After a leak, many homeowners turn the thermostat down and wait. It seems logical, because the A/C takes moisture out of the air. In a Florida home with wet walls and floors, it cannot do the job by itself.
What your A/C actually does
An A/C cools air by passing it over a cold coil. Moisture in the air condenses on the coil and drains away through the condensate line. That is dehumidification, and it is why a running A/C makes a house feel less sticky.
After water damage, three things hold it back:
- It is sized for everyday moisture from cooking, showers and the people in the house, not the water from a burst pipe.
- It only removes moisture while it is cooling. Once the room reaches the set temperature, the compressor shuts off and moisture removal stops.
- It only treats the air. Water soaked into drywall, wall cavities, cabinet bases and subfloor stays where it is.
Why turning the thermostat way down does not help
Setting the A/C very low can make things worse. Surfaces can get cold enough to reach the dew point, the temperature where moisture in the air turns back into water, and condensation forms on walls, windows and vents. It also strains a system that is already working hard in Florida heat.
Keep the A/C at a normal setting while you wait for help. If the water came from a sewer backup or flood water, or you see mold, turn the system off so the air handler does not spread contamination through the ducts, and tell the restoration company.
What restoration drying does differently
- Dehumidifiers built for drying, which keep pulling water out of the air whether or not the room is cool
- Air movers aimed at wet walls, floors and cabinets so moisture leaves the materials and enters the air
- Removing baseboards or making small openings when water is trapped inside a wall
- Moisture meters and thermal imaging to find where the water went
- Daily readings, recorded in a drying log, until materials reach dry standard
Dry standard means the wet materials read the same as similar materials in a dry part of the house. That is how you know the job is finished, instead of guessing from how a wall looks or feels.
A wall can feel dry and still be wet
Paint and the face of the drywall dry first. The back of the drywall, the bottom of the wall framing, insulation and subfloor dry last, and that is where mold starts. In our humidity, those hidden areas can stay wet for weeks if the A/C is the only thing drying them. Mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours in Florida conditions.
What to do while you wait
- Stop the water at the main shut-off.
- Remove standing water you can safely reach and pull out wet rugs.
- Keep the A/C running at a normal temperature, unless the water came from sewage or flooding.
- Open cabinet doors and closets so air can reach wet areas.
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water.
- Call a restoration company. For a water emergency, our crew is dispatched within 1 hour.
The insurance side
Daily moisture readings and the drying log show that the structure was dried properly, and that record supports your claim. We bill your insurance directly. For emergency water mitigation, the rule is simple. No surprise bill. The cap is in writing.
A clogged A/C condensate line is also a common cause of water damage in Northeast Florida homes. See our A/C drain line flush if yours has backed up before.
When to call
Call as soon as the water is stopped. Every call to Rainbow Restoration of Deerwood is answered, 24/7, at (904) 862-7522. Read more about our water damage restoration service, or what to do in the first hour.
