The Basics OfDrying Your Home Out After A Leak
There are two main areas of focus when you are trying to dry up after a water leak: remove the flooding, and ensure that you get the walls, subfloor and floor surface dry as soon as possible. Standing water causes damage by its very presence, and so needs to be cleared out as soon as it is safe to do so.
Many homeowners make a rookie mistake: they can no longer see any water, and so they assume that flooring is dry after leaks. They then assume they can start the repairs, risking damp, mold and mildew becoming locked in once the new surfaces are laid - this, in turn, can cause an even more expensive headache down the line.
Getting concrete floors completely dry is the key to avoiding this issue;
Remove the Water
As we mentioned, the first priority is to remove as much excess water as possible, via mopping, draining or pumping. This helps to minimise the damage, and allows the drying process to occur more quickly.
Remove Floor Coverings
Most concrete floors are covered with underlay and carpet or wooden flooring. These will need to be removed in order to dry the concrete slab base. Even the best carpet cleaners are unable save carpets following water damage caused by a leak, although the cost of replacement will usually be covered by your house insurance. Wood floor is again usually to badly water damaged to be used again, this again is usually covered by your trace and access policy.
Allow Air To Circulate
Once you have removed all of the water, the next stage is to air out the room completely. The easiest - and cheapest - way to achieve this is to open as many windows as possible, allowing fresh air to circulate and remove moisture from the room. Adequate ventilation seriously speeds up the natural drying process, allowing you to go in with tools to speed up the process.
Use a dehumidifier
Once the windows are open and the fresh air is doing its thing, you can use dehumidifiers or fans to speed up the drying process. A dehumidifier is an essential tool since it removes the humidity and moisture from the air, allowing the floor beneath to dry more quickly. Drying the floor thoroughly reduces the risk of damp or mould developing. If the flood or leak was serious, always make sure that you have had the electrics checked by an electrician before plugging anything in.
