Use of Fans and Dehumidifiers Once the surface water is mopped up, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the area thoroughly. Position fans to circulate air across the affected area and run a dehumidifier nearby to help pull moisture out of the wood.
Set up fans to increase airflow and help evaporate moisture. Position them to blow air across the floor. Use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels in the room. This will help draw moisture out of the wood and air. If safe and suitable, use a space heater to warm the area, which can help speed up evaporation.
It can take up to several weeks for wood flooring to completely dry. Also, the humidity in the room and the amount of water that was present on the floor can prolong the process. So leave the fans and dehumidifier running until the moisture test shows that no water remains in the wood.
Dry As Much As You Can
A moisture meter will check to make sure that the floors are completely dried. If you have a dehumidifier, that will help remove quite a bit of excess moisture. Set up as many fans as you can and keep them running in the affected area. Open your windows to ensure ventilation throughout the home.
After thoroughly towel drying the floor, add absorbent material like sawdust, baking soda, or kitty litter. Spread a generous amount of the material over the affected area and let it sit overnight. The absorbent material helps to draw out any remaining moisture from the wood and makes it easier to dry.
Methods to Dry Wet Wood
Using a Dehumidifier: If your wood is stored indoors or in a garage, a dehumidifier can speed up the drying process. By reducing the humidity in the air, you can help your wood lose moisture effectively. Just make sure to stack the wood in a way that allows air circulation.
Water damage can lead to a condition commonly known as “cupping” in hardwood floors. This occurs when excess moisture permeates the hardwood, primarily affecting the unfinished underside of the boards.
Dry the Wood Flooring
An easy way to remove moisture from your wood floors is to use a dehumidifier. Set the dehumidifier at the highest setting possible and leave it in the center of the room for at least 24 hours.
The longer the water sits on a hardwood floor, the more damage it causes. If water has been on the floor more than 24 hours, the potential for replacing the entire floor is significantly greater.
Usually, this will mean removing the flooring on-top of your subfloor. Sometimes wooden subfloors can be dried out and returned to their previous condition, but in severe floods or cases with extensive water damage they will likely need to be replaced as well.
Dehumidifier is the best thing you can do. Blowing a fan will help slightly, but dehumidifier is a must.
If you have water under your floorboards, remove floor coverings and dispose of damaged paper products, dry the area, clean and disinfect the soaked floorboards, ventilate the room, and contact a professional like ServiceMaster of Lake Shore for complete restoration services.
Soak up all the excess moisture on the damaged area with towels, and then clean the area with a good disinfectant cleaner that's safe for your hardwood floors. This is an important step, because excess moisture can stay trapped in dirt and debris. After cleaning, dry, and vacuum the area thoroughly.
Amazingly, even if the structure or the subfloor is not exposed, dehumidifiers will be able to draw out the moisture from inside the walls and underneath the flooring to dry out the materials.
Signs of water damage typically include bubbling, warping, and discoloration but can vary depending on the flooring type. Mold from trapped moisture on floors can start forming in as little as 24 hours. Vinyl, tile, laminate, and other water-resistant flooring can still sustain water damage and develop mold.
How often do you need to mop your floors? You need to mop your hardwood floors once a week in high-traffic areas like the dining room and kitchen. Use a microfiber mop dampened with O-Cedar PACS Hard Floor Cleaner or just water. Always mop following the wood grain and let it dry completely before walking on it.
Did you know that even the smallest amount of water could cause damage to hardwood floors? This includes stains, spillage and swelling from in-between the planks, and even rotting. The tough fact about water damage is that it is not always noticeable right away.
Use of Fans and Dehumidifiers
Once the surface water is mopped up, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the area thoroughly. Position fans to circulate air across the affected area and run a dehumidifier nearby to help pull moisture out of the wood.
The first way that you can fix a subfloor moisture problem is by removing the finished floor and exposing the subfloor. Make sure that an HVAC system is installed or use a dehumidifier, and then, let the subfloor dry until the moisture levels have gone down.
Often, water damage manifests in physical changes in the wood floors. This could be anything from subtle discoloration to more noticeable cupping or even warping of the floorboards – a sure sign of excess moisture. Sometimes, the wooden floor may develop a musty smell, especially in cases of water leaks.