A crawl space is one of the most overlooked areas in a home. However, it is also the foundation of your home. Unfortunately, a water leak or flood can weaken your home and cause wood beams to rot. Since it’s often cramped and confined, it’s one of the hardest places in your home to clean up. We look at how to dry out a crawl space after a leak or a flood. Plus, we explain how to prevent damage and who to call if you need help with water in your crawl space.
How To Get Water Out of Crawl Space
Getting rid of water in your crawl space takes the right equipment and a little know-how. The following steps will help you clean up crawl space flooding, water damage, or a sewage backup.
If there is only an inch or two of water, you can clean it up on your own. However, calling a restoration company is a safer option if there is more water or if it sat for days or even weeks.
If you plan to do the cleanup yourself, make sure you wear the right safety gear. You should have boots, pants, long sleeves, and rubber gloves. If there is sewage or mold, you need to wear a ventilator and goggles as well.
Approximate Time: 4 days
Estimated Cost: $ 600
Supplies Needed
Bleach
Supply bottle
Baking soda
Tools Needed
Pump
Wet-dry vacuum (optional)
High-volume fans
Structural drying dehumidifier
How To Dry Out a Crawl Space
1. Stop the Water if You Can
If you can, you need to stop the flow of water as soon as possible. For a burst pipe or leak, you can shut off the main water supply valve. If you don’t know where it is, check in your utility closet or near the water pipes.
If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working properly. Clear clogs in the sump basin and discharge pipe to speed up water removal.
However, there is nothing you can do if the water is coming in from outside. This includes floods as well as sewage backups. Since you can’t stop the water, you should start getting rid of it to limit the damage as best you can.
2. Get Rid of the Water
Next, you should use a pump to get rid of the water. If you don’t have a pump, you can get one at most rental companies or even some hardware stores.
Another option is to use a wet-dry vacuum to suck up the water. While this will work slower than a pump, it’s still faster than removing the water with a bucket. As a last resort, you can soak up the excess moisture with towels.
The key to preventing damage and maintaining structural integrity is to remove the water as fast as possible. The longer it takes, the more like the water will weaken the foundation of your home.
Although most modern crawl spaces have concrete floors, some older homes have dirt floors. This makes removing water more difficult since the dirt can clog pumps and wet-dry vacuums. It also soaks up and holds onto water.
If you have a dirt floor, hold the pump or vacuum hose up off the ground. This will help suck up the water without removing too much dirt.
3. Dry Out Your Crawl Space
Then you need to dry out your crawl space. Even though the water is gone, foundation walls, studs, and joists are still soaking wet. Wet materials will continue to weaken over time and can lead to mold growth.
For the fastest drying time, use high-volume fans and structural drying dehumidifiers. These are meant to dry out structural materials after a flood or leak. Although house fans will work, they will take much longer and may lead to more damage.
If you have a dirt floor, let the fans run for several more days to dry out the dirt. Although this may seem unnecessary, wet dirt can lead to more problems.
Since water expands as it freezes, it can crack your foundation in the winter. In the summer, the space will get really humid. As a result, this can cause smells and even mold.
Although not necessary, consider adding a vapor barrier to block out moisture and odors that can come up through the dirt. If you frequently have smells or moisture problems, consider crawl space encapsulation for advanced protection.
4. Disinfect and Deodorize
After completing the drying process, you need to disinfect and deodorize it. While you should never skip this step, it is especially important after a sewage backup in your crawl space.
However, even water can eventually lead to mold and musty odors. Over time, they can even enter your home through the floor. To prevent this, spray down the area with a bleach solution.
Mix one cup of household bleach with a gallon of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Then spray the entire area and let it air dry. If there was a sewage backup, you should spray it down a second time.
The best way to deodorize is with fresh air. However, you can also get rid of smells with baking soda. Just sprinkle it around and then vacuum it up a few hours later.
5. Make Repairs if Needed
Unfortunately, water can weaken the structure of your home. Since the crawl space is the foundation of your home, it could collapse if there is damage.
For this reason, you need to check for rotting wood, damaged bricks, and other damage. If you find problems, you need to make repairs right away.
Talk to a local pro now. Certified Restoration Local water cleanup specialists offer 24-hour service and fast, free quotes.
How to Prevent Crawl Space Water Damage?
The easiest way to clean up water is to prevent it in the first place. Here are some tips to help keep your crawl space dry:
- Clean your gutters and downspouts to keep water away from your foundation
- Add insulation around water pipes to keep them from sweating or bursting
- Put in a moisture barrier to keep water from coming up through the ground
- Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity
- Install a sump pump to prevent damage if there is a flood and water leak
- Fix foundation cracks right away
- Waterproof your crawl space
- Monitor humidity levels to keep track of mold and flooding risks
- Repair leaky pipes immediately to prevent flooding and future damage
- Keep crawl space vents clear to allow air to circulate and moisture to evaporate
- Add a vapor barrier or encapsulation for frequent crawl space moisture issues
- Check and repair your drain tile
Frequently Asked Questions About Drying Out a Crawl Space
How long does it take for water in a crawl space to dry out?
If you use high-volume fans and structural drying dehumidifiers, it will take between 12 and 24 hours to dry out a crawl space. However, it can take three to five days if you use house fans.
Who to call for water in your crawl space?
If you have water in your crawl space and need help, you should call a restoration company. They have the training and equipment to remove the water and dry out the space fast.
If you need help removing water? Let the crawl space repair experts at Restoration Local help. Call 1-888-443-3110 for a risk-free quote on crawl space water removal near you.
