Drying of water damage

Dehumidifier in case of water damage

Water ingress and leaking pipes can lead to significant problems if they are not given enough attention. Once the water has settled in plaster and masonry, it can, for example, lead to the formation of mold, which can result in expensive renovation work. This is very costly in most cases and also means that the apartment or basement cannot really be inhabited or used during this time. A more affordable and effective solution is the use of a dehumidifier, which only needs to run for a short time in the case of water damage and can help avoid high costs.


What is the best way to dry water damage?

In general, condensation dryers are ideal for drying out water damage. They operate electrically and use a fan to first transport the humid air into the device and cool it below the dew point. The water droplets that condense in this way collect on the cooling element and are gathered in a container at the bottom, while the dried air is released back into the room. If the dryer has strong ventilation, this accelerates the air exchange and leads to faster and more even drying of the rooms. For dehumidifiers with weaker fans, it is advisable to support them with additional blowers for better exchange of humid air and dry air. The dehumidification power a dehumidifier must have depends mainly on the room size and room temperature. The larger and cooler the room, the stronger the dryer should be. On the other hand, it makes little sense to use a dryer that is too powerful or to place too many devices in the room. The air cannot be drier than dry, and this is usually the case with a suitable device after just a few hours. However, the building structure itself must now "cooperate" and balance the moisture in walls and floors to the surface, where it can be carried away by the dry air. This process is slow and can take several days, and in the case of walls that have been soaked for a long time, even several weeks. We would be happy to advise you on a suitable dehumidification device and its application.


Very important in this context:

The dry air generated by the dehumidifier can only fill up with moisture where it can effectively reach. It does not penetrate behind built-up walls such as paneling, insulation, or under floor coverings. Therefore, if you want to dry a water damage, you must ensure the free circulation of dry air to the affected area. In practice, this means that, for example, paneling on the wall must be removed or flushed with dry air using pressure turbines. If the floor is affected, the baseboards must be removed in any case, as the floor covering (laminate, parquet, tiles, carpet, etc.) seals off upwards and thus prevents moisture lying under the covering from escaping upwards. The only free area is accordingly the edge joints, through which moisture can dissipate under the floor. If the floor was only briefly flooded with water (for example, due to a forgotten open window during a thunderstorm), the amount of water that entered is likely not very large, provided the damage is discovered quickly. In this case, the moisture can be removed with a dehumidifier set up in the room. However, if the amount of water that entered is larger or the room is even flooded, especially in rooms with underfloor heating, the likelihood is high that there is also significant water under the floor, which cannot be regulated with superficial drying. This is because the dry air does not reach the moisture under the floor. In these cases, a specialized drying company must be called in, which drills holes in the floor, pumps out water, and then presses dry air under the floor with pressure turbines, which transports the moisture into the room air. If this is not done, the risk of medium-term mold formation under the floor is considerable to likely. In this case, you should contact the insurance company in advance, as the costs for drying a room can quickly amount to CHF 2500.-. This type of drying also takes a longer period of time, it can take 2-3 weeks. In addition to the costs for the work of the drying company, you will also receive compensation for the incurred electricity costs from the insurance. A reputable drying company will automatically provide you with the consumption details.

Choose the right dehumidifier model

If you would like to rent a dehumidifier for drying superficial damage, we can recommend suitable dryers from our equipment rental for your environment. You can find an overview of our rental equipment with prices on our page about renting dehumidification devices. If a lot of water has been standing in the room, we are happy to advise you on the sensible approach with the involvement of a recommended partner company.