FAQs
Water extraction and drying questions, answered plainly.
First steps and timing
What should I do first when water is on the floor?
Shut off the water at the main valve, turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker, move what you can off the floor, take photos, and call for extraction.
How long does water extraction take?
Pumping and extraction usually take a few hours for a room or a basement. Drying afterwards typically runs three to five days with air movers and dehumidifiers, checked with a meter each visit.
How quickly can mold grow after a water leak?
Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials in warm conditions. That is why extraction and drying should start as soon as possible after the leak is stopped.
How long should fans and dehumidifiers run after a leak?
Until the materials read dry on a moisture meter, which is usually three to five days. Turning them off when the surface looks dry can leave water inside walls and under floors.
Carpet, floors and walls
Can wet carpet be saved?
Often, yes, if the water was clean and it is extracted within a day or two. The pad underneath is usually replaced because it holds water. Carpet soaked by sewage or flood water is removed.
Can water under laminate or vinyl plank be dried?
Sometimes. Water trapped under laminate or vinyl plank cannot evaporate, so it has to be extracted or the flooring lifted. Laminate that has swollen at the seams usually does not recover.
Can a wet hardwood floor be saved?
Often, if drying starts early. Floor drying mats pull water out of the boards and subfloor, with readings taken until they are back to normal.
Should drywall be replaced if it gets wet?
Not always. Drywall wet from clean water and dried quickly can often stay. Swollen drywall, insulated walls and anything touched by dirty water are cut out above the waterline.
What causes a musty smell after a leak?
Usually water still trapped in the carpet pad, subfloor or wall cavity. Extraction and proper drying remove the moisture that causes it.
Basements, storms and dirty water
How do I get water out of a flooded basement?
Make sure the power is off, then pump out standing water with submersible pumps. After that, carpet and floors are extracted and drying equipment is set up.
Will a dehumidifier dry out a flooded basement?
Not on its own. Standing water has to be pumped and extracted first. After that, dehumidifiers and air movers together dry the basement, usually over several days.
Why did my sump pump fail?
The usual reasons are a power outage during a storm, a stuck float switch, a clogged inlet or a pump that is simply too small for the amount of water coming in.
Is flood water or sewage handled differently?
Yes. Storm and sewage water are contaminated, so carpet and pad are removed, surfaces are cleaned and sanitized, and then the area is dried.
What happens when a pipe bursts in winter?
Shut off the main water valve right away. Once the pipe is repaired, the water is extracted and the walls and floors around it are dried and metered.
What if water came through the ceiling from upstairs?
The leak above is stopped first, then the ceiling, walls and floor below are checked with a meter. Wet insulation above a ceiling often has to be removed so it can dry.
Doing it yourself and cost
Can I extract the water myself with a shop vac?
A shop vac can lift standing water from small areas, but it cannot pull water out of carpet pad or walls. Weighted extraction tools and a meter find and remove what a shop vac leaves behind.
How much does it cost to remove water from a basement?
Pumping and extracting a basement is estimated at $500 to $2,500, and with drying a typical basement is estimated at $1,500 to $5,000. Dirty water and finished basements cost more.
Why is drying charged per day?
Drying equipment runs around the clock, and the job is priced by how much equipment is needed and how many days it takes to reach dry readings. That is why the readings are shared at every visit.
Water on the Floor? Call Us
(866) 914-0544 reaches people who handle water in homes every day. Describe what happened and a crew is lined up.