Wall-drying system

 

A pressurized air distribution network of conduits terminates in small, needle-like nozzles adapted to penetrate a wall, ceiling or layers of flooring, or other moisture-laden areas, such as trapped air space beneath cabinets, through an unobtrusive, easily repaired hole. Air is dispersed by positive-pressure nozzles within the area and collected by nozzles of negative pressure relative to the air pressure within the area. To maintain equal air distribution about a large area, air pressure at the several positive-pressure nozzles is maintained approximately the same by an air supply ring disposed about the relevant room. Spaced apart about the ring are several manifolds, each feeding air to a nozzle. The ring is maintained at near constant pressure, that is, with minimum pressure gradation about the ring, by attaching several air blowers around the ring. In lieu thereof, a central blower provides air to a duct which divides at least once into multiple conduits at at least one branch location. Conduits vary in cross-section so that the conduits may be distributed along the moisture-laden area with larger conduits farther from a branch point and smaller conduits closer to maintain near-equal pressure at respective nozzles at conduit ends. Nozzles disperse air within the drying area by providing a discharge orifice at its distal end and at least one circumferential orifice at the distal end to create a Bernoulli effect. The nozzles are retained in place in the wall by longitudinal ribs along the nozzle circumference ending tapered at the insertion, distal end and ending abruptly in a radial surface that abuts the wall inner surface when the nozzle is rotated after insertion, thus preventing self-extraction when air is discharged out of the nozzle end.

Water damage describes various possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, mold growth, bacteria growth, rusting of steel, swelling of composite woods, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, etc.

The damage may be imperceptibly slow and minor such as water spots that could eventually mar a surface, or it may be instantaneous and catastrophic such as burst pipes and flooding. However fast it occurs, water damage is a major contributor to loss of property.

An insurance policy may or may not cover the costs associated with water damage and the process of water damage restoration. While a common cause of residential water damage is often the failure of a sump pump, many homeowner's insurance policies do not cover the associated costs without an addendum which adds to the monthly premium of the policy. Often the verbiage of this addendum is similar to "Sewer and Drain Coverage".