What to Expect When Drying Water Damage With A Dehumidifier

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

Call the professionals at SERVPRO for quick drying times!

Learn how long it will take to dry a property after water damage 

Water damage technicians use high-volume air movers, powerful extractors, and pumps to remove water from damaged properties.

However, a successful water damage restoration job entails drying out moisture that isn't visible, such as hidden wall water damage, damp construction materials, soaked subflooring, and high water vapor content in the air. To adequately dry out a property, the team of water restoration professionals will use a dehumidifier to ensure all aspects of the property are dry to avoid secondary water damages.

This blog post will answer common questions regarding dehumidification and dehumidifiers.  

What is a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier is an electrical device that extracts water from the air and will minimize the amount of relative humidity in the air. Restoration professionals will use a dehumidifier to remove musty odors and avoid mold growth. A dehumidifier can be used in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial.

How long does it take to dry a property after water damage?

The water damage professionals at SERVPRO of North Fulton are often asked how long a dehumidifier will need to be onsite after water damage has occurred. The common question does not have an easy response.

Here at SERVPRO, the typical goal is to have a property completely dry within four days, but there is no fixed time limit. A dehumidifier can stay onsite anywhere from 24hours to several weeks; it depends on the severity and the category of water damage. 

When a professional water restorer arrives onsite, they will look at the amount of water involved, the extent to which the water has spread within the property, the form of construction materials damaged, and the property's age.

Since concrete and linoleum are less absorbent, a water leak will cause less drying time. If the water has affected carpeting, drywall, wood furniture, or other wooden materials, a dehumidifier will be needed for a prolonged period.

• To obtain satisfactory dryness, disaster recovery professionals typically run dehumidifiers & high-volume fans continuously for 24 hours to four days on average.
• The professionals use a device called a moisture meter to determine dryness. Moisture readings for drywall should read between 5 to 12% to be considered dry.
• Indoor relative humidity should be adequately stabilized below 50% to avoid the activation of mold formation.

Water damages require air movers and dehumidifiers.

When water damage occurs, water may soak into drywall (sheetrock), baseboards, subflooring, and other surfaces. High-velocity air movers are used for drying surfaces and speeding up the release of absorbed water into the air.

Dehumidifiers are used to remove this excess moisture to protect property and provide ideal drying conditions.

After a flood, you'll need powerful equipment to clean up the water damage, and a compact, powerful air mover, will help. An air mover paired with a dehumidifier can be used to dry carpets, sub-flooring, and hard surfaces and dry out walls or upholstery.

After water damage, it's critical to dry out the damaged areas within 48 hours because that's how long it will take for mold growth to start. The more saturated your contents are left damp, the more likely they are to get moldy.

How does dehumidification prevent mold growth?

Mold will remain dormant in the air and on surfaces even when there isn't excess moisture for it to grow. Mold can begin to grow in patches on walls, clothing, and other surfaces as the humidity in a room increases. Dehumidifiers can not destroy mold, but they help avoid further growth by lowering the humidity levels in the affected areas.

Contact SERVPRO for quicker drying times! 

After you have made your emergency call, our first responders will arrive at your property ready to mitigate all damages. After thoroughly inspecting the situation, team North Fulton will start the restoration process.

Our water extraction and drying techniques include our powerful extraction vacuums, air movers, dehumidifiers, and sanitization procedures: including industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.

A SERVPRO IICRC certified professional takes each step with experience. Our experts will ensure that your house gets back to its pre-water disaster state as quickly as possible.

Throughout the greater Atlanta area, SERVPRO of North Fulton is a renowned company serving clients in Sandy Springs, Georgia, since 1967. If you want your everyday life to be normal again after you have suffered water damage, SERVPRO is the most reliable option for you.

Our team is fully equipped with advanced tools and qualified experience in restoring water damage. We understand how devastating and problematic water damage can be; that's why we provide 24/7 emergency services to our customers. Contact us today!