Water, water everywhere

Every organisation faces unforeseen disruptions which can cause extensive damage to buildings and affect business continuity. Heavy rain and flooding can result in leaking roofs, burst pipes, blocked sewers, flooded floors and wet entrance lobbies, putting people at risk of slips and trips. If materials and surfaces have failed to dry out correctly following water damage, moisture can become a cause of dry rot, bacteria and toxic mould growth. This can become a health hazard, releasing allergenic spores or toxic compounds into the air.

Getting back to normality

Torrential rain and floods are not choosy with whom they affect – whether you are a business, school, hospital or shop – water ingress can cause serious damage. This can result in costly bills to put damage right, loss of earnings while restoration work is being carried out, and increased insurance premiums. Swift action is needed if businesses are to return to full functionality as soon as possible, and may also help to salvage carpets and other flooring, saving even more time and money.

Air movers can significantly reduce the drying time of carpets, walls and ceilings, and are ideal for use, not just after floods, but also when significant spillages have occurred, or extraction cleaning has been carried out. The best models provide high airflow for rapid drying, aiding air circulation and ventilation, and are easily portable via carry handles or trollies with telescopic handles that are built-in to the machines. 

Compact and clever 

Compact options, as lightweight as 8kg, provide more manoeuvrability, whilst having the power to provide a high airflow for faster drying of carpets, walls and ceilings. Look for a carpet and room dryer which can be placed horizontally, vertically, on its side, against a wall or at a 20 degree angle – as this will direct the airflow exactly where you need it, reducing drying times.

Options are available that are not only designed to help in winter but are also well suited to help with cooling in summer. Look for options which have a choice of speed switches so that the optimal airflow can be used for your requirements. A compact, high-performance fan promoting air circulation and ventilation can save you money all year round.

High volume, high velocity

Whole room dryers feature 360° directed air flow, allowing rooms to be dried without repositioning the dryer, with some models able to dry a typical office or room in as little as 15 minutes. 

Machines which are designed to provide high volume, high velocity airflow enable the fastest possible drying. This makes them particularly effective for structural drying after floods or leaks. For example, our Axial Fan system uses Downdraft technology to take warm air circulating at the top of the room and drive it down and out across the entire surface of the floor space.

Be prepared

When researching the best options, bear in mind that a few additional features exist on some models, which may help you make your choice. Built-in kickstands that raise the airflow off the floor will also help for rapid drying of floor polishes, seals, paints and other coatings. Optional castor kits enable easy transport and aid downdraft drying.

As we enter the winter months, the risk of flooding increases, so it is always best to be prepared. Should the worst happen to your premises, solutions are available to help get you back to business as quickly as possible.

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Final TI14306 – Cleaning Matters  –Emergency Cleaning  following water damage – Nov-18 (deadline 4 October, 650 words)