THE CHALLENGE
After a flood, it is critical to correct water damage and intrusion to prevent problems such as mold, mildew, and rot so the home or business owner can get back on track. Restoration professionals are trusted to quickly, efficiently, and accurately determine the extent of the water damage. This includes documenting the extent of water damage for the owner and the insurance company, determining the cost for the restoration, extracting remaining water, replacing affected materials, drying affected areas, and proving that no moisture was left behind after their service. Visual inspection alone can miss water that wicked up sheetrock or is hiding under floors. Visual imagery alone does not always tell the complete story, which could lead to an incorrect repair report. A standard moisture meter can confirm if something is wet, but it is a difficult process to hunt-and-peck to find moisture. Documenting moisture meter readings over a vast area takes a lot of time and does not provide a complete picture of the damage.
HIGHLIGHTED SOLUTION
Fortunately, professionals can depend on the FLIR MR176, Imaging Moisture Meter with IGM™. This is an all-in-one tool, a moisture meter that is equipped with a thermal camera. The camera is a great tool to survey a large area quickly and non-invasively to determine the likelihood of elevated moisture levels in the water-damaged area. Because evaporative moisture cools the surface of materials, damage is often seen as a darker (cooler) area on the image. Once potential moisture is detected by the thermal camera it can then be verified by non-intrusive or intrusive moisture measurements. The MR176 can then verify that humidity levels have returned to normal, indicating that no moisture was left behind. The restoration professional can document readings and images to generate a credible report of their findings for the owner and insurance company and put the owner’s mind at ease that the damage will be fully repaired.
THE RESULTS
Restoration professionals can quickly and accurately determine the extent of the water damage, create an accurate repair and cost report for the insurer, repair and replace, and/or dry all of the affected area. They can confidently provide post-restoration proof that the job was completed with thermal images, moisture meter readings and relative humidity readings. This can mean reduced costs to the insurer, since they only replace what was damaged and spend less overall on relocating the owner during repairs. All leading to increased credibility with the insurer for future job considerations.