Menu
How Long To Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak
How Long To Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak
4.9 RATING

How Long To Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak

Tidal Wave Response knows a thing or two about water damage cleanup and restoration. We have years of experience in the industry as well as…

Call Now - 404-900-3852

CALL US BEFORE CALLING YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY - Let us work directly with your insurance company to get your loss covered.

June 03, 2026
How Long To Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak

Tidal Wave Response knows a thing or two about water damage cleanup and restoration. We have years of experience in the industry as well as trained technicians equipped with advanced technology. We get a lot of questions about our work and we like to share information with as many people as possible. To that end, we will dedicate this article to dehumidifying after a water leak. Specifically, how long should you run a dehumidifier after a water leak? Like the answer to many questions in life: it depends. Keep reading to learn more. If you have any questions or if you would like to hire a water damage restoration professional, then give Tidal Wave Response a call. We are happy to help.

The Importance of Running Dehumidifiers After A Water Leak

Water damage is not restricted to the puddles of water. Water damage can continue even after you clean up those pools of water. Moisture and humidity can remain even after this cleanup, allowing the growth of mold and bacteria. This is where dehumidifiers come into play. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air, help evaporate puddles, and pull out moisture trapped in cushions, sheet rock, furniture, wood, and more. If you want a complete water damage cleanup, then a dehumidifier will have to be a part of the equation.

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,…

When Should You Pull Out the Dehumidifier?

Using the dehumidifier is one of the last steps in the water damage restoration process. Before you pull out the dehumidifier, you should save any items from getting wet and salvage wet materials. You should also pull out a mop or sponge to soak up all of the water that you can. Once you have removed as much of the water as you can, you can bring out the dehumidifier to take care of the moisture in the air, furniture, floors, and walls.

Be sure to act quick, however. The first 48 hours after water damage are crucial. Mold and mildew will generally start to grow even within these 48 hours. Dealing with mold and mildew is a whole cleanup task on its own – a hazardous task at that.

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

How Long Should I Run the Dehumidifier?

Well, what type of dehumidifier do you have? What is the dampness level? Do you live in an area that is naturally humid? How large is the area that needs to be cleaned? The answers to these questions will affect the answer to your question.

However, many dehumidifiers have sensors to detect the humidity level in the area and will shut off once a certain level is reached. So, you should leave the dehumidifier running until the goal is attained. To shorten the length of time you will wait, you can invest in a high-quality dehumidifier, thoroughly mop the area, and make sure the dehumidifier is working in a closed area. This means you should not keep the windows open, especially if you live in a humid area.

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.

Explore all services

Recent Posts

Jun 01, 2026

Why Standing Water Creates Health and Safety Risks

Why Standing Water Creates Health and Safety Risks Stagnant water is a result of many causes, often indicating an underlying problem that needs immediate attention. While a small puddle in the yard or the bathroom may not raise concerns at first, delaying water removal can exacerbate the problem. Research shows that nearly 5 million people globally die every year due to water-related diseases and safety risks. If you don’t want to be a statistic, Tidal Wave Response can help. We…