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What Are The Kinds Of Water Restoration Equipment Used?
6/24/2016 (Permalink)
Water Damage Restoration Equipment
There are several pieces of water restoration equipment needed to complete the job properly. This field is technically complex and requires a lot of technology and expertise to do right. Before entering a job site, workers must protect themselves with special clothing. Technicians must also bring devices for drying out the interior and removing moisture from the air. Chemical cleaners and disinfectants are also needed, and moisture detection devices are invaluable for spotting problem areas. For properties that have sustained heavy damage, some demolition tools may be required to quickly removed compromised material.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, categorizes these jobsites into three groups. If the standing liquid is from a sanitary source, it is placed in category 1. If there are some contaminants present, it is a category 2 situation. If standing liquid is thoroughly contaminated and capable of causing severe illness or death upon ingestion, it is a category 3 jobsite. When working around category 1 liquids, it is possible for a technician to do his job without protective clothing for a short time. However, this is risky because category 1 liquids can become contaminated quickly and without notice. For this reason, it is always best to bring protective clothing in a water restoration equipment kit.
This consists of full body protective clothing, rubber gloves, rubber boots, safety goggles or glasses, and a respirator calibrated for areas with high amounts of moisture. The respirator is especially important because it will prevent a technician from inhaling airborne contaminants like mold or fungi. If damage to the property is extensive or complete, demo tools like sledgehammers or axes may be pieces of water restoration equipment worth bringing. Finally, a pressure washer may be brought in to clean out the areas affected by the liquid. These washers may use detergents, and once done, other compounds might be employed to help dry the area quickly.
Before a technician can get to work repairing the property, he needs to know where the worst of the damage is. In general, the worst effects are in areas where the liquid has thoroughly penetrated materials. However, it’s impossible to detect this just by sight, so a moisture meter is like the technician’s right hand. This piece of water restoration equipment is extremely important and precisely measures the moisture percentage of most material. This is useful for drywall, wood and paper materials. With a moisture meter, a technician will know which areas need the most attention and which areas are safe. As the property begins to dry out, the technician can use the moisture meter to check the progress of the job. In short, this device is the most crucial information gathering tool at the technician’s disposal.
Once the source of the standing liquid is dealt with and the technician has taken stock of the damage, it’s time to dry out the area. There are many pieces of water restoration equipment that are used for this purpose. Most are heavy duty fans that can remove moisture, but some devices function using static electricity to move liquid around. Industrial strength vacuums are also handy for removing small patches of water.
Article can be found at: http://www.iicrc.org/what-are-the-kinds-water-restoration-equipment-used-a-130.html
SERVPRO of Franklin County uses advanced water damage inspection and extraction equipment to help them find the moisture and to remove it as quickly as possible. Our highly trained technicians will monitor and document the drying process so that you know your property is back to normal.
Please refer to our Water Damage Tips—Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.