The summer of 2008 in Eastern Iowa will be known for one thing: historic flooding. Floodwater reached beyond the 500-year floodplains as rivers toppled their banks by more than 20 feet in some locations.

The Iowa River near Coralville crested 9 ft above flood stage and remained above flood level for weeks. Even though the Coralville Heartland Inn sits one foot above the 100-year floodplain, “water flooded the first floor of our hotel for nearly 10 days,” mentions Joe Minard, owner of the Heartland Inn.

While insurance covered the contents and structural damage, Heartland Inn had nothing to cover the loss of business. Located near the University of Iowa, “this is a significant hotel with high occupancy rates, especially in the summer,” adds Minard. Nearly 30% of the hotel’s rooms were inundated with floodwater.

With no service contract for flood damage, the Heartland Inn had to quickly select the right restoration contractor and equipment, but Minard was overwhelmed with the number of contractors from around the country, offering different drying techniques and philosophies. He selected Dream Steam Carpet Clean, Inc., an IIRCRC-certified restoration contractor who offered a quick and unique drying technique.

While Dream Steam was well-versed in all phases of restoration work, the sheer scope of the flooding throughout the large, honeycombed structure presented unique challenges. “There was 3.5 to 4.5 feet of water throughout the entire first floor, which included 55 guest rooms, two elevator shafts, a pool, lobby and meeting room,” explains Mike Hambly, president of Dream Steam.

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Dryvection™ the Solution
The Heartland Inn flooding represented the most severe form of water damage, Category 3. “Category 3 damage signifies dirty water and few items the water touches can be saved,” says Hambly.

On the upper floors of the three-story hotel, Dream Steam used dehumidifiers and air movers to keep moisture from damaging any contents. Crews monitored humidity levels with readings at least twice a day to safeguard against water damage.

The bulk of the intense restoration effort was focused on the first floor. All those contents were discharged, and the walls were stripped down to the studs. “We went through $18,000 worth of dumpsters,” adds Minard. The first floor was then power washed and sprayed with a mildewcide to prevent mold and mildew growth.

To dry the first floor, Dream Steam rented two Dryvex™ MC5200 open drying systems from Star Equipment. The MC5200s feature Dryvection™ Technology that uses heated outside air, rather than recycled air, to quickly dry flooded buildings and their contents.

“With the MC5200, outside air is heat-conditioned to 3 to 15 percent relative humidity, and the fresh air is blown into the structure,” says Ken Cannella, product manager for Wacker Neuson Climate Technology equipment. “The dry air absorbs large quantities of moisture as it circulates throughout the building, while a second blower accelerates the drying process by extracting moisture-laden air.”

Working with Star Equipment and Wacker Neuson representatives, Dream Steam installed the flexible ductwork on the outside of the structure. To help facilitate the drying process, Dream Steam divided the first floor in half – drying one side while crews removed the water-absorbing contents of the other side – and employed more than 150 air movers.

Within a mere 10 days, Dream Steam sanitized and dried the entire 25,450 ft2 first floor. “The MC5200s worked fast,” says Hambly. “There was a much smaller building nearby where the contractors were using a desiccant drying system. The contractors were drying the building before we started on the Heartland Inn and were still not done by the time we finished.” Canella adds, “By disrupting the equilibrium with convection energy and air movement, we were able to create a much higher evaporation rate than the desiccant drying system.”

The luxury of time was not on Dream Steam’s side for restoring the Heartland Inn. First, Dream Steam had to quickly start the drying process to avoid secondary damage from water and humidity migrating to the upper floors. Second, with every day closed representing loss of business for the hotel, they had to allow reconstruction crew in as soon as possible.

Upon the sanitized and dried hotel passing a stringent industrial hygienist test, Minard’s other company, Joe Minard Construction, completed the reconstruction phase on the first floor. On September 30, 2008, the renovations were finished, and the Heartland Inn was once again welcoming guests at their Coralville location. “We were very pleased by the hard work of Dream Steam and the service received from Wacker representatives to quickly get us back in business.”

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