Service
Water extraction and drying in Olympia
Extraction removes the water you can see. Drying deals with the water you cannot. Call to be connected with an independent contractor who does both.
Calling soon after you find the water usually leaves more choices. The call goes to an independent contractor.
Two different jobs
Extraction uses pumps and wet vacuums to take standing water off a floor or out of a low space. It is quick to describe and quick to see.
Drying is slower. Water soaks into drywall, framing, subfloor and the pad under carpet. Air movers push dry air across surfaces while dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the room. The goal is a set of readings that match unaffected parts of the same house.
What a drying visit usually looks like
Walk-through
The contractor looks at the source, checks which rooms are wet and probes walls and floors with a meter.
Removal
Standing water goes first. Carpet pad, soaked insulation and swollen drywall may be cut out if they cannot dry in place.
Equipment
Air movers and dehumidifiers are placed to move air across wet surfaces. Machines are loud and run continuously.
Readings
Meters are checked again on later visits. Equipment stays until the readings are back near normal.
What to do before anyone arrives
Safety first. The CDC's flood guidance says to turn off gas, power and water when water is in your home, and to unplug appliances before power comes back on.
After that, photograph the water, the damaged items and the source if you can see it. Insurers ask for photos. The state's own list is on the first 48 hours page.
Questions people ask
Why does drying take more than one visit?
Wet framing and subfloor release moisture slowly. Readings are repeated so the contractor can tell whether the equipment can come out.
Can I run my own fans?
Household fans move air but do not remove moisture from it, so a dehumidifier does the real work. A contractor will have equipment sized for the room.
Water still spreading? Make the call.
You will be asked what is wet, where the water came from and whether it has stopped. Have the street address in front of you.