How Long To Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak
Tidal Wave Response knows a thing or two about water damage cleanup and restoration. We have years of experience in the industry as well as trained technicians equipped with advanced technology. We get a lot of questions about our work and we like to share information with as many people as possible. To that end, we will dedicate this article to dehumidifying after a water leak. Specifically, how long should you run a dehumidifier after a water leak? Like the answer to many questions in life: it depends. Keep reading to learn more. If you have any questions or if you would like to hire a water damage restoration professional, then give Tidal Wave Response a call. We are happy to help.
The Importance of Running Dehumidifiers After A Water Leak
Water damage is not restricted to the puddles of water. Water damage can continue even after you clean up those pools of water. Moisture and humidity can remain even after this cleanup, allowing the growth of mold and bacteria. This is where dehumidifiers come into play. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air, help evaporate puddles, and pull out moisture trapped in cushions, sheet rock, furniture, wood, and more. If you want a complete water damage cleanup, then a dehumidifier will have to be a part of the equation.
When Should You Pull Out the Dehumidifier?
Using the dehumidifier is one of the last steps in the water damage restoration process. Before you pull out the dehumidifier, you should save any items from getting wet and salvage wet materials. You should also pull out a mop or sponge to soak up all of the water that you can. Once you have removed as much of the water as you can, you can bring out the dehumidifier to take care of the moisture in the air, furniture, floors, and walls.
Be sure to act quick, however. The first 48 hours after water damage are crucial. Mold and mildew will generally start to grow even within these 48 hours. Dealing with mold and mildew is a whole cleanup task on its own – a hazardous task at that.
How Long Should I Run the Dehumidifier?
Well, what type of dehumidifier do you have? What is the dampness level? Do you live in an area that is naturally humid? How large is the area that needs to be cleaned? The answers to these questions will affect the answer to your question.
However, many dehumidifiers have sensors to detect the humidity level in the area and will shut off once a certain level is reached. So, you should leave the dehumidifier running until the goal is attained. To shorten the length of time you will wait, you can invest in a high-quality dehumidifier, thoroughly mop the area, and make sure the dehumidifier is working in a closed area. This means you should not keep the windows open, especially if you live in a humid area.
