Ways to dry out subfloor / soil under house? (2024)

FAQs

How do you dry a subfloor under a house? ›

After this, you will need to remove the top floor — the floorboards of wood flooring, carpeting, tile, linoleum, or other flooring materials — so that the subfloor can be exposed to open air, which will dry it out. Dehumidifiers may help in this process by drawing out moisture.

Air Flow is great at drying things out even a small fan moving air and opening windows and door. Get a through draft. Dehumidifier will pull out moisture out and why flooded houses can have a few to dry them out..

A foundation expert can run a pipe from the soil foundation up to the top of the house using an area in a closet, for example. A fan at the top of the pipe will help draw out the moisture in the soil so that it will aerate and dry out.

A large room dehumidifier is enough for a small crawl space, but for a larger one, you may need to rent a commercial grade model. Set the dehumidifier for between 30 to 45 percent and let it run for several hours, then check on the space. A wet crawl space could take a total of eight to 10 hours to dry.

Set up one or more carpet drying fans, which direct a powerful airflow right across the floor, to increase air circulation over the wet areas. Additionally, plug in a portable home dehumidifier—or, even better, a commercial portable dehumidifier—so that it exhausts dry air over the wet OSB.

Sump Pumps

To remove the standing water from your home, you need a device that will soak up the water and put it elsewhere. This is what a sump pump does.

Repair. divert surface water away from the house by lowering the ground levels around the building and sloping the ground away from the house (open the drawing at right for details). Install channels or sub-surface drains and discharge into a stormwater drain or soak pit.

Mix in a speed-treating agent – Adding a chemical agent such as quicklime or hydrated lime is a fast and efficient way to help reduce the water in your soil.

Most wood floors flooded with water will take weeks or more to fully dry out. In some circ*mstances, especially with a wooden subfloor, removing the wood flooring is necessary to fully dry out the subfloor.

Will a fan help dry a crawl space? ›

Moisture Control:

Crawl space ventilation aims to regulate moisture levels, a critical factor in preventing mold growth, wood decay, and potential structural harm. Alongside dehumidifiers and vapor barriers, crawl space ventilation fans help maintain optimal humidity and dry the area.

But water in the crawl space won't go away on its own. Removing standing water from the crawl space usually involves using a pump, a wet/dry shop vac, powerful fans, and a dehumidifier. A qualified restoration or remediation contractor should address severe flooding, water damage, or mold.

A good fix for this is adding sand in the crawl space. Sand above the water table will absorb the ground water and not allow any standing water. Several companies will recommend sump pumps and our thinking is this: The less mechanical the better you will be in the long run.

Most wood floors flooded with water will take weeks or more to fully dry out. In some circ*mstances, especially with a wooden subfloor, removing the wood flooring is necessary to fully dry out the subfloor.

However, in the event of extensive water damage from flooding or extended periods of exposure to moisture, damaged sections may need to be removed to avoid mold and ensure structural integrity. Other issues like fire damage or pests may also force homeowners to replace subflooring.

Use Dehumidifiers and Large fans

They will assist in removing any moisture from the air and will also assist in removing any water from underneath your laminate flooring.

Remove Damaged Areas

Any area of the subfloor exposed to water damage and rot needs to be removed and replaced. Take a circular saw, set it to one-inch depth, and precisely cut the rotting subfloor areas you marked with chalk. Use a pry bar to remove damaged sections carefully.