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How Long Should I Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak?
How Long Should I Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak?
4.9 RATING

How Long Should I Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak?

If you have recently experienced a water leak or water damage, we want to first express our sympathy. It is a stressful and challenging time,…

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June 03, 2026
How Long Should I Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak?

If you have recently experienced a water leak or water damage, we want to first express our sympathy. It is a stressful and challenging time, but with the right steps and some patience, you will be back to your regular schedule in no time. This means you will have a lot of mopping and water pumping to do. If you have the means, we recommend hiring professionals like those at Tidal Wave Response to take care of these steps as they have the experience, equipment, and expertise to complete it efficiently and quickly.

After all of the heavy work is complete, you will still have to consider the moisture in the air. For this, we advise renting a commercial humidifier. The question then becomes “How long should I run the dehumidifier?” Well, that depends.

The Importance of a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers are devices that remove excess moisture in the

Reviews

Cassandra Abdus-Salaam

Alpharetta, GA

Hi. I don’t know where to start. John and Tidal wave his company were and still are a blessing from my Lord. One morning in January of this year I went down stairs and stepped in a puddle of water it was flooded. I also passed out. This was the second one in less than a year. I stood there for a minute and just cried. All I could think of was my insurance company may not take care of it a second time even if it was for a different leak. The last claim they paid out $23,000 for…

John Ayer

Atlanta, GA

John Mayer, Principal of Tidal Wave Response, and his project management team, lead by Colin Galubinski, has completed the restoration of my home in record time. The work included, but was not limited to the following: 1) Professional water leak detection 2) Professional plumbing that removed the concrete slab and backfill material, found and repaired the PEX cold water pipe 3) Backfilled and placed concrete to finish grade 4) Packed the furniture to storage. Restored the furniture without incident nor damage. 5) Dehumidified and removed the damaged carpet and hardwoods. 6) Cleaned the concrete surface and installed the new hardwoods.…

Spenser Hewett

Brookhaven, GA

I have worked in sales and also have experience in launching my own business. It is rare that you find a company that genuinely has your best interest in mind. Not only was John helpful outside of his business’ expertise, but he sent Chris to do a *free* evaluation of our water damage. John and Chris were both genuine and personable. They cared about what our situation was and they weren’t looking to get any sort of “fee” for their time. These are the kind of people you trust to handle big, catastrophic water damage to. I have previously had…

James B

Chamblee, GA

While others might categorize John as a fast talker, but on the other hand. I saw a man that's passionate about his business and willing to help others elevate their present situation. In early December 2022, our laundry room floor and wall got water damaged due to leakage from the hotline pipe, and other rooms got impacted due to water spreading. So, I reached out to John and he assured me they'll do everything within their power to get our house done before Christmas day. Boy was he right! John and the tidalwave response team were professional, helpful and got…

Anne Berman

Cumming, GA

We did not plan to renovate our terrace level but when the hot water heater leaked and flooded the entire area, Tidal Wave was recommended to us by the plumber who installed the new hot water heater. John, the owner was at our house the same evening and mitigation started early the next morning. The crew professionally removed wet drywall, flooring, and baseboard. Fans and dehumidifiers ran for several days and then the fun began. With Colin's help we were able to choose updated flooring, repaint a color of our choice, and new trim was installed. Everything was completed professionally.…

Hunter smith

Decatur, GA

Wow incredible company! I had a water damage that destroyed my entire main level. John and his team are very quick and efficient. When I was looking on google, tidal wave response was the only water restoration company with a 5 star review. Highly recommended using tidal wave response!!

Meme Dupree

Doraville, GA

I had a flood in my downstairs living room. It was devastating. John with Tidal wave was very professional. He had his team show up immediately to get the job done. Great work Tidal Wave. I'm definitely going to refer you to others.

pam kunc

Duluth, GA

Thank Goodness !!! Johnny on the spot! We had a pipe ruptured in the ceiling and we were looking for a 5 Star Rated Water Restoration company . Johnny came out with a Thermal Camera and found the pipe spraying behind the wall. I wish I would have called him sooner . My wood floors were so damaged by the water, they all will need to be replaced. We highly recommended Johnny with Tidal Wave. Very knowledgeable and even helped us start a claim with our insurance ..

Randy Fann

Dunwoody, GA

Had a shaky start with this particular project but I must say the owner took charge and corrected all the remaining issues. I will say that this particular job was the absolute worst I have taken on in 45 yrs. My hat is off to Mike and his crew and Allan was superb in making sure everything was done correctly. Thank you for your follow-up on this project guys. And Allan thank you especially for your thoroughness in making sure it was completed correctly.

Kadeja Edwards

Johns Creek, GA

Unfortunately, my water heater was old, cracked, and leaking water onto the supported area in my garage. I needed to replace the water heater with a new one, but the plumber told me that in order to meet the city code, I would have to handle the water damage first. I called out tidal wave (who I’ve worked with before), and they came out the very next day to cut out the affected area and treat for mold. This is my second issue with water in my house and tidal wave has taken care of both issues. They are fast,…

air by taking in the humid air and emitting dry air back into the room. This helps to remove the remaining water from your carpets, walls, and furniture to finish up the water removal process. As you know, water is a source of life and still water is a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew. So, dehumidifiers essentially save you from such potential health hazards and stench.

How Long to Run the Dehumidifier

Like most things in life, this depends. Some of the factors involved are:

  • Area Size: Surely, a small corner of a small room will be dried up more quickly than a large living that has been soaked. If you have multiple rooms that need to be dried, then we recommend renting one dehumidifier for each room. Generally, a large room will take about two days to handle.
  • Material in The Room: What are your walls and floors made of? Concrete, linoleum, and other less absorbent materials will take in less water than wood, drywall, and carpeting. Therefore, the latter materials will require you to run the dehumidifier longer.

Reasons to Choose Tidal Wave

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Accept All Insurance Claims

We Accept All Insurance Claims

Licensed & Certified Technicians

Licensed & Certified Technicians

30 Minutes Response Time

30 Minutes Response Time

Locally & Family Owned

Locally & Family Owned

24/7 Emergency Service

24/7 Emergency Service

Never an Overtime Charge

Never an Overtime Charge
Closed System vs Open System: Are you keeping the windows and doors open while the dehumidifier is running? An open system will force the dehumidifier to work overtime especially if you live in a humid environment. Closing your doors and windows in such areas can reduce the total runtime required.
  • Environment: Is your local climate generally humid? Naturally, this is going to add extra humidity into your room, especially if you have windows and doors open or if there are openings.
  • Consult with The Professionals

    The professionals at Tidal Wave Response have been in the business of water damage restoration for years. They have the expertise and equipment to handle water damage efficiently and quickly. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call our local office to speak with an expert. If you need expert assistance, we can have a professional at your location in as soon as 30 minutes. We look forward to taking your call.

    Our Services

    From emergency water extraction to full property recovery, Tidal Wave Response provides the fast, expert care you need. Browse our complete suite of 24/7 restoration services below to see how we can help today.

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