and effects on conventional mitigation and remediation equipment make our professional response even more reassuring.

Drying Essentials

Science determines how quickly and effectively we can dry out flood damage in your Amherst residence. The faster our crews can dry out a home, the better the outcome. Lingering moisture prolongs the deterioration process, making it more likely structural components might require removal. Slowed drying frequently leads to the need for demolition and rebuilding. Secondary damage, such as mold, is also probable when drying times are extended. Four factors affect the amount of time needed for drying:

  • Temperature
  • Amount of water to be evaporated
  • Humidity
  • Air movement

Colder Temperatures Affect Restoration Approaches

Drying happens much faster in warm temperatures, with the ideal range being from 70 to 90 degrees. If the flood damage in your home occurred in a space, such as an unheated garage, basement, or crawl space, where temperatures are lower, then SERVPRO managers and technicians need to adjust the other variables to enhance the drying time.

Emphasize Extraction

The more water SERVPRO removes in its liquid state, the less time and effort it takes to dry out the space. We are aggressive in completing water removal with pumps, truck-mount, and portable extractors as they are 1200 times more effective than drying alone.

Ways to Increase Temperature

SERVPRO vans are loaded with equipment needed to manage flooding. Heaters are part of this inventory, and we position them to raise the temperature so that evaporation happens more efficiently. Building smaller drying chambers within the affected area with 6-mil polyethylene barriers is a way to direct heat into wet spaces for maximum effect.

Choosing the Correct Dehumidifier

We select from among refrigerant, low grain, and desiccant dehumidifiers to remove the water vapor present due to heat and air movement. In a chilly basement or crawl space, a desiccant dehumidifier might be the best choice, capable of removing water vapor at a much lower temperature.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County offers highly-trained technicians and state of the art equipment to help you recover from flood damage. Call us at (413) 324-1300 to schedule an appointment for your cold-weather flood cleanup needs.

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