Water damage
Water damage are damage to and in buildings or landscapes as a result of water emergencies .
They arise either from natural disasters ( e.g. floods or tsunami ), increasingly also from heavy rain or from damage to water pipes , such as B. burst water pipe .
Furthermore, water damage can result from the use of extinguishing water .
If a building is damaged , furniture , doors , floor coverings and wallpaper are severely damaged. Mold can develop through damp masonry or in building ceilings .
Immediate action after water damage
- When water damage all the main water valves shut off
- Switch off all electrical supplies as quickly as possible and protect them against unintentional restart (fuses on the network distribution)
- Switch off any emergency power supply
- Pump off the water and store it temporarily in suitable containers
- Remove residual water (suction, wiping, etc.)
- Remove wet or damp furniture (furniture, curtains, floor coverings, etc.)
- Open existing cable ducts and introduce warm air for drying purposes
- Set up room or air dehumidifiers and check them constantly.
It is important to determine the cause, a system mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning can investigate this cause with the help of suitable measures such as a pressure test, a visual test (e.g. there is water under the shower tray, etc.). A mechanical determination (by hitting the walls) may only be carried out in an emergency, consequential damage (e.g. destruction of the tile level) will only be covered by the insurance to a limited extent. Therefore, in many cases, a special leakage location is carried out in order to limit the damage more precisely and to search for the cause in a more targeted manner.
It should be noted that moisture can have penetrated the so-called under- screed area . This is the area between the concrete slab and the insulating material (e.g. polystyrene , commonly known as Styrofoam ). Once moisture has penetrated there, it can only be pressed out with the help of special pressure units. The humid air, which is directed upwards into the room air, is dried by suitable condensation dryers and fed into the circuit downwards, the affected sub-screed area. A dry-moist air cycle is created. This procedure can only be carried out by a specialist company; insurance companies usually pay for this recognized measure. Another method is so-called adsorption drying, in which moisture is absorbed with a silicate gel and is diverted to the outside area (via windows or the like) in the form of humid air via hoses. Microwave drying is a rarer method because it is more complex. Here, high-dose microwave rays are directed onto the moist medium (e.g. plaster wall). The drying takes place very quickly, but requires specially trained employees because of the risk of radiation.
If moisture damage is not recognized and rectified, there is a risk of hidden mold growth under floor coverings with serious health and structural damage. In addition to mold, bacteria and the like can also be found on the moist materials . a. Actinomycetes , which can also be harmful to health.
It is therefore advisable to hire a specialist or expert for damage to buildings in order to be able to rule out consequential damage to the building as far as possible. Because if the consequences only appear months or years after the water damage (e.g. real dry rot , salination of the masonry), these costs are immense and are usually rejected by insurance companies as consequential damage after the settlement.
Water damage to books
When treating water damage to books, it is generally necessary to be quick, as wet paper usually sets in mold within 48 hours. First of all, the temperature and humidity in the affected room should be lowered as low as possible and good ventilation should be ensured. To select a suitable treatment method, sorting according to the degree of moisture is advisable.
If the books are only slightly damp or if only the cut of the book is affected, they can be placed upright to dry and in a fanned-out state. They can then be dried with a stream of cold air, such as a fan . Warm air is not suitable, as otherwise the books will dry too quickly and become severely deformed. If a book does not stand upright, lay it flat and then insert a sheet of blotting paper about every 25 pages . Thin notebooks can also be hung on a clothes horse, but clothespins should not be used.
Freeze-drying is recommended for completely soaked volumes . Until this can be done, the books should be frozen. It is important to ensure that the blocks are not too large, so plastic sheeting should be placed between the books (possibly between 2–3 books each). Dirt should not be wiped off while the books are wet. Covers made of leather or parchment should be stabilized by wrapping them tightly with a gauze bandage before drying. Coated papers stick together very quickly and can then no longer be saved. Inserting plastic films prevents them from sticking, but also prevents them from drying. Therefore (non-linting) paper towels that absorb the moisture have proven themselves.
Water damage related to electronic equipment
The particles in the water ensure conductivity , especially for components in the field of electronics. For example, contact with water can create physically conductive properties between components that are not intended for this, which leads to a short circuit . In the case of particularly sensitive devices such as notebooks, televisions or smartphones, this initially leads to the device being switched off, which in modern devices corresponds to the normal function of the protective circuit. This can prevent further damage. Switching on the device repeatedly can lead to irreparable damage.
In order to protect the device, the power supply should be interrupted after contact with water and all movable cards (SIM and memory cards, if applicable) removed. Drying the device can help regain the desired functions. To do this, you should first ensure a dry environment. Careful sucking out of the ports prevents further capillary penetration of the penetrated liquid. You should refrain from using rice for drying, as locally softened rice can form after the water has been absorbed by the rice grains and potentially contaminate the ports. Silica gel (as used to keep electronic components dry) helps with less side effects
In principle, consequential damage from residual moisture and the resulting corrosion, verdigris etc. must be expected. Sensitive electronic circuits can malfunction later. This is one of the reasons why the warranty or guarantee expires in the event of water damage to electronic devices. Many smartphones have indicators by which manufacturers and repair shops can undoubtedly recognize water damage.
literature
- Frank Frössel: Molds in apartments , Baulino Verlag, Waldshut-Tiengen 2006, ISBN 3-938537-18-3
- Bruno Klotz-Berendes: Emergency precautions in libraries . EDBI, Berlin 2000. ISBN 3-87068-994-3
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jenny Schäfer, Christoph Trautmann, Ingrid Dill, Guido Fischer, Thomas Gabrio, Ingrid Groth, Udo Jäckel, Wolfgang Lorenz, Karin Martin, Tinja Miljanic, Regine Szewzyk, Ursula Weidner, Peter Kämpfer: Occurrence of actinomycetes in interiors. Hazardous substances - keeping the air clean 69 (9), pp. 335 - 341 (2009), ISSN 0949-8036
- ↑ smartphone-mania, Paddy: Handy water damage - smartphone repair and first aid. August 28, 2015, accessed November 11, 2015 .
- ↑ Dominik Schuierer: What to do if the cell phone falls into water (avoid water damage)? June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017 .
- ↑ WIRED: HERE'S THE RIGHT WAY TO RESCUE A SOAKING WET SMARTPHONE. August 2, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2017 .
- ↑ t3n: Got your smartphone wet? The ultimate first aid tips for water damage. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017 .
- ↑ Chip: Instructions: Repair a smartphone with water damage. January 29, 2014, accessed November 11, 2015 .