Wall Drying Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A system for drying walls includes a panel which has a first portion, a second portion, and a body portion, the body portion joining the first portion and the second portion, the first portion being in contact with a floor and the second portion being in contact with a wall, the panel creating a channel through which air is passed to extract water from the wall. A method of drying lower portions of walls within a water-damaged building includes placing a plurality of panels against the lower portions of walls such that a channel is created along the lower portions of the walls and forcing air along the channel.

1 . A system for drying walls comprising:
 a panel, said panel having a first portion, a second portion, and a body portion, said body portion joining said first portion and said second portion, said first portion being in contact with a floor and said second portion being in contact with a wall, said panel creating a channel through which air is passed to extract water from said wall.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are flanges, said flanges extending at an obtuse angle from said body portion. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of said first portion contacting said floor and a surface of said second portion contacting said wall have angular orientations that separated by 90 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are flanges, said flanges extending at an obtuse angle from said body portion. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said panels are joined together to form a cavity that follows an outline of said wall. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of said panels comprises:
 a plurality straight panels being adapted to form said channel along a straight portion of said wall; and   a first corner panel and a second corner panel, said first corner panel and said second corner panel being substantially identical, said first corner panel and said second corner panel being joined to form a channel in an interior corner of said wall.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said first corner panel and said second panel are reoriented to form a channel around an exterior corner of said wall. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an end plug, said end plug substantially filling a cross section of said channel. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said end plug further comprises an aperture passing through the thickness of said end plug, said aperture providing access to said channel, said aperture being configured to receive a duct. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a cross door panel, said cross door panel being placed across doorways to maintain continuity of said channel. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein surfaces of said flanges contacting said wall and said floor are covered with a compliant material. 
   
   
       12 . A method of drying lower portions of walls within a water-damaged building comprising:
 placing a plurality of panels against lower portions of walls such that a channel is created along said lower portions of said walls, and   forcing air along said channel.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said air is heated and dehumidified. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing an end plug into an opening of said channel, said end plug substantially filling a cross section of said channel and having an aperture passing through the thickness of said end plug, said aperture providing access to said channel, said aperture being configured to receive a duct. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forcing said air through said duct and into said channel. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising spanning a doorway by placing a cross door panel in said doorway to maintain continuity of said channel. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising spanning a doorway by placing a first end plug in a channel on a first side of said doorway; placing a second end plug in a channel on a second side of said doorway; inserting a first end of a duct into said first end plug; and inserting a second end of said duct into a second end plug. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising anchoring said panels in place using a weight. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming a channel around a corner of said wall by placing a first corner panel and a second corner panel, said first corner panel and said second corner panel being substantially identical, said first corner panel and said second corner panel being joined to form a channel in an interior corner of said wall. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said first corner panel and said second panel are configured to be reoriented to form a channel around an exterior corner of said wall.