Your house is flooded, and you’re nervous and upset — understandably so.
But what do you do now?
Let us say this isn’t the type of thing you roll up your sleeves and tackle on your own.
Any water remaining can damage your home’s structure, spread beyond its current location, and promote mold growth. And if you’re displaced from your home, every minute matters.
So start the process with a search for “how to dry out a flooded house near me.” It’ll bring you to us — CWF, your experts in humidity solutions in Houston or Dallas. We’ll handle it from there.
This is what you should know about the process and flooding.
Key Points
| Steps To Dry Out a Flooded House | Important Notes |
| Immediate Action | Safety checks Water extraction Removal of damaged materials |
| Structural Drying Equipment and Techniques | Vacuums Air movers Dehumidifiers |
| Importance of Dehumidification and Airflow Management | Preventing damage to nearby structures Eradicating mold growth Getting you back into your home sooner |
| All About Moisture Management | Moisture meters Thermal imaging cameras Hygrometers |
| Post-Drying Inspection | One final evaluation Mold prevention Final repairs |
What Is Structural Drying?
As we chat about what your home needs to get back to normal, you may hear us mention structural drying — a phrase meaning the multistep process we use to remove moisture from any building materials, including your home’s frame, drywall, and insulation.
Measure Moisture Levels
We start the process by getting hygrometer readings to determine the humidity levels in affected areas. We’ll consider the saturation point of each structure, which is when the material has absorbed the maximum amount of water. This reading is affected by the temperature. When it’s warmer, the air holds more humidity than when it’s cooler.
Evaporation Vs. Desiccation
Our approach involves evaporation and desiccation, two methods that work in different ways to remove moisture.
Evaporation is used on drywall, cement, and virtually every other surface. We use this technique to convert liquid water into vapor using industrial air movers to speed the drying process, which reduces the likelihood of mold or rot.
On the other hand, think of desiccation as drying the air. Using desiccant dehumidifiers, we draw out the water from the air to enhance evaporation. Ultimately, with this process, we’re preventing the water from resettling on materials.
Flood Sources & Water Types
While you may automatically associate a flood with a heavy downpour, those incidents only account for a small portion of inundation incidents in Dallas and Houston, such as when Hurricane Beryl made landfall in July 2024.
Common Causes of Home Flooding
So you know: Houston is known for storm flooding, whereas Dallas typically experiences flash flooding.
Most of the events aren’t acts of nature, though. For instance, your sewer may back up into your home from an obstruction in the main line, poor grading near your lines, or an overwhelmed system.
Sometimes, the problem is related to an appliance breakdown, like a drain clog in your washer, a faulty drain seal on your dishwasher, or a crack in your water heater. Your HVAC system may leak as well for any of the following reasons:
- Broken drain pan
- Clogged condensate drain line
- Damaged condensate pump
- Frozen evaporator coil
Types of Flood Water
How we handle the extraction and restoration process depends on the type of floodwater. And three main varieties exist, including:
- Clean water: Uncontaminated water from rain, snow, or pipes
- Gray water: Minimally contaminated water that’s generally safe, such as that from a shower, washer, or dishwasher
- Black water: Highly contaminated water from a sewage backup, some river flooding, or a toilet
How to Dry Out a Flooded House
Our process for how to dry out a flooded house is extensive. We use proven moisture removal techniques and tools to make your home safe, dry, and cozy again, starting with extraction and extending to monitoring and documentation.
Water Extraction
Whether it’s sunup, sundown, or any time between, an emergency water removal services team will be at your residence to get down to business as soon as possible. We focus our services on extracting the water, lessening the effects it has on your home.
In moderate to severe cases, we bring out the pumps that remove large quantities of water at one time. Specialized vacuums may be used alone or with pumps to get rid of the water as well.
Air Movement
So you can regain full use of your house quickly, our team will work on eliminating more water by using air movers or fans to circulate the air and get as much water out of the area as possible through evaporation.
Dehumidification
After a portion of the water evaporates, we employ commercial dehumidifiers to take moisture out of the air and get the space to the target humidity level. This is a delicate process, though, that can take a bit of time, considering we must adhere to runtime guidelines to avoid the equipment overheating.
Hot vs. Cold Drying
After the dehumidification process — or, sometimes, along with it — we use either hot or cold drying. Hot drying uses hot air blown into the space to enhance evaporation. We often use it for wood or drywall because both can handle the heat without experiencing any damage.
Cold drying, however, uses cooler air to lower humidity without overdrying or damaging any of the materials. It’s generally a slower process, but it’s best if we’re dealing with wood finishes, electronics, some plastics, and any surfaces that may crack or warp from heat.
Monitoring & Documentation
Although you may not think of monitoring as a vital part of how to dry out a flooded house near me, we perform moisture monitoring and document progress throughout the entire process to satisfy any requirements for your insurance provider. And even provide a post-drying evaluation.
Drying Equipment & Techniques Quick Reference
| Equipment/Technique | What to Know |
| Water Extraction Pumps | Use pumps that extract between 5 and 300+ gallons per minute Can b1e used on carpeted areas, in crawlspaces, and more |
| Industrial Air Movers | Placed across the entire surface to circulate air Position at a 45-degree angle May use multiple air movers for optimal drying |
| Commercial Dehumidifiers | Smaller units may remove 60 pints per day Larger units may remove 95+ pints per day |
| Moisture Meters/Hygrometers | Using regularly calibrated meters/hygrometers, we assess the humidity frequently Documentation gives you an idea of progress while adhering to your insurance requirements |
| Infrared Cameras | Can be used to detect hidden areas of moisture |
Health & Safety Considerations
Failing to address water damage immediately leaves you susceptible to illness and electrocution. Moreover, as the water remains, it can continually damage the structure of your home, possibly costing you more in the end or putting your family or pets at risk. The water offers the perfect conditions for mold spores to thrive, while liquid near any electrical sources can be dangerous. These are all reasons why you want to hire a professional water damage restoration company for the job.
When we’re working, you’ll notice us following PPE protocols to protect ourselves from mold, contaminants, sharp items, and other hazards. We also use proper ventilation — for your sake and ours. Throughout the process, we’ll isolate wet areas to keep you and your family safe while giving you access to us anytime you have questions.
Though we won’t go into too much depth, we adhere to both EPA guidelines and IICRC S500 protocols throughout the project to keep us protected while optimizing the results.
Insurance & Restoration Services
A typical homeowner’s insurance policy will cover drying and the additional services necessary to restore your home to its pre-flood state. Flood insurance is required for flooding caused by a natural event.
At CWF, we understand that this is a stressful time, and dealing with insurance only adds to the burden of the situation. While we put all our efforts into exceeding your expectations with the final product, we’re also giving you our all and trying to make the process as easy as possible for you, from start to finish. For instance, we work directly with adjusters for any drying claims.
Keep in mind that the price for our water extraction services depends on whether you opt for a basic extraction-only or a full structural drying package. We can assess your situation and let you know the most cost-efficient and effective solution.
When you search for “how to dry out a flooded house near me,” you’ll find us — CWF Restoration, a full-service flood-damage restoration company eager to help you start the repair and rebuild process. Our experienced, certified staff is ready to address minor and major flooding situations alike.
