Restoration Basics III: Keys to Balanced, Effective Drying

Creating an effective drying environment depends on balancing air movement to evaporate water from surfaces plus dehumidification to remove moisture from the air. Temperature also plays a critical role, as warmer air absorbs more moisture and helps accelerate evaporation.

Low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers are the best choice for any project that requires efficient, thorough drying, and proper placement of dehumidifiers is also important.

Balance Dehumidifiers and Airmovers

Start with plenty of airmovers to promote sufficient evaporation and circulation among the affected areas - at least one airmover for every 60 sq. ft. of wet surface area.

Place dehumidifiers where the most evaporation needs to happen – ie, in the wettest places. If achieving proper circulation is a challenge (eg, where there are structural barriers), use multiple dehumidifier-airmover sets to ensure even humidity control and reduce the occurrence of secondary damage.

Tips for Dehumidifier Placement

• When using multiple dehumidifiers, space them evenly throughout the structure. The more moisture "capture zones" there are, the more effective the humidity control.
• Place dehumidifiers near (but not blocking) an airmover's air outlet. This airflow helps to disperse the dehumidified air, increasing the dehumidifier effectiveness.
• Do not blow air directly into dehumidifier intakes. This can change the rate of airflow across the dehumidifier coils and reduce performance.
• Dehumidifier's outlet air should not blow directly on finished, hard surfaces. The warm, dry air from dehumidifiers can cause hard surfaces to over-dry and suffer damage.

It is critical to regularly evaluate humidity levels in the environment frequently to ensure effective humidity control throughout the structure. You can use the Dri-Eaz Command Hub dehumidifiers' on-board Bluetooth and Wifi  with the Dri-Eaz Command Center Pro mobile app  to monitor remotely from anywhere.

Also make sure that you are using low grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers with performance that's optimized across all ambient conditions. The Dri-Eaz LGR 5000Li, LGR 6000Li,  LGR 7000Xli and use sensors to adapt to the changing conditions in the environment to ensure continued efficient dehumidification throughout a drying project.

See Legend Brands' other technical tips for serving customers and growing your business.