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Started By
Message
Post flood dry out - how long?
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:33 pm
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:33 pm
How long do I need to run fans and dehumidifiers for? Lots of dispute on this.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:34 pm to ShrevePolitics
I really think it's a case-by-case issue of how long.
This post was edited on 8/23/16 at 10:35 pm
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:44 pm to ShrevePolitics
Get an intrusive moisture meter. We first started and were at 44% everywhere now our highest is 15%. FWIW, I did read below 10% is great.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:46 pm to jonboy
What's the normal moisture of a house. I figured most houses would be like 5% or higher.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:51 pm to Johnny3tears
quote:
What's the normal moisture of a house.
Not sure but we live in a high humidity climate most of the time. I've never run this many fans & dehumidifiers in my life. It's possible my house has never actually been this dry.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:52 pm to jonboy
quote:
Get an intrusive moisture meter. We first started and were at 44% everywhere now our highest is 15%. FWIW, I did read below 10% is great.
Yep, get together with your neighbors and buy one for th neighborhood.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 10:55 pm to jonboy
Harbor Freight has a moisture meter for $14.99. 20% off coupon will get you down to $11.99. If there out get an inexpensive one from ebay.
HF Moisture Meter
20% off coupon
Amazon prime has one with good reviews for $23.99
Amazon
HF Moisture Meter
20% off coupon
Amazon prime has one with good reviews for $23.99
Amazon
This post was edited on 8/23/16 at 11:02 pm
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:05 pm to ShrevePolitics
You can get a moisture meter on Amazon for $15-$25.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:05 pm to Walt OReilly
I found this article. Maybe less of a function of time & more of moisture content....but yeah, 6 months of fans & dehumidifier's will definitely yield a dry house.
LINK
quote:
Wood Moisture Content is the weight of water in a piece of wood expressed as a percentage of oven dry weight of wood. Fresh cut trees can have a wood moisture content over 200%, while completely dried wood will have a wood moisture content of 0%. Wood in buildings usually has a wood moisture content of 5% to 15%.
WMC Scale's Meanings:
Below 12% - Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. Most interior wood is in this range.
12% - 16% - Readings in this range are common to lumber during construction, air dried lumber and "healthy" residential substructures (beneath first floor in crawl spaces). These are typical readings for exterior wood. 16% - 20% - Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found.
20% - 28% - Readings in this range indicate that conditions are border-line for decay. Surface molds may develop. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range.
28% and above - Readings in this range are often accompanied by decay damage. Substructures with WMC in this range may show decay or rot in floor joist, sills, and subflooring. Repair is often required when WMC readings are in this range.
Wood moisture content between 0% and about 28% is dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) of the air. As the air's RH increases, so does the moisture content of any wood exposed to the air. Wood exposed to air with a RH of about 90% will reach a Wood Moisture Content of about 20%. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood.
LINK
This post was edited on 8/23/16 at 11:08 pm
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:10 pm to jonboy
Timber in houses normally has an in-service moisture content of between 9% and 13%. After standing in
water, the timber will absorb moisture and will take time for the moisture content to return to what it was. It must drop below 16% before wall linings can be replaced.
A contractors guide to rebuilding after a flood
Testing for moisture
Before any wall linings are replaced a moisture meter should be used to ascertain if the framing moisture
level has dropped to a suitable level. Plasterboard fixers should ensure moisture levels are to the standard for
the manufacturer’s product.
For concrete floors, the most reliable test for dryness is a flooring hygrometer. If one is not available,
the following method will give a general indication of the moisture level.
Tape all four edges of a 1m x 1m piece of clear polyethylene sheet to the floor in an area away from direct
sunlight. Cover with a blanket and leave for 24 hours. If condensation forms on the underside of the
polyethylene, the floor is too damp for laying vinyl or carpet with rubber underlay or backing. Lift the
polyethylene and if the floor is too wet place another piece in a few days (do not leave the piece attached
to the floor). Wait until polyethylene taped in place stays dry for two to three days before laying the
floor covering.
water, the timber will absorb moisture and will take time for the moisture content to return to what it was. It must drop below 16% before wall linings can be replaced.
A contractors guide to rebuilding after a flood
Testing for moisture
Before any wall linings are replaced a moisture meter should be used to ascertain if the framing moisture
level has dropped to a suitable level. Plasterboard fixers should ensure moisture levels are to the standard for
the manufacturer’s product.
For concrete floors, the most reliable test for dryness is a flooring hygrometer. If one is not available,
the following method will give a general indication of the moisture level.
Tape all four edges of a 1m x 1m piece of clear polyethylene sheet to the floor in an area away from direct
sunlight. Cover with a blanket and leave for 24 hours. If condensation forms on the underside of the
polyethylene, the floor is too damp for laying vinyl or carpet with rubber underlay or backing. Lift the
polyethylene and if the floor is too wet place another piece in a few days (do not leave the piece attached
to the floor). Wait until polyethylene taped in place stays dry for two to three days before laying the
floor covering.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:32 pm to ShrevePolitics
Our studs look good after a week of fans and dehumidifier. The problem is water leaching through cracks in the slab.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:35 pm to ShrevePolitics
Sounds like the target in dryer areas of the country is for 16%, so I'm thinking 20% would be a good goal. My dehumidifier is saying 35% right now and it was at 43% when I started on Saturday. I have a WiFi gauge that is reading just under 30% on the other side of the house.
Posted on 8/23/16 at 11:46 pm to Johnny3tears
Equilibrium moisture level for wood in our zone is 11 to 12%.
This post was edited on 8/23/16 at 11:47 pm
Posted on 8/24/16 at 1:58 am to ShrevePolitics
quote:I would do the feel and sniff test (not 57 chevy back seat shite) and go from there. I'm sure you know dry wall and carpet/most wood flooring should be removed that got wet.
How long do I need to run fans and dehumidifiers for? Lots of dispute on this.
Posted on 8/24/16 at 3:35 am to ShrevePolitics
Buy a moisture meter to ck your wood measure the humidity in your house record it when it normalizes then your dry
Get the AC ON AS FAST AS YOU CAN
Get the AC ON AS FAST AS YOU CAN
This post was edited on 8/24/16 at 3:37 am
Posted on 8/24/16 at 6:06 am to ShrevePolitics
You need to putrchase a moisture meter and go from there -- I'm sure there is some info on the net for you. I hope this helps.
Some of the posters have given you very detailed info some not so much
Some of the posters have given you very detailed info some not so much
This post was edited on 8/24/16 at 6:12 am
Posted on 8/24/16 at 6:13 am to ShrevePolitics
When the moisture reading is below 15%. I bought the meter below. It looks like everyone else is too as I paid $28 on Sunday. This is same Amazon listing and its now $41. There are many other options if you search.
Edit: I bought from Amazon, this is a different seller on Amazon so maybe Amazon is out as mine came Prime shipping.
Edit: I bought from Amazon, this is a different seller on Amazon so maybe Amazon is out as mine came Prime shipping.
This post was edited on 8/24/16 at 6:16 am
Posted on 8/24/16 at 6:15 am to ShrevePolitics
HGTV recently ran an episode of "Holmes makes it right" where they were restoring a home after a major Canadian flood.
They took moisture readings to determine when to start post demo, and it was 6-8 weeks.
Said mold would grow in walls if they started earlier.
They took moisture readings to determine when to start post demo, and it was 6-8 weeks.
Said mold would grow in walls if they started earlier.
Posted on 8/24/16 at 6:41 am to ShrevePolitics
From my friend's experience: you have to have someone measure it with an instrument...usually contractors have these. The feel touch won't work. His felt dry to the touch but still needed 2 days of drying with de-humidifiers and lots of fans.
(sorta like what everybody else said) - edited
(sorta like what everybody else said) - edited
This post was edited on 8/24/16 at 6:44 am
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