Do You Need Air Movers or Dehumidifiers After a Pipe Leak?

If you’ve had a pipe burst or freeze in your Grove City or Columbus-area home, drying things out fast is priority number one. But here’s the big question: should you rent air movers, dehumidifiers, or both?

Let’s break it down in plain English—based on what we’ve seen on dozens of emergency calls around Central Ohio.

What Air Movers Do (And Why You Might Need Them)

Air movers are powerful fans. But they’re not for comfort—they’re designed to move moisture-laden air off surfaces like:

• Soaked carpet

• Wet subflooring

• Drywall

• Cabinets and trim

The faster that moist air gets off the surface, the faster it evaporates. Without airflow, water just sits—and that’s when mold starts growing (typically within 24–48 hours).

You’ll need air movers if:

• Carpet or drywall is wet

• Wood floors are damp

• Any material isn’t drying fast on its own

In other words, if something feels soggy, air movers help speed up the drying. But they only do part of the job.

What Dehumidifiers Do (And Why You Can’t Skip Them)

Once air movers start evaporating moisture, all that water vapor goes into the air. And that humid air? It needs somewhere to go.

That’s where dehumidifiers come in. They pull the moisture out of the air so it doesn’t:

• Re-condense back onto walls and floors

• Stay trapped in your home’s air

• Create the perfect storm for mold growth

You’ll need dehumidifiers if:

• Humidity stays high (above 60%)

• You notice condensation on windows or cold surfaces

• A professional moisture meter shows elevated readings inside walls or floors

We use low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers on most jobs. These units are built for water damage cleanup and dry much more efficiently than a plug-in home unit.

Why You Need Both – Together

Think of it like this:

• Air movers lift the water into the air

• Dehumidifiers capture and remove that water from the air

Skip either one and your drying process is incomplete—and that leads to long-term damage.

Renting Equipment vs. Hiring a Pro

You can rent air movers and dehumidifiers from big box stores. But here’s the catch:

• You’ll need the right number and type of units

• Placement and power balance matters

• You’ll need to monitor moisture levels daily

At Total Home Water Restoration, we use IICRC-certified drying standards. That means we place and adjust equipment based on exact readings—not guesswork.

If you're dealing with a big water mess or aren’t sure how wet things really are, give us a call. We’ll bring the right tools, measure what’s wet, and get you drying fast.

Final Word: Don’t Wait to Start Drying

Water damage from a pipe leak gets worse the longer it sits. Mold can start within 48 hours, and trapped moisture leads to warped floors and damaged drywall.

If your Grove City or Columbus-area home just had a pipe burst, don’t guess—get expert help or the right equipment ASAP.

Call Total Home Water Restoration at 380-246-1837 for emergency service or equipment rental advice.

“From disaster to done right. We fix it like it’s our own home.”