SERVPRO's Class-Based Dehumidification System

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

Evaluating the Class of Water Damage is Essential to Planning Remediation

Dehumidification is one of the most difficult - and one of the most important - tasks to be done in any water removal job. Determining the correct timing, volume, intensity, and equipment for dehumidification can be a difficult task even for our veteran IICRC trained technicians, so SERVPRO locations nationwide have adopted a fairly straightforward class-based dehumidification system to provide for any drying situation adequately. While a Class 1 scenario requires far less work than a Class 4, we make sure to give all projects we take on the time and attention needed to ensure a thorough job done. 

Class 1 

Class 1 scenarios are most common when only light water removal is necessary for Smyrna homes. Here, very few porous materials such as carpet, padding, and fabric have been affected by water damage, and the only drying we need to do concerns puddles and non-invasive water throughout the area. These situations do not often require more than minor dehumidification regimens. To make sure damage is not worse than it at first seems, we always make sure to use thermal sensors to determine if water has penetrated into any materials we find it on. 

Class 2 

In a Class 2 scenario, there may be moderate soaking of porous materials, and larger sections of carpeting may be damp. Water may also have wicked up walls around the home, although usually less than two feet high. These situations are when we start to need more advanced dehumidification regimens and machines to address the problem. 

Class 3 

A Class 3 scenario usually contains wide stretches of wet carpet, fabric, upholstery, and other porous materials. In most cases, water has seeped in from above, such as in a flood. Heavy dehumidification may be required to remove the deep-seated water molecules present throughout the environment. 

Class 4 

Class 4 scenarios are what challenge SERVPRO personnel the most. In these relatively rare situations, water has penetrated into much harder materials such as tough woods and concrete, requiring specialty dehumidification procedures. Although these hurdles are tough to surmount, our diverse array of tools and national resources allow us to handle them fully. 

SERVPRO of South Cobb takes water removal seriously, ensuring that no step gets skipped over and no home is left with excess moisture. Contact us at the first sign of water damage at (770) 739-2355.