How to Soak Up a Water Leak in a Wood Wall

A leak in a wall not only causes a mess, but it can cause long-term problems in the home. Wet surfaces will quickly grow mold, creating a health hazard, and moldy wood walls will decompose, causing structural damage. Prevent this from happening by carefully drying the wall's wood before you repair the surface or repaint. Give the room at least several days to dry or even a week in high-humidity areas.

Things You'll Need

• Mop or towels
• Wet-dry vacuum
• Dehumidifier
• Fans

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Remove all soaked items from the room, including rugs, wet upholstery and curtains. This reduces the amount of humidity in the room and allows it to dry faster.

   • 2

     Soak up any excess moisture with an absorbent mop or towels.

   • 3

     Vacuum the floor and wood walls with a wet-dry vacuum to remove any remaining moisture.

   • 4

     Set up a dehumidifier and fans in the room to pull moisture out of the wood. Leave the fans and dehumidifier on in the room for several days until it is completely dry.