Posted by Paul Daniele on Mon, Dec 20, 2010
When carpet drying, water extraction is the most im
portant part of the drying process because it removes most of the water from the carpet. Once the extraction is done there is always some remaining water left, and this water is removed thru evaporation. To help with evaporation, Water Damage Restoration firms use carpet dryers also known as air movers. These carpet dryers will move a high volume of air across the carpet which removes the boundary layer of wet air near the surface of the carpet. The faster the air movement over the carpet (with adequate humidity reduction) the faster the carpet will dry. Thus, these carpet dryers will greatly increase airflow and speed the up drying process and also minimize the likelihood of mildew growth.
So, when dryi
ng a carpet, you extract water and then strategically set up the carpet dryers. If the carpeting is glued down to the floor without a pad, we place the carpet dryers on top of the carpet and blow air over the top of the carpeting; this dries the carpet very quickly.
If the carpet is stretched-in on tackless strips, and has a pad, we position the carpet dryers to force air under the carpet 
creating a tent like effect; this forces the carpet off the floor on a cushion of air. This type of drying is called sub surface drying. It will dry the carpeting and the pad. Once dry, the water damage firm will have to re-attach the carpet to the tackless strip.
An alternative to sub surface drying is using a weighted extraction tool during the water extraction phase. These new extraction tools can actually extract the water out of the carpet and padding. Instead of having to sub surface dry the carpeting, technicians can place the carpet dryers on top of the carpet. This type of carpet drying 
minimizes the chance that the carpeting will be damaged when the wet carpet is disengaged from the tackless strip.
Finally, the carpet dryers will be removing all of that moisture from the carpeting and putting it into the air so you will need adequate dehumidification. If you do use a dehumidifier, that moist air will absorb into walls, ceilings, papers, paintings etc. causing secondary damage?
If you need carpet drying, it is best to call in a local water damage certified professional, they will have all the necessary tools, equipment and skills to dry your carpeting fast!
Good Luck and Stay Dry!!!!
* The Diagrams above come from The Complete Guide to Water Damage Restoration- Claude Blackburn
Posted by Paul Daniele on Thu, Dec 16, 2010
Why does a toilet backup happen? In a 1994 survey of 79 members of the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, 65 percent of the respondents reported it was because of wet weather.
They reported that between 15 and 35 percent of their sewers were filled above capacity and/or overflowed during wet weather.
Some reasons why a toilet backup can occur in your home
- Sewers and pumps too small to carry sewage from newly-developed subdivisions or commercial areas
- Blocked, broken or cracked pipes and other equipment or power failures that keep the system from doing its job. Tree roots can grow into the sewer. Sections of pipe can settle or shift so that pipe joints no longer match. Sediment and other material can build up and cause pipes to break or collapse. This can also happen to sewer service connections to houses and other buildings. Some cities estimate that as much as 60 percent of the water over-filling their sewer systems comes from service lines.
- A deteriorating sewer system. When sewers are not properly installed or maintained, widespread problems that can be expensive to fix develop over time. Some municipalities have found severe problems, necessitating billion-dollar correction programs. Often, communities have had to curtail new development until problems are corrected or system capacity is increased.
If you have a toilet backup in your home and plan on cleaning it up yourself, you should really consider hiring a professional. Sewerage exposure can be very dangerous to your health. Sewerage can effect people differently, you could get chlorea, salmonellosis ,typhoid fever, bacillary dysentery, gastroenteritis, meningitis, to name a few, all which are very dangerous. This was demonstrated in a 1988-89 epidemic of hepatitis A in Ocoee Florida, that resulted in 39 cases and one fetal death.
Leave the cleaning up to a certified professional who has had the training in water damage restoration. These Technicians will come to your home or business and formulate a plan to decontaminate it and its contents. They will ensure that when they are done, the areas effected will be totally clean and safe.
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