Dehumidifier For Water Damage. Tips From Professionals

Floods and water damage are far too common, and if your home is flooded, you will want to remove the water and dry out each room as soon as possible to prevent the damage from becoming worse and reduce the risk of mold growth.

Dehumidifier For Water Damage

A dehumidifier is an excellent machine to help remove water and moisture from your home. Not only will it help dry out your floors and walls quickly, but it will also prevent mold growth. Professional dehumidifiers have a larger water removal capacity per hour than residential ones.

This blog post will further explain how to use a dehumidifier for water damage, and I will also explain when to stop using it and choose the right dehumidifier. The article will also answer some commonly asked questions, including the signs of water damage.

Will A Dehumidifier Work After A Flood?

After a flood, a dehumidifier is a necessary piece of equipment when it comes to drying your walls and floor. I always recommend that homeowners and contractors use at least one commercial dehumidifier anytime there is or has been standing water in a home. This will help make the drying process much faster and prevent mold growth.

Will A Dehumidifier Remove Water From Walls?

A dehumidifier can help remove the water from walls and help dry them out quickly. Walls absorb water, and even if you do not see water damage, they may be saturated. As the walls absorb more water, they will start to expand and become swollen. You may notice cracking, peeling wallpaper or paint, and stains and discoloration.

A dehumidifier will pull out all the moisture in a room. You can also use it while ventilating the room with the windows open. The dehumidifier will pull moist air from the room, remove the moisture, and release dry air to help the walls and floor dry faster.

Will A Dehumidifier Dry A Flooded Basement?

A commercial dehumidifier is strong enough to dry out a flooded basement, but it will not be able to do it alone. You will need to remove any standing water in the basement first. A sump pump is a good option for this and can help remove large amounts of water.

If the basement has been flooded for more than a few hours, you will also need to bring in some commercial fans, open any windows or vents, and bring in a strong commercial dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air.

Will A Dehumidifier Remove Water From Floor?

A dehumidifier will not remove standing water from the floor. It will be able to pull out moisture that may be trapped in the floor and wall after the standing water is removed. You can remove standing water with towels, a mop, or a sump pump.

Once the water has been drained, you can bring in a dehumidifier. It’s best to ventilate the room with fans and open windows while using the dehumidifier to dry the floor faster, prevent further damage, and reduce the chance of mold.

Will A Dehumidifier Remove Water From Carpet?

Dehumidifiers are great for removing water from the carpet. Carpets can absorb a lot of water quickly, and the longer it soaks in, the more likely there is to be severe water damage. Your carpet could start to mold, mildew, or the subfloor underneath could become damaged and need to be replaced if you don’t dry out the carpet as soon as possible.

A dehumidifier will pull the water right out of the carpet and help to dry the air in the room so the carpet will dry faster. The more water absorbed by the carpet, the longer you will need to run the dehumidifier to dry it out.

When Should I Stop Running My Dehumidifier?

Many types of dehumidifiers shut off on their own after the home or room has reached the right humidity level. You can set this level on your machine. It’s best to let the dehumidifier work until it shuts off.

Even if you think the carpet or flooring feels try to touch, there could still be humidity in the room that could lead to moisture being absorbed and allow water to settle back into the walls and floors. If you are renting a commercial dehumidifier and need to return it within a certain period of time, you should run it as long as possible or until it shuts off.

This can take many days, depending on the amount of water and the type of floor and walls. Always keep in mind that the outside of the floor or wall can look dry, but that doesn’t mean that the material is really dry. Or that the outside of the wall material, or under the floor is dry.

Will A Dehumidifier Work Upstairs?

Heat and humidity rise the upper floors of a home, and the upstairs can be much more humid than the lower floors. If you’re upstairs has flooded, there is also a good chance the water has found its way downstairs too. You may need to use a dehumidifier in both places.

In this case, it’s best to run them both at the same time. Otherwise, humidity on the lower floors could continue to rise up, and your upstairs humidifier will have to work harder to battle the humidity.

How To Choose The Right Humidifier

If you are going to buy a humidifier or rent one from your local home improvement store, you will need to make sure you choose the right one. Here are some things to consider when making your choice.

● Size

Certain dehumidifiers are made for certain room sizes, and if you don’t choose the proper size, it may not work well to remove the moisture in a reasonable time. You can check the machines to find the large enough one for your room. Keep in mind. Dehumidifiers can be heavy and bulky, so don’t choose much larger than necessary.

You can use a residential dehumidifier, but I always recommend renting commercial dehumidifiers. They can remove a lot more water per hour than a residential dehumidifier.

A dehumidifier pulls in the moisture from the air and dries it out to release dry air back into the room. When used with a fan, this can be highly effective at drying out the drywall quickly.

● Cost

You may be on a budget when you are trying to dry out your floors and be looking for a dehumidifier that meets your price range. You can shop around to find the best deal, rent one, or even borrow one from a friend. The larger the dehumidifier, the more expensive it will be.

● Tank Size

You will need to empty the dehumidifier tank often. The smaller the tank, the more often you will need to empty it. If you plan to run a dehumidifier while you are not home, you may need to choose one that has a larger tank. This can also be necessary if you plan to run it while you are asleep at night and do not want to get up through the night to empty the tank. Dehumidifiers shut off when the tank is full.

● Noise Level

Some dehumidifiers can be noisy. So keep this in mind when you think about what else you will be doing in your home while the dehumidifier is running. Some do have quiet settings, but if you plan to run it in the evenings when your family is home or at night while everyone is in bed, you will want to choose a quieter dehumidifier.

Signs Of Water Damage

Many things can be a sign of water damage. Some of these things are obvious, and some take some assessment. Before you start working on your home and buy a dehumidifier to dry it, you will want to make sure you know the severity of the problem. And you need to ensure that the problem itself has been fixed.

Here are some signs of water damage:

● Soft Spots

You can feel the walls and floor to see if any areas are soft. If you feel soft spots, it could mean they have absorbed water.

● Discoloration

When water stands for a while, it can start to stain or cause discoloration on the walls and floors. You can look for dark streaks or blotches that are yellow, brown, black, and gray.

● Cupping

Cupping can occur on a floor when the water has caused the boards to expand and stick up on the ends. The entire floor can have cupping, or it may only be present in small areas. The longer the water stands on the floor, the worse the cupping will be.

● Musty Odor

Sometimes you can smell the water damage even when you can’t see it. If you know there has been a leak in your home, and you notice a musty smell, it could mean water damage somewhere in your home.

● Mold Growth

Mold can start to grow quickly in damp areas. If you notice that mold is starting to grow in your home, it could mean there is a leak somewhere and likely water damage as well. If you see mold growing in your home, you should find the leak but stop there. I recommend letting a mold remediation expert remove the mold itself. This will ensure it is removed correctly, safely, and adequately.

● Peeling Wallpaper and Paint

If you have wallpaper or paint on your walls and they are wet, you may notice the paper and paint are starting to peel away from the wall. The moisture will not allow it to adhere properly, and it may peel off in large sections.

● Swollen Walls and Floorboards

When the walls and floors absorb water, they will swell up. You will notice they appear larger and no longer fit in the frames properly. Drywall and planks on the wall may come loose and even sag or bunch up where they fit together.