Structural drying and dehumidifying in Austin
Drying is a measured job, not a guess. We set the right equipment, check the readings every day and stop only when the numbers say the materials are dry.
How drying works
Air movers push air across wet surfaces so the water evaporates into the room. Dehumidifiers pull that moisture back out of the air so it cannot settle into the materials again. Wet wall cavities, cabinets and hardwood may need targeted drying with panels or air directed inside them.
Why daily readings matter
Every material has a normal moisture level. We measure wet areas against dry areas of the same material in your home, write the numbers down each day and move or remove equipment as each area dries. That record goes in your drying report, so you and your adjuster can see the job was finished.
Straight Talk on equipment
- Each piece of equipment is listed on your invoice with where it ran and for how many days
- Equipment that is off is off the bill
- We pull equipment as soon as the readings say an area is dry
Living with the equipment
Air movers and dehumidifiers are loud and they warm the room. Keep them running, keep doors and windows the way we set them, and call us if a breaker trips or something stops. Turning equipment off at night lets moisture settle back in and adds days to the job.
Related help
Square Deal also handles water damage restoration, burst pipes and leaks, ac and water heater overflows, storm and flood water and mold remediation. Working with insurance? Read how a water claim works, or see the questions Austin homeowners ask most.
Common questions
How do you know when everything is dry?
We measure. Each wet area is compared with a dry area of the same material in your home, and the readings are written down every day. An area is dry when its readings match the dry reference, and the drying report shows those numbers for you and your adjuster.
How loud is drying equipment?
Air movers and dehumidifiers make a steady fan noise and warm the room, a bit like several box fans running at once. Most families stay home during drying, and closing the door to the room helps.
Why do the fans have to stay on all the time?
Drying works by moving water out of the materials and into the air, then pulling it out of the air with a dehumidifier. Turning equipment off overnight lets the moisture settle back in and stretches the job out. And under our Straight Talk promise, you are never billed for equipment that isn’t running.
How every job runs: the 4 Rs
1
Reveal
We find all the water, not just the puddle. Moisture meters and a thermal camera show where it went inside walls, under floors and into cabinets, and we photograph and record every reading.
2
Remove
We pull out standing water and take out what can’t be dried, like soaked carpet pad, swollen baseboard or wet insulation. You hear what is coming out and why before it goes.
3
Remediate
We set air movers and dehumidifiers, check the readings every day and keep drying until the materials are back to normal. If mold has started, it is handled the way Texas rules require.
4
Rebuild
We put back what came out (drywall, baseboard, flooring and paint) so the room looks and feels like home again.
Water where it shouldn’t be?
Our local Austin phone line is opening soon, and the number will be right here. Until then, start with the 5 things to do right now.
We’ll get you squared away.