A damp property might take anything from a few days to a few weeks to dry up, depending on how badly the water incursion was.

Before walls are restored in a flood-damaged building, the structure must be completely dried out to prevent mold damage, which can be quite expensive. Damage from water, including rot and mold, can have detrimental long-term repercussions on one’s health. This can simply lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars–or more–in repairs.

Avoid attempting to dry the area with a vacuum, especially if you are standing on a wet floor, and avoid turning on any other appliances in the affected area. Place yourself in spaces with sagging ceilings. Before entering any damaged rooms, carefully evaluate their condition. The ceiling may sag if there is a leak coming from above.

If untreated, water damage can deteriorate over time; how quickly that happens depends on the amount of water, where it is located, and how old the building is.