A dehumidifier might dry it out and save the wood, but you need to find the source of the leak or you're in for continual and worsening issues.
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.
After this, you will need to remove the top floor — the floorboards of wood flooring, carpeting, tile, linoleum, or other flooring materials — so that the subfloor can be exposed to open air, which will dry it out. Dehumidifiers may help in this process by drawing out moisture.
A dehumidifier would be fine. It might take water from places other than the floor, but it will speed up the drying. As others have said, I would also check really thoroughly for leaks. Might be an idea to get a surveyor out to monitor moisture levels and see if what you are doing is working.
Most wood floors flooded with water will take weeks or more to fully dry out. In some circumstances, especially with a wooden subfloor, removing the wood flooring is necessary to fully dry out the subfloor.
A wet subfloor doesn't always need to be replaced, but it must be thoroughly dried and assessed for damage. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry it out. If the subfloor is swollen, warped, or has mold growth, replacement is necessary.
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.
Use a dehumidifier placed at the highest setting possible to dry the floors. Place it in the center of the room and leave it on for at least 24 hours. Next, place fans around the room so the entire surface receives the blowing air. Place the fans at the highest settings possible.
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.
Use fans, dehumidifiers, or even a wet-dry vacuum to dry water under laminate flooring and the subfloor. Ensure proper ventilation to accelerate the drying process. You can also use towels to absorb excess moisture.
Subfloor mold often shows up as dark spots or patches under your floors. You might find it under carpets, vinyl, or laminate. The mold can look like black, green, or white marks on plywood or OSB, which are common in homes since the 1950s. A musty smell is a sign of subfloor mold.
Taking all these factors into account, subfloor material costs can range from as low as $2.50 per square foot for plywood to as high as $10 per square foot for Amdry or Barricade. Common subfloor materials include plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), Amdry, DRIcore, Barricade, Warmboard, and concrete.
If you have a lot of firewood that needs to be dried out quickly, you can also use a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air, which speeds up the drying process. Just place your firewood in a room with a dehumidifier, and let it run until the wood is dry.
Yes. Hardwood flooring is quite sensitive to moisture and it's always worth adding a moisture barrier during installation. It is a necessity with concrete subfloors and damp areas, but water-resistive underlayments should be considered with other subfloors as well.
Overusing Your Dehumidifier
It may inadvertently lower the humidity to uncomfortably lower levels.
To further speed up the drying process, set up an electric heater. The heat will help evaporate the moisture faster. If the water-damaged wood is in an enclosed space, consider using a dehumidifier.
If you choose to dry your hardwood floors in place, Certified Restoration employs advanced drying equipment that forces airflow beneath the surface, facilitating moisture release. However, this process can take up to seven days.
Wood drying (also seasoning lumber or wood seasoning) reduces the moisture content of wood before its use. When the drying is done in a kiln, the product is known as kiln-dried timber or lumber, whereas air drying is the more traditional method.
Once it's wet, OSB takes hours to days to dry out. Keep your drying setup going until the OSB looks and feels dry. Then, start testing it with your moisture meter. Stick the 2 probes into the OSB and wait for the reading, and repeat the test at least 2 times per 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) of wet subfloor.
Moisture can and will find its way into the cracks and crevices of your hardwood 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.
Initially, you'll collect a large volume of water every day. In fact, the first few days of a kiln cycle I'll drain the dehumidifier every 12 hours. As the lumber continues to dry, you'll notice less water in the container, until it's just a dribble after 2-3 weeks.
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.
In most cases, damaged subflooring doesn't need to be replaced. However, in the event of extensive water damage from flooding or extended periods of exposure to moisture, damaged sections may need to be removed to avoid mold and ensure structural integrity.