Drying and water damage control

Every kW of available heat generated by an Aridair system should be capable of drying 50 cubic meters of space. Therefore the Phoebus 100 model with a heat output of 310kW/h can cover 155,000 cubic meters of space; and each 30kW heat exchanger is capable of drying 1500 cubic meters of space.

(This basic calculation doesn’t take into consideration the mass within the building)

Some of the available heat should be used to heat external air and generate a positive pressure whilst the rest is normally set up inside the structure for a secondary temperature lift and RH reduction. The percentage of your total heat being used for heating external air and for indoor temperature lift depends on the external ambient temperature.

A recommendation for this percentage split is:

For external ambient temperatures below 0 degrees C (32 F), 1/6 of the heat should be applied to heating the outdoor makeup air and 5/6 to indoor lift.

For external ambient temperatures between 0 degrees C (32 F) and 25 degrees C (77 F), 1/3 of the heat should be applied to heating the outdoor makeup air and 2/3 to indoor lift.

For outdoor ambient temperatures above 25 degrees C, all of the heat should be applied to heating the outdoor makeup air.

This calculation is a compromise between encouraging evaporation and having a good air movement to promote consistent drying.....

Damage ... to a building by water can be caused by anything from a leaky radiator to a major flood. It's not just the water itself that causes problems, but risks from mould, mildew and bacteria, which can thrive in damp conditions.

Flood water ... is potentially the worst to deal with. Raw sewage can carry bacteria and viral infections. The aftermath of a fire can also cause problems as the water used by fire fighters will leave the premises in need of drying.

Returning ... the property to a safe condition requires thorough cleaning and drying out by specialists, drying out property and contents has to be done carefully. If the process is not properly controlled it will create excess humidity which can spread the moisture to other areas, increasing the risk of mildew and other damage.

Dampness ... can get into your home in a variety of ways. A leaky roof, badly pointed walls, a faulty damp course and even condensation, can all be causes. The result can be fungal growth, crumbling plasterwork, peeling wallpaper, rotten woodwork, dry rot and the symptoms of sick building syndrome.

Drying ... out property and contents has to be done carefully. If the process isn't carefully controlled, it will create excess humidity, which can spread the moisture to other areas, increasing the risk of mildew and other damage.
 

On the various factors highlighted in the report, we formulate and document a detailed drying plan. This plan details the equipment and techniques to be used, the duration of treatment, how progress will be monitored, the expected condition of the premises after drying and a full costing of the work.

Implementation

We will install the equipment and carry out the treatment. Careful monitoring is necessary to make sure that drying takes place at the optimum rate without causing any side effects and to check when the process is successfully completed.

Final Survey

At this point, we make a final survey to confirm the expected results have been achieved and that there are no remaining problems. The results of the survey with supporting documentation are then presented.

A methodical commonsense approach ...