Humidity, Flooding, and Water Damage Control

Humidity control is an important consideration whether you are in a commercial or residential structure. By definition, humidity is the amount of moisture present in the surrounding air, and an excess of moisture can lead to many forms of deterioration for any house or building. Water damage is one of humidity's ugly effects. Beautiful wooden interiors can look like rotting pieces of lumber, new carpets get ruined, and wall furnishings are damaged or destroyed if immediate attention is not given to the root of the problem.

To keep control of moisture, make sure to maintain temperature in all areas as even as possible. Now, this might be more difficult to do for commercial buildings, but proper circulation of air and ventilation can go a long way. Second tip is, check your water pipes, hoses, water heaters, and refrigerator faucets regularly for leaks. Leak from these water passages is the most common source of water damage and indoor flooding. Taking leaks for granted can end even worse with molds, odor problems, carpet damage, and damaged furniture and upholstery.

Another way of keeping humidity under control is making sure your doors and windows fit properly with their frames. When there is a draft, expect higher moisture levels. Note that the right water humidity level should be 30% to 50% of the air. Anything above this will result in damage. Air conditioning also affects the humidity in a room. Clogged filters leads to higher water levels in the air. If you suspect moisture build up, just turn on the heater to keep temperature levels even. You can even ask the janitorial service to check air condition condensers and ventilation passages to keep flow of air and heat controlled. Installation and regular cleaning of exhaust fans can also reduce humidity in the room.

Flooding is a different scenario altogether because it poses greater damage to your house or building. Flooding is one of the top reasons for loss of property in the US, damaging up to $50M worth of goods. Flood damage can be reduced if you immediately use dehumidifiers to dry out the room. Use air blowers and fans to dry your furniture, rugs, carpet, and upholstery. Also, an immediate tip to reduce flood damage is to determine the source of water entry and try to plug it. You can assess the extent of damage after the water subsides so you know if you can fix the damage on you own, or if the professionals need to be called.

If you think you can manage the damage without calling the cleaning company, start by picking up items on the floor to dry carpets and rugs more easy. In addition, colored items like books and magazines may stain the carpets so removing them immediately will keep the color from seeping through. When you've cleared everything, then you can start drying. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to absorb excess water from your carpet and furniture. To keep the furniture from staining the floor or carpet while it dries, use aluminum foil or wooden blocks to separate them.

When you've done all you can and the damage is still extensive, then it would be time to call licensed cleaners to do the job. Professional cleaning companies can put further damage under control by using air purifiers to get rid of microorganisms, mold spores, and bad odor. They also provide services for rug cleaning, upholstery care, carpet cleaning, and tile grout cleaning.

Other services they can offer you are pet stain removal, spot stain removal, odor removal and mold cleaning.