How Long Does Drying a Flooded House Take?
Floods and leaks cause much more than stress to homeowners. They can cause significant damage and lead to short and long-term damage within the home and increased risks for the occupants, contents, and the structure, says water damage expert, Be Happy Restoration.
While terribly frustrating, household flooding is a very common occurrence. In fact, about one in 50 homeowners file a water damage claim every year. In dealing with this emergency and minimizing its harmful effects, one of the main objectives is to remove the water and dry out the space as quickly as possible.
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How Long Does it Take to Dry Out a Flooded House?
One of the first and most common things people want to know after having a home exposed to water is how long will it take to dry out.
Though there are many factors impacting how long it takes to dry out a flooded house, on average it would take a smaller-scale water event about two weeks to dry out completely on its own and without professional tools or techniques once all the surface water is removed. By comparison, using professional-grade equipment and techniques it can take from twelve hours to approximately two weeks to dry out a flooded house that experienced a medium to the large-scale flood event.
It is important to note that flood clean-up depends on many factors including:
- Types of Materials Affected
- Amount of Water
- How Long the Water Has Been Present
- Methods Used to Extract the Water
- Drying Methods
- Amount of Humidity in the Environment
What Types of Equipment Do Professionals Use?
Drying times for professional flood clean-up are significantly faster due to the types of tools, techniques, and technologies they use. Professional flood clean-up begins with using professional-grade extraction equipment such as pumps when there is a significant amount of water present. Other equipment might include:
- High-powered Vacuums
- Dehumidifiers
- High-Powered Fans
- Desiccants (products designed to absorb moisture in large quantities)
Drying Time is Part of a Bigger Equation
In some cases, it is possible for a home to dry over time on its own after a flooding event. However, the time it takes to complete that process can either add or minimize additional problems and expenses.
The longer it takes for drying and flood clean-up, the increased likelihood of problems including:
- The longer excess moisture is in the environment, the more time it has to get soaked into porous materials and surfaces. This causes the materials to mold or degrade.
- It increases the likelihood of materials and structural damage to the home and more materials will need to be replaced or restored which significantly increases costs.
- DIY flood clean-up can impact insurance pay-outs. Not only is there less documentation, but insurance adjusters also have a hard time knowing what damage was caused by flooding or what was caused by the homeowner’s actions.
- Mold Growth. Mold-causing bacteria can form in 24 hours or less in clean water or where excess moisture is present.
- Increased health risks. The longer water is present in the environment, the longer it provides a habitat for bacteria and mold. These contaminants can cause health problems including asthma, allergies, breathing difficulties, and cold-like symptoms.
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Importance of Working With a Local Restoration Expert
As tempting as it may be to attempt flood clean-up, it is always best to leave it to the professionals. By using professional-grade tools and expertise, the area is dried significantly faster and helps avoid additional risks and expenses.
Water Damage Restoration Services Mesquite
It is important to have an immediate response when you experience any kind of water-damaging event. If you are looking for “flood damage restoration near me” look no further than the Dallas area expert, Be Happy Restoration. The company can be reached by email at: jesseh@behappyrestorationservices.com or by phone at (214) 616-9951.
