Now that you’ve completed proper water extraction and set up the right drying equipment, it’s time to track your progress. Monitoring is what confirms whether your DIY water damage drying project is on track or if adjustments are needed.
Using a moisture meter helps you measure progress instead of just guessing. Here’s what the next few days should look like for each class of water damage:
What Progress Looks Like by Class of Water Damage
Day 1
Class 2 (carpet & walls up to 2 ft): Moisture levels usually drop fast with use of a dehumidifier. Carpets are still lightly damp but lighter than after extraction. The dehumidifier will be working at full load, pulling a steady stream of water.
Class 3 (ceilings, full wall saturation): Results come slower. Surfaces stay cool and the air feels sticky. Your dehumidifier is running steadily, but comfort levels don’t improve yet. You may also want to consider running multiple dehumidifier’s, see part 3 of this series to consider upping your equipment.
Class 4 (hardwoods, plaster, tile, concrete): No major change on day one. Water is still trapped deep in dense materials. Drying fans and dehumidifiers are working, but surfaces feel the same. We recommend contacting a professional restoration company, specifically one who is knowledgeable in using Injectidry systems on harder to dry surfaces.
Day 2
Class 2: Carpets feel closer to room temperature, and humidity drops noticeably. Breathing feels easier, and the dehumidifier is pulling less water compared to Day 1.
Class 3: Drywall begins warming up. Musty odors start fading, and no new water stains appear. The dehumidifier continues removing a steady amount of moisture. Take measurements daily in multiple places in the affected area and log the progress so you know whether or not to move, add, or remove equipment.
Class 4: Surfaces remain clammy. Progress is happening, but it’s slow because materials like hardwood and tile release water at a much slower rate.
Day 3
Class 2: Nearly dry. Carpets may feel just slightly cool. Dehumidifier output is much lower now, signaling less moisture in the air. If your moisture meter has a hygrometer setting we recommend using it at the exhaust of the dehumidifier to see if the air coming out of the dehumidifier is close or identical to the same humidity as an unaffected room.
Class 3: Noticeable improvements. Odors continue to fade, walls feel warmer, and the air is no longer heavy. Some hidden dampness may still remain inside wall cavities. If you have stubborn moisture you can’t get to behind the wall, selective deconstruction is highly effective, flood cuts are very common and helpful in drying out behind any walls.
Class 4: Small progress becomes visible. Hardwood floors may show less cupping, and plaster or tile surfaces feel a little warmer. The drying process is still gradual. The air for the most part will feel back to normal; it's the bound moisture in the materials that will be the fight.
Day 4
Class 2: Usually dry by this point. If you still detect dampness, check your air mover placement or add another drying fan to speed things up.
Class 3: Surfaces are close to room temperature. Humidity is lower, but most setups need another day or two of continuous water damage restoration equipment running. Monitor your humidity levels and adjust equipment as needed.
Class 4: Still a waiting game. Moisture continues releasing from inside dense building materials. Airflow, patience, and steady dehumidification are key. We would recommend getting a professional opinion if you're concerned. Dry it Center offers inspections and can refer you to a professional restoration company if needed.
Day 5
Class 2: Typically wrapped up and dry. If moisture readings are still high, adjust placement or extend drying one or two days max. If you’re still dealing with high moisture levels at that point contact our experts and consider having a professional come out.
Class 3: Nearly complete. The dehumidifier is pulling very little water, and the walls are almost fully dry. Some hidden dampness may linger behind surfaces. These size of job’s can take a few extra days to fully dry, monitor your humidity levels throughout the process and make sure you're making progress.
Class 4: Progress is ongoing, but these materials dry at their own pace. Hardwood, plaster, and concrete may need extended time with drying fans and dehumidifiers until moisture readings confirm full dryness. Even for professionals drying deeply bound materials like hard wood, and tile can take days into weeks.
Dry it Center Wrap up.
Monitoring is the final step that proves your DIY drying worked. By checking progress daily with a moisture meter and paying attention to humidity levels, you’ll know when it’s safe to remove equipment.
All jobs are able to handled successfully with Dry It Center Rentals, we offer a large range of equipment from small air mover’s, to truck mount extractors and Injectidry systems. Larger or more complex jobs (Class 3 and especially Class 4) often need expertise, knowledge, and patience. Either way, we can set you up with the right tools, from air movers and dehumidifiers to moisture meters and specialty drying systems.
This post is part of our step-by-step guide to tackling water damage at home. If you missed the other sections, you can catch up here:
- [Step 1: Identifying the Class of Water Damage] – Learn how to measure the size and scope of your water loss.
- [Step 2: Understanding Water Categories] – Know what type of water you’re dealing with and how dangerous it can be.
- [Step 3: Choosing the Right Drying Equipment] – Match the right number of air movers, dehumidifiers, and specialty tools to your project.
- [Step 4: Why PPE Matters] – Protect yourself with proper respirators, gloves, and containment systems.
- [Step 5: Monitoring Drying Progress (Day 1–5)] – Track moisture levels and know when your space is officially dry.
👉 At the Dry It Yourself Center, we carry everything you’ll need from drying fans and dehumidifiers to PPE and moisture meters and we’ll help you size the equipment for your specific class and category of water damage.
