How SERVPRO can Dry Your Wet Documents
4/2/2018 (Permalink)
Nowadays we tend to store vital information in a digital format where they are more likely to be recovered in the event of a disaster. But what about the documents that haven’t been digitized either because it’s too expensive or you’ve been putting it off? If they become water-damaged, you are likely to lose them.
Fortunately, SERVPRO has a document-drying process that can recover your damaged paper goods. In fact, it uses the same technique that the Library of Congress uses to dry water-damaged books!
Freezing Your Documents
SERVPRO uses vacuum freeze-drying to achieve sublimation, which is a process where the moisture in an object is frozen and dried by being converted directly into a gas (bypassing the liquid stage) by using various vacuums and pressures. This process avoids additional damage that water would create.
Since it’s important to stabilize your papers, your local franchise’s first priority will be to freeze and stabilize the damaged documents. The documents will be stored in a frozen state until they are able to be properly shipped to SERVPRO’s corporate headquarters. Your local franchise works with corporate to make sure everything can be done to preserve your assets.
Undergoing the Drying Process
Once your documents arrive at SERVPRO’s headquarters, they will be transferred to the state-of-the-art Drying Chamber Facility. The HIPAA Master-certified staff will carefully transfer the items to the chamber where they will undergo the process mentioned above. The building is secured and monitored 24/7, so you can rest assured your items are safe. Drying time is typically about 7 to 10 days, but that depends on the amount of moisture and backlog. Fortunately, the staff is available around the clock to offer updates and answer questions.
Beyond Document Restoration
SERVPRO offers more than just a top-of-the-line drying process. In addition to drying the water-damaged documents, the Document Restoration Team offers the following services upon request:
- Scanning and digitizing documents
- Gamma irradiation (cleans contaminated documents)
- Certified destruction of sensitive materials
- Deodorization
- Trimming after fire damage
- Refile jacketing
Always Here to Help
SERVPRO and its franchises understand how important it is to preserve important documents. Our line of services ensures that you don’t have to worry about what happens to your paper assets when disaster strikes. After all, we’re “Here to Help!”