In-­Place Drying

You didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. Whether your washing machine, tub, dishwasher, or another portable source in your home leaked fresh water, chances are things got pretty wet. The carpeting, pad, and everything else was soaked, too. The last thing you want is for mold to begin to grow in your home. Of course, you don’t have a lot of money to spend on replacing your flooring. Plus, if the damage is bad enough, you may not even be able to stay inside your home. What do you do?

We may have an answer! First, let’s discuss Applied Structural Drying or ASD. This strategy encourages drying certain building materials (like carpeting, in the above instance) in a way that promotes decision-making based on data. Psychrometry or “The Science of Drying” is incorporated into ASD, which ensures that moisture content is tracked, progress occurs by way of the drying process, and the job is completed.

That’s quite a bit to wrap your head around. Basically, we’re saying that the ASD method can save homeowners money, time, and the headache that comes along with replacing or repairing damage. That’s because it’s not only easy, but it’s quick! Still with us? ASD actually lays the basic foundation for what is known as Drying in Place (known in the popular market as in-place drying). When you dry something in your home (your carpet and pad) but don’t disturb it (rip it up, remove it) to do so, that is drying something in place.

There are three different categories of Drying in Place. The first category is “clean” water loss, or water that comes courtesy of a portable source like a leaking or broken appliance. The second category is a “gray” water situation, which can occur in 72 hours or less and is due to microbial activity in the environment. The final category is a “black” water situation. All categories can benefit from Drying in Place, though the effectiveness may vary depending on your category.

When it is done correctly, Drying in Place can help to reduce the risk of mold growth, a claim that is backed up by Structural Drying records. Drying in Place also helps homeowners to close their claims much faster, something that everyone can be happy about. Best of all, Drying in Place can often get homeowners back in their homes sooner than a non-Drying in Place method.

When a water emergency is taking place in your home, it can be very traumatic. That being said, it’s always better to call the professionals for assistance rather than trying to clean up the mess yourself. This is because even though cleaning up something like water might seem like an easy task, it can actually go awry very quickly. When you leave even the smallest hint of wetness in your carpeting, carpet pad, or elsewhere around your home, you may inadvertently cause an even bigger, more costly issue. Professionals will help to ensure the mess is taken care of as quickly as possible.