Excess water removal is the beginning point of restoration procedures. In lower severity situations this can be achieved by physical means such as mopping or soaking up excess moisture from hard surfaces and furnishings.

However, for the more serious flood damage, it will require the use of more sophisticated techniques and specialised equipment such as pumps, water extraction machines and commercial wet vacuuming equipment.

The next step in the restoration process is evaporation. The remaining water must be changed from a liquid to a vapour by promoting evaporation with specialised air moving equipment. Once all moisture has been evaporated from structural materials, it must be removed from the air immediately by a dehumidification process. Professional water technicians have various options available to them such as running light plastic tubing from the dehumidifier exhaust to the nearest external opening such as a window. Others will have a series of dehumidifiers running whilst the air blowers are operating. There are other techniques that have been developed over the years by water damage crews that suit their environment and specific temperature conditions. But in any event, failure to completely dehumidify the area may result in substantial secondary damage and present a significant health hazard. Mould is the obvious health hazard as it thrives in warm damp spaces.

Both evaporation and dehumidification are greatly enhanced by controlling the temperature in a confined environment. This also helps with curbing the growth of microorganisms’, and is an important basic principle for safe, effective drying.

The damaged structure must be monitored starting with the initial assessment and evaluation, and continuing throughout the restoration process. Monitoring procedures may include temperature and humidity readings, visual assessment and checking the moisture content of structural wood and other materials with a moisture meter.