• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Start Here
  • Money Pit Podcast
  • Leave a Review
The Money Pit house logo

The Money Pit

Home Improvement Tips & Podcasts

  • Media Kit
  • Affiliates
  • Ask a Question
  • Spaces
    • Outdoor Living
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Garages & Sheds
    • Basements & Crawlspaces
    • Home Exteriors
  • Reno/Repair
    • Air Conditioning
    • Windows
    • Floors
    • Roofs & Gutters
    • Insulation
    • Lighting & Wiring
  • Popular Topics
    • Storage & Organization
    • Painting & Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Pests & Wildlife
    • Buying or Selling a Home
  • Features
    • Green Home
    • Pet Friendly
    • Kid Spaces
    • DIY
    • Quick Tips
  • Podcasts
    • The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast
    • Money Pit Minute Podcast
    • Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
    • Top Products Podcast
    • ProFiles Podcast
Man painting a white kitchen

How to Dry out Basements and Crawlspaces After a Flood

How to Dry out Basements and Crawlspaces After a Flood

Basements & Crawlspaces
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInEmail
by Tom Kraeutler Leave a Comment

After natural disasters such as spring snow storms or heavy rains that cause basement or crawl space floods, excess moisture and standing water can quickly contribute to the growth of mold in homes, especially in low-lying areas such as basements.

If you were storing anything of value in the basement or using it as additional living space, it is important to dry this area as quickly as possible in order to prevent permanent damage to your belongings and the structure. Relative humidity levels rising above 60 percent stimulate the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and other biological allergens, which can potentially create dangerous living conditions.

How to Dry Out Basements and Crawlspaces after a Flood

The first step is to remove all of the remaining floodwater as quickly as possible after you are sure the basement is safe to enter.  Once the standing water is removed, the next step is to use a large capacity high efficiency dehumidifier to start drying out the basement. Drying rates are greatly improved by lowering relative humidity, adding heat and increasing air movement — all functions of a high powered dehumidifier.

Not All Dehumidifiers are Created Equal
The most effective type of dehumidifiers use a regenerative heat exchanger and high capacity fan, like the units offered by Santa Fe.  These features are necessary for fast and effective drying and allow the units to remove 2-3 times more moisture per kilowatt of electricity than a conventional dehumidifier. Santa-Fe dehumidifiers are energy efficient and allow for high efficiency air filtration. All Santa-Fe units come with at least a MERV 8 filter, and most come standard with MERV 11 filtration capabilities. Santa Fe freestanding residential units are built with the same components as the company’s commercial units and as a result are able to remove up to 4 times more water than the units available at home improvement stores.

If you are unsure about how to clean an item damaged by a flood in the crawl space or basement, you may wish to consult a specialist.  Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration, carpet and rug cleaning, and water damage are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references and look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

Basements & Crawlspaces

Related Posts

The Money Pit Tips & Tricks text logo with lightbulb

A Safer, Healthier Home: Key Improvements

The Money Pit Tips & Tricks text logo with lightbulb

Preventing Mold from Spreading in Your Home

Condensation on window

How to Prevent Condensation on Basement Walls

Man sneezing from allergies

10 Tips for Allergy Relief at Home

Flooded basement after rain storm

Stop a Basement that Leaks After Heavy Rain: 3 Easy Steps

Basement with a wet floor

Basement Waterproofing Tips | How to Fix a Wet Basement

Related Podcasts

basement

Moisture In Basement Might Be Solved By Right Dehumidifier

fix wet crawlspace

How to Reduce Crawlspace Dampness

Getting Rid of Odors From A Finished Basement

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Remove Excess Moisture With a Whole Home Dehumidifier

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Dry Out a Wet or Flooded Crawlspace

Flood Dry-Out

FacebookTweetPinLinkedInEmail

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. elenagilbert12

    Drying out a flooded property requires some safety measures and precautions that are required to be taken. These steps are:

    1. Call a restoration company for help if you are insured. They will help cleaning up the mess and they know correctly how to dry out a property.

    2. Secondly you need to document the damage that has occurred. You can take photographs of the damaged property as the proof.

    3. Safety should be kept in mind first before entering the damaged place in order to avoid more damage.

    4. Natural and other process should be used to dry the property quickly.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Trending Posts

Get Ready for the Game with The Money Pit’s $1,000 Tailgate Treasures Sweepstakes!

Attic flooring added to increase storage space

How to Floor Your Attic for Storage Without Wrecking Your Roof

Best Garage Floor: Tiles, Mat or Paint?

Garage Heater Dyna-Glo 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Wall Heater, White

Best Heaters for a Garage: Forced Air, Infrared or Portable?

Stock your DIY liquor dispenser!

How To Make A Liquor Dispenser | Video

Ask Us Anything

Ask A Question

Favorite Posts

Attic flooring added to increase storage space

How to Floor Your Attic for Storage Without Wrecking Your Roof

How to Get Rid of Thousand-Leggers Without Getting Grossed Out

Best Garage Floor: Tiles, Mat or Paint?

Get Ready for the Game with The Money Pit’s $1,000 Tailgate Treasures Sweepstakes!

Popular Podcasts

Repair Crumbling Cinder Block

Electric Meter

Service Entry Cable and Electric Meter: Who is responsible for repair?

dirt to use around house foundation

Type of Dirt to Use Around House Foundation

What Smells Like Burning Rubber in My Home?

Newsletter

Get weekly updates with the latest tips and tricks to save money in your home.

As Us Anything

Ask A Question

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • About
  • Media Kit
  • Partners
  • Posts
  • Endorsement Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy & Solution
  • Radio Stations

Copyright © 2001–2023 · The Money Pit · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Ask A Question