How Evaporation Works
The U.S. EPA says, “Evaporation is the process that changes liquid water to gaseous water (water vapor). Water moves from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere via evaporation.” Is there more to it? For your home, yes. While there is science to evaporation, and entire industries are dedicated to studying and implementing the science, when things get wet, such as from a failed sump pump, a broken pipe, or water intrusion issues, understanding evaporation and using that knowledge is essential. If you get light water damage, such as something covering a few feet, you will probably attempt to dry it yourself. Whatever you do, make sure you get it completely dry. This is where the science comes in. Evaporation is increased with both air flow and dehumidification. You may have a small dehumidifier, but there is no doubt you have a few fans. By moving air across the wet surface and relying on a dehumidifier to remove the water from the air, you increase evaporation. However, removing water from a surface and not dehumidifying the air means it will take everything longer to dry. When water damage occurs, it’s critical to work on removing the moisture and restoring property right away. This is tough to do without the right equipment, not even considering the time involved. Let the pros do it. If your home has a basement, you probably have moisture. You need to manage that. Opening windows isn’t usually a good option. Installing effective dehumidifiers is one of the best ways to keep a basement dry all the time. You can increase their effectiveness with airflow to move the air around. If your basement walls are constantly wet, it would be smart to have an inspection by an expert who specializes in dry basements. Shop around and look at the reviews. This could get expensive but could also be necessary. Professional contractors use professional tools for almost all water damage or other moisture issues. They have specialized equipment, such as air movers and dehumidifiers, and they have methods to monitor the drying process. These professionals create optimal conditions for evaporation, including controlled temperature, airflow, and humidity levels during the job. So call your favorite restoration company. You don’t want more damage to occur, and you don’t want mold to grow. After all, it pays to call a pro! How to Load a Dishwasher
You open the dishwasher, pull out a rack, and drop a dish into a slot. You keep doing that until there is no more room and push “start.” Is that the best way to load a dishwasher? Loading a dishwasher may seem like a simple task, but doing it right means sparkling clean dishes, and doing it wrong means scraping the crud your dishwasher missed and then just redoing a load. There are a few easy, expert tips you can implement to get the most from your faithful dishwasher. Pre-Rinse You don’t need to do this with a modern dishwasher. They are designed to remove food residues, and they do it well. While you should scrape large food particles from your dishes, put them in the dishwasher dirty. Give your dishwasher a chance. Dish Placement If you want hot water to spray easily on all surfaces, put large items on the bottom rack, as the directions should say. Face them inward toward the spray jets, but leave room for water to spray up and past those, reaching other dishes. Your dishwasher may have more than one spray arm, but it doesn’t hurt to leave gaps between dishes so more water flows throughout the interior. The Top The top rack, that is. All your smaller items go here, including cups and glasses. Place everything so dishes won’t tip over. If you have plastic dishes to wash and are concerned about the high heat and possible warping, those should go right at the top. If you are really concerned, you know what to do: Wash by hand. Utensils Your dishwasher has a special place for utensils, and you might think, “I’ll just put them all in there, and all good.” That might work, but some utensils, such as forks and spoons, can stick together, limiting cleaning. Put some upright, some upside down, and leave room for water circulation. The Right Stuff When choosing a detergent for your dishwasher, do your research. Look at the reviews. If your dishwasher has a prewash option, use it. It’s there for a reason. While you may do your dishes, you should leave some cleaning for the professionals, such as your carpet, furniture, and hard floors. Those are tougher than dishes. After all, it pays to call a pro! |
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