How long does it take to dry out a flooded house?

10/22/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO® of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield outlines how long it takes to dry a flooded property.

A flooded home or business can be devastating to deal with. The water can affect your property and belongings, making everything untidy and unsafe.

If your property is flooded, you want it taken care of quickly, so you can return to your life. As a property owner, you obviously want to know how quickly the restoration process can be completed, so you can move back in. 

SERVPRO® of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield is a full-service flood restoration services company in East El Paso, TX. They've outlined 4 vital factors that impact the timeframe of drying a flooded property. 

1. The drying method

The drying method used for the restoration can make a huge difference in how quickly you get back to your property. 

There are several options to dry your property after a flood, including the following:

Air drying: this involves drying a property by simply opening the windows and doors to allow air circulation. Air drying is, however, mostly effective in hot weather. It also takes longer to dry up a property compared to other options. 

Powerful Fans: you can set up high-powered fans to dry up your flooded property. These fans will quickly dry the surrounding space, much like an automatic hand dryer in a public washroom. It's the method most flood restoration services use to complete the task. 

Powerful Vacuum cleaner: A powerful vacuum cleaner will work if the affected area is carpeted or contains a lot of furniture. Vaccine cleaners can effectively remove water from carpets, fabrics, and clothing.  

Dehumidifiers: A dehumidifier can make your home dryer, even if it won't necessarily speed up the drying process. Water is less likely to soak into your property when there is less moisture in the air, resulting in faster drying.

Most reputable flood restoration services combine all of these tools in their work; which will result in a faster and more effective outcome.

2. The size of the flood

How big is the flood? Is the whole property flooded, or did it just affect specific parts? The size of the flooded area can determine how long it takes to dry it. For example, if only a few rooms were affected by the flood, it would take only a few hours to have them cleaned and dried up. However, if the water affected the whole building, it can take the whole day or more.

3. The time before restoration

How long was the water left unattended? The longer a flooded property is left unattended, the more damage will likely happen. The water will permeate fabrics, wood, drywall, and other materials, making it more difficult to dry up.

4. The source of the flood 

A flooded property can result from a pipe burst, heavy rainfall, sewage backup, etc. A flood caused by a pipe burst will be quicker to dry up and restore as the water is clean. However, a sewage backup will take longer to dry up. Since the water is contaminated, it will require more extensive cleaning after removing the standing water before drying.

Get professional flood restoration services in East El Paso, TX

The most important thing when dealing with a flooded property is to act fast. Call a flood damage restoration services company like SERVPRO of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield for help.

SERVPRO of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield is a licensed and certified disaster restoration company with a team of experienced and IICRC-certified technicians. They know the ins and outs of getting a flooded property back to its preloss state and can help restore your home or business.

The company will come to your place with water extraction and drying equipment to make the job faster and more efficient.

Call SERVPRO of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield at (915) 234-2679 to request their services.