Drying the structure is an extremely important aspect in handling a water loss.  This involves much more than drying carpet and pad.  You will need to locate and dry all affected materials.  If the structure is not dried appropriately the damage can progress to include secondary damage and possibly amplification of mold and bacteria.  Proper drying procedures can save the property owner and the insurance company thousands of dollars in replacement costs.

Heat energy has a great influence on the speed of drying, especially when dealing with bound water in structural materials. Well-placed heat energy can be used to warm building materials above the dew point temperature of the air and avoid condensation. Heat also aids in evaporation by increasing the "thirst" of the air-its capacity to hold water vapor. Heat is particularly effective for helping to dry crawl spaces, attics, or uninsulated structures.

THE BENEFITS OF HEAT ARE:

• warm structural materials
• increase evaporation
• increases the "thirst of the air
• promote faster drying
• promotes complete drying