You Can Save Wet Documents

5/2/2018 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Freeze Drying Chamber Can Help Save Your Documents

n our business, we generally encounter people with homes or businesses that are damaged by water. We spend our time drying these structures as quickly and efficiently as possible so that the owner can be back in them and functioning as normal as soon as possible. This includes drying of contents. Interestingly, when we discuss contents, people generally think of furniture, clothing, appliances, and electronics. But what about documents? What if the damaged business is a doctor’s office, hospital, or lawyer’s office? Saving the documents in those files could determine a patient’s wellbeing or the attorney’s ability to win a case. Once the paper is wet can it be saved?

There are many factors to be considered when we look at paper and its ability to be restored. Some things that we have to determine are based on the kind of paper it is, did the ink already smear, has the paper changed shape? If the paper is determined to be salvageable, we can attempt to dry it with a process known as Vacuum Freeze Drying.

Vacuum freeze drying is done in steps. The first step requires that the documents be frozen solid in order to maintain their original form. Then they are placed in a freeze drying chamber and a vacuum makes sure to remove all air from the chamber. When the temperature and pressure reach optimum levels the vapors begin to release from the paper. The vapor is then collected on a condensing surface outside of the chamber that turns it back into ice. A final gradual temperature rise pulls off more vapors and releases bound moisture from the document.

This technique works well on many types of documents. Rest assured, if your home or business should ever suffer a water damage, we can help recover your building and ALL of your salvageable contents!