How to Dry Damp Walls

Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle

Last Updated: July 25, 2024 References

Floods, pipe leaks, and similar events can create a ton of water buildup inside your walls. When left unattended, this moisture will damage your building's structural integrity and lead to the formation of dangerous molds and fungi. Thankfully, there are a number of different ways you can dry out your walls and rectify the problem.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Containing the Problem

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1
Locate and fix any water leaks near your wall. If a broken water pipe, faucet, or similar fixture led to the moisture damage in your wall, you'll need to fix the busted object before you can dry everything out. To deal with minor pipe damage, try resealing the pipe with epoxy putty. For major pipe damage and broken water appliances, you may need to strip out and replace the fixture entirely.^{[1]
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- For safety, hire a professional pipe repair service to deal with leaks located inside your wall.
- If you live in a housing complex, the water damage may have come from one of your neighbors.
2
Drain out any standing water located in the wall. Depending on the severity of the water damage, your wall may contain a significant amount of standing water. To check, drill a small hole into the wall about 2 in (5.1 cm) off the ground and see if water comes out. If any does, drill small holes along the wall to drain the water.
- Keep your holes about 2 in (5.1 cm) off the ground and space them so that they are between 16 and 24 in (41 and 61 cm) apart.
- Before creating your holes, locate the studs inside your wall. For the best possible results, drill in the area between these spots.
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3
Remove extremely damaged areas of the wall to prevent long-term issues.^{[2]
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Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Interview. 24 February 2021.} You might need to strip out and replace some parts of your wall following instances of extreme water damage. If you fail to do so, the affected areas may develop dangerous forms of mildew or mold and, in some cases, will put the integrity and stability of the entire wall at risk. Contact a certified wall repair service if you spot:^{[3]
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- Black patches or streaks on drywall.
- Warped spots on wood walls.
- Cracks, blisters, or discolored areas on wood walls or drywall.
- Rusted or warped spots on metal stud walls.
- Chipped, bowed, or dissolved spots on brick or stone walls.

Part 2

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Choosing a Drying Technique

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1
Use room fans to dry out small damp spots. If the moisture only affected a small area of the wall, you may be able to dry it out using standard oscillating fans. To do so, place 1 or more fans in front of each damp spot and turn the fans to their highest setting. This will help clear out moist air while actively drying the damp spots.^{[4]
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- Turn on your fan's oscillation function if you need to target multiple areas of the wall with 1 fan.
2
Purchase a dehumidifier to deal with large patches of moisture. Buy a heavy-duty dehumidifier that can process at least 50 imp pt (28,000 ml) of water each day. Using the manufacturer's included instructions, hook the device up in the same room as your damp wall. Make sure to close the room's doors and windows, then run the device.^{[5]
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- Heavy-duty dehumidifiers start at around $230 for a 50 pint unit.
- Look for dehumidifiers at home improvement and home appliance stores.
3
Use desiccants to absorb moisture in closed areas. If you're trying to dry out a small, enclosed area like a closet, normal drying techniques may not work. Instead, try placing moisture absorbent materials, or desiccants, near the wall to suck out some of the excess water vapor. Common desiccants available at most hardware and grocery stores include:^{[6]
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- Chemical dehumidifier packs
- Clay cat litter
- Calcium chloride pellets
4
Hire a contractor to deal with major water damage. If you can't dry out the wall yourself, search online or in your local yellow pages for a contractor specializing in Dehumidifying or Water Damage Restoration. On average, it costs between $3.75 and $7.00 to clean up 1 sq ft (0.093 m²) of moisture damaged wall.^{[7]
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- Avoid contractors who ask for payment in advance, especially if they live out of town, since there's a good chance they will try to overcharge or scam you.

Part 3

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Accelerating the Drying Process

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Turn on your house's A/C to reduce the humidity in the air. If the moisture in your wall is coming primarily from the humidity in the air, try turning on your house's central air-conditioning system. Warm air retains more moisture than cool air, so chilling your room will lower the humidity significantly and make it easier to dry out the wall.^{[8]
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- If you don't have a central A/C system, try purchasing a portable or window unit.
2
Open up your house to increase air circulation. To help replace your house's old, moist air with fresh, dry air, try opening up any doors and windows located near the moisture damaged area. This will increase air circulation around the damp wall, speeding up the drying process.^{[9]
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- Do not open your windows and doors if you're using a dehumidifier.
- For the best results, use this method during the day while the sun is out.
- This method may not work if you live in an extremely humid area.
3
Remove any wall coverings to increase your wall's ventilation. Wallpaper, wall fabric, and similar wall coverings will prevent air from reaching the wall itself, slowing down the drying process. In addition, soaked wall coverings can harbor dangerous mold and mildew, making them unsafe.
- Along with standard wall coverings, remove any other objects placed on your wall such as posters and floating shelves.
If your damp wall houses any cabinets or similar furniture items, open up their doors and slide out their drawers. Not only will this help the cabinet dry faster, but it will speed up the overall drying process by increasing air circulation in the area.^{[10]
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How can I dry behind my walls faster after removing the drywall and insulation?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

You can put some air purifiers or fans back there to help dry everything out.

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If moisture is a frequent problem, consider tanking the walls when they're dry to prevent future moisture from penetrating the material and causing additional water damage.

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