Sanitizing and Drying Out

Sanitizing and Drying Out

A look inside a disaster clean up company truck: full of pumps, mobile dehumidifiers, and air movers.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

These snail-shaped air movers are called carpet driers because their wide flat outlet can be tucked under carpeting.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

I took a tour of what was left of a garden level condo right after the disaster cleanup crew removed their drying equipment. According the line of mud that dried on the screen door, it is apparent that this unit was flooded to a depth of two feet.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

A panoramic view around the cleaned up and dried out unit ...

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The interior has been gutted up to the four-foot mark.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The flooring, drywall, insulation, and kitchen and bathroom base cabinets have all been thrown out and the ruined appliances are awaiting pickup.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The bathroom fixtures remain, but the entire tile wall around the tub was removed. The ceramic tile floors in the kitchen and bath are sound so they were left alone.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The decision of what can stay is largely based on how well it can be cleaned and dried.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The metal components of the baseboard radiators were easy enough to clean (and a big job to replace) so they remain in place. The drywall behind the radiators has yet to be removed to finish the job.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The electrical devices were pulled loose from their boxes so any debris or water in the boxes could be cleaned out and dried. It will be up to the restoration or remodeling contractor to replace the compromised devices.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

A look around the rest of the unit ...

Sanitizing and Drying Out

Sanitizing and Drying Out

Sanitizing and Drying Out

Note that all door and window casing was also removed.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

Sanitizing and Drying Out

The floor drain outside the unit may work for melting snow and blowing rain on the front walk.

Sanitizing and Drying Out

Sanitizing and Drying Out

But it was no match for a 100-year flood event.

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