Why Dehumidifiers are Needed on Water Damage Restoration Projects After a Flood

After a flood, you probably had to get rid of a lot of excess moisture in your home, along with things like mold and other issues. In these events, using professional or excellent quality residential dehumidifiers are a must have in your home and in this guide, we’re going to explain briefly why you’ll want to invest in one, especially if your home has been compromised during a flood.

Preventing Mold

Many homes have mold damage after they end up getting ravaged with water damage after the flood waters have swept into your home according to the SuperDry San Diego Website. Because of this, they have an increased chance for mold, and most homes actually do end up getting mold. If you’re one of the lucky few that don’t get hit with mold damage, you’re lucky. Either way, using a dehumidifier, whether post-mold removal or before you can get mold is a great way to eliminate moisture that can end up causing mold in your house.

Should I Hire a Professional?

When it comes to flood damage, you may want to hire a professional when it comes to dehumidifying your home and removing excess moisture. Some homes are lucky enough that they only have a fine line of water that’s not outstanding in certain areas of their homes (like basements, or on linoleum areas), so in these cases you may need to just vacuum or pump, and then you can simply place a dehumidifier on a slightly elevated surface (to avoid them being in the water, as this can pose electrical hazards).

Check for Mold Frequently

When you have flood damage and use a dehumidifier, you need to continuously check for mold whenever and wherever possible, including in the dehumidifier itself. You’ll be emptying it a lot if you are using it post-flood, and every single time you’ll want to make sure that water doesn’t stand in it, and also be sure to check the filter repetitively (many of them allow you to take out the filter and rinse it as needed as well).

Can I Rely on Dehumidifiers Alone?

The real answer to this is no. Anytime you have a home that’s been invaded or damaged from a flood, no matter what kind it is. The best thing you can do is air out your house. Be sure you open your windows and doors as well. You don’t have to leave your outside doors open, but every door in the home should be open to allow the fresh air in and help dry your home faster while your dehumidifier is working.

Can a Dehumidifier Dry my Walls?

The good thing is that using a good dehumidifier in your home can in fact help pull moisture out of your walls. Even drywall and sheet rock can be healed with a good dehumidifier. However, you’ll need to probably have more than one. Don’t just expect your one dehumidifier to repair the whole house.

Conclusion

If you have flood damage in your home, getting a dehumidifier is an extreme necessity. Even when you hire a professional, they’re going to bring theirs in as well as a lot of industrial-sized fans. You can sometimes save a lot of time and money (even if you end up having to hire a professional team) by using a few dehumidifiers after a flood to help minimize the amount of moisture in your home, and then continue to use it afterwards to help keep the air in your home cleaner and purer.