After a flood, it’s normal to panic. Water is everywhere, and people just want it gone. One of the first things many homeowners do is grab a fan. It seems like a smart move. Set up a few fans, let them run overnight, and hope the problem dries up. But at Stanley Restoration, we’ve seen this approach go wrong more times than we can count. Fans may seem helpful, but when it comes to floods, they can actually make things worse.
In places like Fort Worth and Waxahachie, we’ve been called out to homes where fans were running for days. The water looked like it was gone, but behind the scenes, moisture had spread. One of the biggest problems is that fans only dry what they can reach. They push air around the surface. They don’t pull water out of carpets, walls, insulation, or flooring. That means water stays trapped underneath, where you can’t see it.
In Mansfield, a family used fans after a kitchen sink overflow. They opened the windows and thought the area would dry out on its own. A week later, their cabinets started to smell. When we arrived, we found water still trapped in the wall and under the baseboards. That water had started to grow bacteria and mold. The fans didn’t dry the deep layers. They just gave a false sense of progress.
Fans also spread contamination. During a flood damage cleanup job in Keller, outdoor water had entered the home after a storm. The homeowner used fans to dry the carpet. But that water was not clean. It carried debris and bacteria from outside. The fans didn’t clean it. They pushed it into the air and onto nearby surfaces. That created a need for full sewage removal & cleanup and disinfection, which could have been avoided with the right equipment from the start.
Another problem with fans is that they can overheat. We’ve handled fire damage cleanup jobs in Arlington where fans left running overnight caused sparks or burned out. Plugging in too many fans can overload outlets, especially in older homes. This adds risk on top of an already stressful situation.
During one emergency water restoration job in Grapevine, a family used a row of box fans after a pipe burst in the laundry room. The fans dried the surface of the tile, but didn’t touch the soaked drywall behind the washer. When we opened the wall, it was still soaked. The fans had actually made things worse by blowing moisture deeper into the cracks around the baseboards.
In Addison, a bathroom sink overflow caused water to leak under the floor. The homeowner used fans to try to dry it, but the water seeped into the subfloor and warped the boards. We had to perform structural restoration and replace the lower sections of the wall. Fans didn’t fix the issue. They delayed the right response.
Fans also do nothing for insulation. In Cedar Hill, a roof leak during a summer storm sent water into the attic. The homeowner used fans to dry the ceiling, but the insulation was holding water like a sponge. That water sat for days, leading to odors and bacteria buildup. We had to remove and replace the attic materials to prevent health issues.
Sometimes fans even push moisture into other rooms. In Plano, we handled a shower & tub overflow that seemed small. But the fans blew warm, moist air into a nearby closet. The clothes inside started to smell, and mold appeared on the wall. That turned into a personal property restoration job we could have avoided if the area had been sealed and properly dried.
Even a clean-looking carpet may still be wet underneath. In Southlake, a family used high-powered fans on their living room carpet after a clogged drain overflow. When we arrived two days later, the surface felt dry, but the padding below was soaked. The wood subfloor was starting to swell. We lifted the carpet and began full water damage restoration to stop further spreading.
Fans are not built to remove moisture from behind walls, under floors, or inside cabinets. They also don’t remove smells. After a fire damage restoration job in Dallas, a homeowner used fans to try to push out smoke odor. All it did was stir up particles and make the smell stronger. We had to use professional tools to perform proper smoke damage cleanup and deodorization.
Another risk is blowing dirty water into your HVAC system. In Midlothian, a family placed a fan near the return vent after a plumbing overflow cleanup. That pushed bacteria into the ductwork. We were called later to clean the system and handle hvac discharge line repair from the moisture that had been pulled in.
Floods are tough. Whether it’s from a main water line break, pipe leak cleanup service, or appliance leak cleanup, water moves fast. Fans just aren’t strong enough to stop it. At Stanley Restoration, we use high-grade dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and moisture detectors to make sure nothing gets left behind. We also use thermal imaging to find water that’s not visible on the surface.
In homes with carpet or laminate, fans can actually make things worse. They dry the surface too fast, trapping water below. This happened in a toilet overflow cleanup in Fort Worth. The top of the bathroom carpet was dry, but when we lifted it, the pad was dripping wet. That water had begun moving toward the hallway and created a larger flood damage area than expected.
If water reaches electrical areas or appliances, using fans can also create hazards. In one broken water pipe repair case in Plano, fans were placed too close to exposed outlets. It nearly caused a shock. We always recommend turning off electricity to affected areas before placing any device.
After a flood or leak, your first call should be to a restoration expert. Whether the source is a water line break, burst pipe damage cleanup, or kitchen sink overflow, our team has the right tools to dry your home the safe way. Stanley Restoration has helped families across Dallas, Mansfield, and beyond take back control after water disasters.
Fans may be good for cooling down a room. But when it comes to water damage, they’re not enough. Let our team give your home the professional care it needs. Fast, safe, and fully restored. That’s what we do best.
