Drying & process
How to Dry Out a House After a Leak
Updated · Copperline editorial
What you can do right away
- Shut off the source and the power to wet rooms
- Mop or wet-vac standing water on hard floors
- Lift furniture off wet floors
- Open cabinet doors and closets
- Run the AC — it dehumidifies while it cools
Why fans alone can backfire
Box fans move moisture from surfaces into the air. Without dehumidification, that moisture settles into other rooms and materials. Professional setups pair air movers with dehumidifiers sized to the space.
Where DIY drying falls short
Carpet pad, wall cavities, cabinets and the slab under tile hold water that surface drying can't reach. Structural drying tracks moisture in those materials daily until it reaches a dry standard.
When DIY drying isn't enough
Box fans move air across surfaces but don't pull water out of walls, subfloors or cabinets. If materials still read wet after two days, or you smell mustiness, call a restoration company with moisture meters and commercial dehumidifiers.
How to Dry Out a House After a Leak: follow-up questions
Should I run the AC or open windows?
In most of Arizona's dry months, running the AC and a dehumidifier helps. During humid monsoon weather, keep windows closed.
How do I know the wall is dry?
Only a moisture meter can confirm it. A wall can feel dry on the surface while the cavity is still wet.
Every home differs; editorial standards.