Process for heat treating buildings and articles
AssigneeThermapure, Inc.
InventorDavid E. Hedman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for removing or treating harmful biological organisms and chemical substances from a structure by using heated air. The method of the present invention is non-toxic and can be performed in a relatively short amount of time while effectively killing and removing a large proportion of dead organisms and substantially reducing volatile organic compounds. A method for verifying the removal of the organisms is also provided. The invention can also be used to effectively treat water damaged structures.
Claims35
A method for sanitizing a structure of insect and rodent pheromones, comprising the steps of:
- heating ambient air within the structure to a temperature of between 100° F. and 400° F. to kill the rodents or insects or drive them from the structure;
- cleaning surfaces within the structure to remove pest remains and pheromones from the surfaces;
- passing air from the treated structure through a filter and/or reactor that degrades or destroys the pheromones;
- and
- testing for the removal of the pheromones and/or insects or rodents from the treated structure.
A method for removing moisture from a water damaged structure, comprising the steps of:
- creating a temperature and pressure differential between adjacent first and second areas of the structure by heating ambient air within the first area of the structure to a temperature of between 105° F. and 400° F.;
- measuring the temperature in the first and second areas;
- transferring moisture from a boundary of the first area to the second area of the structure as cooler air in the second area comes into contact with heated air or building materials of the first area of the structure, causing the air in the second area to heat and draw moisture therein;
- and
- removing moisture from the air of the second area by evacuating air from the second area from the structure and/or passing the air from the second area through a dehumidifier or desiccant.
A method for treating a contaminated or water damaged structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one heater for heating the interior of the structure;
- providing a plurality of portable electric generators coupled to one another in series so as to provide sufficient electricity to the at least one heater;
- and
- heating ambient air within the structure to a temperature of between 105° F. and 400° F. for a period of time to treat the contamination and/or kill insects in the structure.
A method for treating a structure contaminated with insects or microorganisms, comprising the steps of:
- applying a metallic salt to areas within the structure infested with the insects or microorganisms;
- and
- heating ambient air within the structure to a temperature of between 105° F. and 400° F. to kill the insects or microorganisms or drive the insects from the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.