Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Dry Out Your Home <br /> <br />Floodwaters affect a house in <br />3 ways; <br />1. The water damages materi- <br />als. Wallboard will disinte- <br />grate if it stays wet too long; <br />wood can swell, warp, or rot; <br />electrical parts can short out, <br />malfunction, and cause fires <br />or shock. <br />2. Mud, silt, and unknown con- <br />taminants in the water not <br />only get everything dirty; they <br />are also unhealthy. <br />3. Dampness promotes the <br />growth of mildew, a mold or <br />fungus that can grow on <br />everything. <br /> <br />The following steps work on <br />all 3 of these problems. It is very <br />important to do these steps in <br />order. <br /> <br />Lower Ihe HumIdIty <br />Everything will dry more quickly <br />and clean more easily if you can <br />reduce the humidity in the <br />house. There are many ways to <br />lower the humidity and stop the <br />rot and mildew. But you'll have <br />to delay using some methods if <br />you have no electricity (Read <br />Step 5 before you attempt to <br />restore the utilities.) <br />OI'Open up the house. If the <br />humidity outside is lower <br />than it is indoors, and if the <br />weather permits, open all the <br />doors and windows to <br />exchange the moist indoor air <br />for drier outdoor air. Your <br />body will tell if the humidity <br /> <br />is lower outdoors. If the sun <br />is out, it should be drier out- <br />side. If you have a thermo- <br />meter with a humidity gauge, <br />you can monitor the indoor <br />and outdoor humidity. <br />On the other hand, when <br />temperatures drop at night, <br />an open house is warmer and <br />will draw moisture indoors. <br />At night, and at other times <br />when the humidity is higher <br />outdoors, close up the house. <br />D Open closet and cabinet <br />doors. Remove drawers to let <br />air circulate. Drawers may <br />stick because of swelling. <br />Don't try to force them. Help <br />them dry by opening up the <br />back of the cabinet so air can <br />get into it. You will probably <br />be able to remove the drawers <br />as the cabinet dries out. <br />D Use fans. Fans help move the <br />air and dry out your home. <br />Do not use central air condi- <br />tioning or the furnace blower <br />if the ducts were under water. <br />They will blowout diny air <br />that might contain contami- <br />nants from the sediment left <br />in the duct work. Clean or <br />hose out the ducts first. (See <br />Step 2.) <br />D Run dehumidifiers. <br />Dehumidifiers and window <br />air conditioners will reduce <br />the moisture, especially in <br />closed-up areas. <br />D Use desiccants. Desiccants <br />(materials that absorb mois- <br />ture) are very useful in drying <br /> <br />4 <br />>, <br />" <br />sJ'I p <br />- - ---- -------- ---i"'-'''''fw--- <br />Dry Out Your Home ,it <br /> <br />15 <br />