3:50 this worked so well, thank you so much!! I was looking at buying a dehumidifier and now I know the car has a dehumidifier built into it!!! Cheers and big thanks
I had a large pool of water on the passenger side floor so I used my dry/wet vac to pick up as much water as possible then I put my dehumidifier on the passenger seat and set it on high with all the windows up and let it run all night, and in the morning it had about 28 ounces of water in it and was dry as a bone.
Good advice. One recommendation would be turn the fan to low, not high. By turning to low you have lower airflow over the air-conditioner evaporator coil, meaning it can cool the air to a lower temperature (and remove more water) before the heating coil reheats it. The small disadvantage of this is there is less air turbulence within the car.
Hi Sam. You don't have the cold air on, you have the heat on and the recirculate button on to heat the moisture and send the heated air through the cold evaporator which will condense and drain out. If you park it in the sun while doing this it will work even faster. I have dried hundreds of cars like this and it's the best way I know of to completely dry the interior of a wet car.
@@EddieCarrara1 a lower flow over the evaporator coil will enable the air to cool to a lower temperature which will remove more water. Yes aircon and reheat is a great way to dry out inside a car.
If u only have a dry vac, it's super easy to make a thing for it. Glass jar with 2 (small) hoses going into the lid. Good to have intake hose stick down an inch or two. I used barbed/3/8 fitting and nut on the inside, rubber and regular washers. It pulls water into the jar without getting vac wet
Opening the sunroof (if you've got one) helps. Removing the carpet liner altogether helps. Replacing it with carpet underlayment felt (later) from HDepot. Aiming a couple of small 110v room fans right at the affected areas helps. High heat and airflow!
Yes, I like to use the cars AC because it's a dehumidifier, let it run until the water stops dripping under the car, I've done this on hundreds or cars and it works like a charm. 🍺
Hi Start Moffet, You basically pull off the trim around the door sill and kick panel at all the pillars and lift the carpet. If you watch this video is will walk you through the basic steps on removing the panels ruclips.net/video/veFEvlXnGlE/видео.html Let me know what you think.
@@EddieCarrara1 have you made any videos or can you recommend any videos on replacing the carpet and insulation in one's own vehicle? Thinking about ordering a carpet and insulation kit to do simply get rid of any chance of mold or smell returning in my carpet/ insulation? Or any tips on truly drying out the carpet and insulation... massive heaters and leaf blowers and blower on wet vac for many, many days on end and the insulation is still damp. Thanks.
@@EddieCarrara1 Eddie - excuse me for asking about how to dry out a vehicle on the video about drying out a vehicle. I couldn't try the process you mentioned in the video due to my battery being dead. I have revived the battery and will try using the car's heater now. Still if have you any videos or tips on how to replace carpet using a carpet kit premade for my vehicle make and model, I would appreciate it. Thanks so much. Your videos are immensely helpful.
@@sharongilchrist5879 Hi Sharon, I don't have one on the carpet replacement. The reason is that it would take a skilled mechanic about 4 hours to replace it and about 8 hours for non-skilled lol. It's a lot of work and if your carpet doesn't smell moldy yet, this method is much easier. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you 😊
Thanks for this bro really love this. My 2006 mustang got hella water while I was at the hospital through my air vent being exposed. And I was able to to fix but for the carpet part I was kinda confused how to do it but with your video I was able to do it thank you so much
That's awesome Nachomane31, Ya gotta keep the stang dry 👍. I just help my daughter too, her panoramic sunroof shattered and her car was soaked, it took two days to dry but it's all set now 😊
Hi Linda, just be sure to use the air conditioner at the same time because the AC is what removes the moisture from the cabin, the heat only helps dry it. Let me know how you make out, thanks
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I wondered about using the air conditioner to dry out my vehicle but did not find any other advice on this. I left my skylight open in a rainstorm. I was so frustrated with myself!! By the time I found your RUclips video I had already done the first steps you said to do, but I knew it wasn’t dry yet. I am unable to take up my carpets - they are really in there solidly. Fortunately my seats have air conditioning and heating. So I turned all the air as you said and very shortly afterwards saw steam/moisture coming out of the tailpipes as well as the drain area under the engine. It has only been a couple of hours and already it is mostly dry. There is hardly any water dripping from the engine area. I will continue to work at this this way and hopefully it will continue to dry. Our summers (a couple months away still) are very dry so hopefully residual moisture will dry completely by then if not way before. We are not having very warm days and in fact finally have rain- I’m in California. What a dumb time to leave my skylight open!! I have also put a small fan in the vehicle to help circulate the air more. I hope that was a good idea and not slowing things down.
Hi Deb, That sucks lol. If you continually use the AC ( with or without heat) even when driving around it will constantly pull moisture out of the cabin and deposit it out the drain tube. Let me know if I can answer any question for you.
Hey Damalagood, there are always going to be people who disagree, and that's ok, we can all learn different methods to get the same results lol. I know a lot of people don't want to let the car engine idle for 24 hours but we do it all the time and never have an issue, just an empty tank of gas 🤣. Let me know how you make out. What's your project?
@@EddieCarrara1 Ayyyyye, I swear I didn't see this reply.. Thanks and I totally Agree with you, but it's an 2001 Honda Accord coupe v6.. It was the Sunroof leaking on me as I drove 😅🙏🏽
I've had a leak for 5yrs and know one can find it. Sunroof drains cleaned, water test, nothing. The interior windows are frozen all winter, and the headliner and carpets are soaked all summer. But yet, nobody can find the problem. I'm actually going to have the roof vinyl wrapped over the Sunroof and that will be that! The titanic is dryer than this car.
Hi Jeff, I wish I could help, water leaks are easy to find once you know where to look. You should check out my other water leak videos that explain how to find them and fix it yourself. I'll be here if you have questions 😊
Instead of wasting gas just use a a house dehumidifier, put on the front seat or in the back, Then run an extension cord through the door where the rubber seal is. Then shut the doors and windows. Run it for 12 hours over night on full , Might have to empty the reservoir a few times.
That's not a bad idea except not everyone has a home dehumidifier, and it would be quite a challenge to set it on the seat without damaging the seat material, then having to empty it would be another challenge. That's why I suggest spending $20 dollars on gas, no extra labor involved except turning a key, pushing a couple of buttons and closing the door. Set it and forget it until the water stops dripping out the evaporator. Dinner is served 😁
Hello! Than you for the helpful video.. I have a question.. my car’s carpet is being locked by the transmission, glovebox, and cable. Do I just lift the carpet up, or do i have to take it all out?
I had two inches of water in the front passenger area and got most of it out with a shop vac. I'm just going to stick a small dehumidifier in the car tonight and see what happens.
Usually if you pull up the door sills you'll be able to lift the carpet and shove something under it to keep it lifted so you can mop up the excess water and allow air to flow under it too.
I'm experiencing electrical issues with my car , i lost a couple of computers due to rain . My car wasn't flooded or driven through water ponds it was parked in open parking under rain . The mechanic told me he has no idea how water came inside !!! This wasn't the first time it's the third time and I don't know what to do , it cost me alot of money . I changed windshield molds . But still water are getting under hood some how . Can you advise??
Hey SEx34, you'll have to fix the leak first otherwise drying the car is useless. Do you know where the water is coming from? Has the windshield been replaced? Any accidents with body damage?
So my car leaked a couple months ago..not even exactly sure when. I chose not to deal with it at the time, and since then my daughter has been born. If the water has been sitting for a few months, does it still pay to try to fix the situation? Or should I get rid of the car? Want to keep my family safe.
Hi Matt, it all depends on if your car smells musty or not. It would be worth drying it out anyway to sell it. Let me know if your car smells musty or not.
Thanks a lot for the video, do I have to lift up the carpet? Thats a little bit difficult for me to do, can I just do the second step and still dry up the car?
Hi Daniel. I recommend you at least pull the carpet on the edges and vacuum any standing water under the carpet if possible. It will speed up the drying process a lot.
I got wet my back carpet.. And i want try this timorrow but u havnt mention this procedure doing by door closed or open? I have a working ac and new 2023 car
Sorry for the late reply, all doors and windows closed, AC and heat on high, sitting in the sun if possible, with the recirculate button on. Wet vac as much as possible, it will speed up the drying time.
I just got 2006 GMC Canyon rug was mold on it . Replace with new 1. I did new windshield install and rear window . Passenger side was dry when I got the truck and wet on driver side .Now water came in some were under dash . Now trying keep carpet dry until all the time trying to find were water coming in . Would just pull rug up completely just do away with rug? Less chance of getting mold or no? Until I find the leak . I hard to find how the water getting in . I took lot of water up with a wet vacuum.
Hi Frank, if you can live with no carpet until you find the leak that's a great Idea. Once the carpet is out you should be able to locate the leak much faster. Look for trails of water, rust stains etc. watch some of my other water leak videos to get an idea on how to locate them. Keep me posted.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hi Eddie, I notice when pull carpet up on passenger side looks like a pad on the floor . Could that be there to protect heat coming up from exhaust? Other 1 I am going check is air vent .
Hi Samira, you can keep everything closed because the AC will draw the water out of your vehicle and drain it out the AC drain. Sorry so late with a reply. Let me know how you make out.
It's not great idea...half baked. What you want to do it warm up the inside of the car as much as possible with the heater. Hot air holds humidity. After a while of heating, open all doors and windows to allow the humid air to escape. Repeat. If the outside air is humid then maybe use the AC to dry the air, but it's probably much faster just to exchange the air by opening doors.
I use this method at least 50 times a year, the AC is a dehumidifier. Once the water stops dripping from the AC drain, the car is dry. How many times a year do you use you method?
@@EddieCarrara1 if you heat up the wet area the water will evaporate faster than if you cool it. Basic science. What works the fastest is sucking out the water with a shop vac. The AC will condense humidity, what I am saying is to heat the air first to saturate the air. Depending on the outside temperature, if it is very hot the car will naturally heat up in the sun in which case the AC alone may do the job. If it is cool outside you need to warm the wet area to encourage evaporation.
It's already messed with my lights (moisture)if I dry everything out will I still have to replace all that? Some things work again once dried out but I know some things don't too sigh
Hi Shawna, first you need to stop the water from coming in, once that's fixed you'll need to dry everything out and see what works and what's not. Sorry I don't have a better answer. Let me know if I can answer any other questions, thanks.
So why have the heater on. My intrerior temp gets seriously cooking (it's 95 outside plus running the heat in the car so insanely hot) like you can barely touch the steering wheel. This extreme heat does not seem like it's very good for anything inside inclluding interior, electronics, etc.) Does running the ac w/ a medium temp work so I don't cook the interior?
Do you dry your cloths on tumble dry with no or low heat? You don't have to answer that lol. The hotter the interior the quicker it will dry as long as you're moving the heat around. BTW, you're not cooking the interior, you car temp in the direct sunlight gets to about 160* FYI.
I had a leak in my heater core and for now it's bypassed. I dont have a wet dry vac and may get one but want to know if vacuums at gas stations and car washes can be used on wet carpet?
Hi Eddie, by letting Car idle with Heat, A/C, and Recirculator on with Max Fan, Can the Electronics get damaged at all ? And how long on average does it take to dry out completely? Thx for your help
I have never had any problems when doing this job, I'm doing one as we speak. It all depends on how much water you get out with the wet vac. Park in direct sun if possible for more heat and when the water stops dripping from under the car from the AC you'll know it dry. 12-24 hours.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hi Belinda. I'm a semi-professional car detailer in the UK. I'd advise taking the steps Eddie lays out in the video. A day or so of further natural air-drying later, spray the carpet with black mould and fungus carpet cleaner and then shampoo extract the carpets. You can hire a detailer to do it which would be expensive in the States, especially Western States, or you could do it yourself with a Bissell Spot Clean Pro or similar. They retail on Amazon for around $150. I'm about to do the same process on a customer's Ford Fiesta that's got rear seat/floor water damage from a rear window being left open in an overnight thunderstorm. The car smells really funky! Luckily I've got an ozone air disinfector to sort any remnant smells out. Hopefully I won't need it though. Happy New Year and good luck!
buying a car where you have to do this in December is kinda fucked up I can say. Sitting in the garage for almost 2 months, vacuum, release floor carpet and make it stand up to get as much as possible out, putting tons of newspaper under the carpet while its still up, put an electrical heater in there for a total amount of like 4hrs. After it seemed dry I put the carpet back down to see what happens. 2 days later check again and its fully wet under it again.. (its been sitting in the garage still, no driver seat etc.) I‘ll check again tomorrow and if its wet again Im gonna be annoyed.
@@KingRvlt Yes because there is usually a one-inch thick layer of insulation under the carpet and it takes forever for it to dry out, that's why I always recommend lifting the carpet and run the AC. The AC system is a dehumidifier and will littery suck the water out of the carpet.
I recommend wet vac it first, (remove the vac filter) and get up as much water as possible, you may have to idle the car for 12 to 24 hours, put it in direct sun, and put the heat on high, floor, AC and recirculate for maximum efficiency. I'm doing one as we speak lol.
Hi Rick, check under the passenger's front carpet just to be sure it not wet, if it is, it's possible the AC evaporator is not draining or the drain hose fell off. Is it hot and humid right now where you live? Are you using the AC?let me know, thanks.
Hi Eddie - so my convertible had a leak. Got mold and that musty smell. Leak has been fixed and supposedly everything was dried out. Problem is I still have that musty smell and I'm still seeing the white mold behind the driver seat. So I'm confident the leak is fixed, but i have a suspicion that under the carpet may still be damp causing the mold to return and that smell. Using your method to completely dry out the car, will that get rid of the musty smell too? The carpet itself is dry to the touch even after a rain storm. Your help is appreciated!!!
Hi Karlyn, unfortunately the smell may be permanent unless you replace the carpet. My wife left her windows open during rains storms once too many times and we could never get rid of the smell. They do sell bombs for your car that you can try but Im pretty sure it will not remove the smell 100% Here is the link amzn.to/3zVNrx1 I'm not trying to sell you anything but we use these at work for our rental cars, they smell like clean cotton/bleach. If you buy through this link I do make a commission but you don't pay any extra for the product. Let me know if it helps if you buy it. Also, you can probably find them at your local auto parts store.
Do you think an ozone machine will work after I completely dry out the car? I think the only reason the mold is coming back is because the pad under the carpet is damp. Nothing is wet, but that's the only thing I can think of. If I have to go the route of replacing the carpet, do you know how much that'll be?
@@kinyun1 it’s definitely worth a shot but you really should lift your carpet first and make sure it’s completely dry underneath. Keep me posted on what happens. Thanks.
Thanks for the video! Is there any way to get water out from under the carpets using a dehumidifier and the Car AC/Heater? Or do I need to rip out the seats, center console and carpets to get the water out?
Hi Jordii, If you use a wet/dry Vacuum it will cut your time in half, if you can lift the carpets on the edges and in the footwells you'll be able to vac under them as well and save even more time. Yes, use the cars AC and heat system to your advantage like in the video. Let me know how you make out.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hey Eddie. Thanks for that! Was able to get rid of surface water using a wet/dry vac and ran the car's AC/heater during the day and fans and a dehumidifer overnight for about a week. Got all the water out. Thanks for sharing this information!
Wet passenger side front and back on a 2018 Camry. Toyota said the sunroof drains all work. I heard water sloshing a few months back. I recently moved to a warm humid location. Floors are soaked and more is coming. Any help?
Hi Sheneik, I think your AC evaporator drain is clogged. I recommend you have someone blow compressed air up the tube from under the car to see if that's your problem. Yes it can flood your car if it's not draining. Let me know what you find, thanks.
Thanks for the video. Found it because my 16 F150 has a bad leak and I need to get it fixed and dried out... Leaks most at the passenger rear roof corner. I get water showing all the way to drivers floorboard. I really need to get this fixed! with this video having a F150. Any suggestions??? Thanks in advance
Hi Mr Jasonace99, I have a lot of videos showing how to find leaks on my channel. I recommend you start there and if you have more questions I'll be rings here. If you do find the leak in a body seam, use 3M brushable Seam Sealer, you'll find a link to it in the description of most of my water leak videos.
Do you have any methods that don't include starting the engine? I have a 1991 3000GT VR4 that is flooded and the water has damaged the electronics already...
Hi Ben, it's the running of the AC that is what removes the moisture from the vehicle. Do you live is a dry hot climate? Do you thing you could remove the carpet ( it's a lot of work)?
@@EddieCarrara1 I live in Washington state 😅 Unfortunately my passenger seat is seized up to the carpet is not yet fully removable. However the moisture I'm mostly worried about is on everything else like the windows. It's almost like someone sprayed my car with a water hose
@@benshapiro2wt298 Yeah, it's because it can't escape. You could wet vac a lot of it up but it will not dry, you need heat and AC. What sucks is you live in the wettest state here in the US lol. Sorry buddy.
Hi Drew, nope, not true. I do this in the dead of winter here in NH. Having the blistering heat from the sun will speed the process but you can do it in the winter as well. The key is to have the heat temp on hot, have the air recirculation button on, and the AC needs to be on to remove the water. Yes you can run the AC with heat and it will not effect the temperature. Let me know how you make out, thanks.
Hi Flicki Flak, yes I know, most people will not even take the time to do the work because it's time consuming, but it needs to be done to avoid mold and musty smells from permanently infiltrating your vehicle.
Closed, Recirculate on, AC on, Heat on, Blower on high. Wait for the water to stop dripping from the AC drain. Vacuum as much water out with a shop vac first to speed the drying time.
Hi Sameer, it would be good to at least lift it to get out excess water first and leave it lifted with blocks of wood or something to dry it underneath. Let me know if you have more questions.
Hey, I have a 3 door Peugeot 207.. it rained heavily and it flooded inside due to a leak somewhere. Now every time I go around a corner I hear a sloshing sound under the car. Any fix to this?
Hi Ander, Is water visible in your trunk? The fastest way to remove water from your vehicle is a wet vac, or drill a hole in your floor so the water can drain. Don't laugh, I see it all the time, definitely not the proper procedure 🤣
@@EddieCarrara1 what does it mean if the water is in the trunk? In my car, the water is where my spare wheel compartment is. Does this mean the AC method won't work properly?
Today i drop a whole liquid that cleans the rims in my car carpet. I just clean it with towels but still seems wet. What happen if i leave it like that? Will it smell bad later when it dry?
My problem the car just got the dood jet washed the inside .There are the idiots you get round here unfortunately. Hectolitres me he did when i asked him why it was wet
Hi Jasper, until the carpet is dry, the water leaking from the AC drain will stop dripping when the interior moisture is gone. Be sure to use the AC in recirculating mode so you're only circulating the cars cabin air and not outside air, that is the key to completely drying the car 👍, I've had to let cars idle for 24 hours sometimes. Let me know how you make out or if you have more questions.
That would be a lot of work Renay, it usually involves removing everything from inside the car, if you can list the carpet and run the AC like I show in the video it usually takes about 12-24 hours.
Hi Eddie - was away for 2 weeks, returned to a Subaru Outback with 1-2 inches of water standing in floorboard of back passenger side on driver's side - driver's floorboard wet, but no standing water. It has been extremely hot and humid while I was gone. There is mold all over the inside of the car - doors, leather seats, leather console, carpet. My number one question: can I use a wet dry vac safely if the water likely contains mold or will it ruin the wet dry vac? Do I need a wet foam filter on the wet vac if I can use it or just go without a filter? Purchases a Ridgid 4 gallon wet dry vac - of couse it doesn't come with the wet foam filter. Any other wet dry vac you recommend? It was extremely hot and humid while I was gone - plus the day before leaving I was airing out the car (all 4 windows down) and it poured rain. I felt I had to roll up the windows because I was leaving town and it would rain while I was gone. Oye.
Hi Sharon, Use the vac without a filter, then just wipe it dry when you're done. It sounds like your car may have more issues than just water. If it's moldy you'll never get that smell out, plus all your electrical components may have issues. It may be time to upgrade to a new vehicle and avoid future problems. Let me know how you make out.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hey Ed - thank you for this feedback. Yes, the sunroof drain was clogged on each side. I used the wet vac with no filter. I removed the plastic trim towards bottom frame of floorboard and lifted carpet both in front and back of driver's side. Have had 2 leaf blowers on both sides for one week now. Carpet and padding is dry in some areas, but I can't reach under the seat or gas pedal/ brake area up front. You have voiced my greatest concerns - simply the car is ruined due to possible damage to electrical system. Have a guy coming next week who says he can dry out the carpeting & padding and take care of any mold in it. Any idea if this is generally covered by comprehensive auto insurance policies?! Your videos are SUPER informative and helpful. Thank you for your great work and your time in responding.
Great video but what would you recommend for the parts of the car surrounding the window and the sunroof? I went through a car wash and it leaked all over my car, floorboard is fine, but the upper parts are not! They have started to look stained so what would you recommend? Thanks
Hi John, the (factory-installed) sunroof seal will leak a little but it should leak into the sunroof drip tray. If the tray is not draining you may want to check the drains. You can find more videos on how to check the sunroof drains on my channel. Let me know if this helped and if you have any questions. Cheers🍻
3:50 this worked so well, thank you so much!! I was looking at buying a dehumidifier and now I know the car has a dehumidifier built into it!!! Cheers and big thanks
Hi Chuck, yes sir it does lol. Thank you for actually watching and learning, some people just don't get it 😂
I had a large pool of water on the passenger side floor so I used my dry/wet vac to pick up as much water as possible then I put my dehumidifier on the passenger seat and set it on high with all the windows up and let it run all night, and in the morning it had about 28 ounces of water in it and was dry as a bone.
Nice Job EM, thanks for the tip👍
@@EddieCarrara1 Your welcome Ed.
Good advice.
One recommendation would be turn the fan to low, not high.
By turning to low you have lower airflow over the air-conditioner evaporator coil, meaning it can cool the air to a lower temperature (and remove more water) before the heating coil reheats it.
The small disadvantage of this is there is less air turbulence within the car.
Hi Sam. You don't have the cold air on, you have the heat on and the recirculate button on to heat the moisture and send the heated air through the cold evaporator which will condense and drain out. If you park it in the sun while doing this it will work even faster. I have dried hundreds of cars like this and it's the best way I know of to completely dry the interior of a wet car.
@@EddieCarrara1 a lower flow over the evaporator coil will enable the air to cool to a lower temperature which will remove more water.
Yes aircon and reheat is a great way to dry out inside a car.
If u only have a dry vac, it's super easy to make a thing for it. Glass jar with 2 (small) hoses going into the lid. Good to have intake hose stick down an inch or two. I used barbed/3/8 fitting and nut on the inside, rubber and regular washers. It pulls water into the jar without getting vac wet
Awesome info Nate, thanks for sharing your knowledge 🍺
Opening the sunroof (if you've got one) helps. Removing the carpet liner altogether helps. Replacing it with carpet underlayment felt (later) from HDepot. Aiming a couple of small 110v room fans right at the affected areas helps. High heat and airflow!
Yes, I like to use the cars AC because it's a dehumidifier, let it run until the water stops dripping under the car, I've done this on hundreds or cars and it works like a charm. 🍺
Could you do a video showing how to lift the carpeting in your car without destroying it?
Hi Start Moffet, You basically pull off the trim around the door sill and kick panel at all the pillars and lift the carpet. If you watch this video is will walk you through the basic steps on removing the panels ruclips.net/video/veFEvlXnGlE/видео.html Let me know what you think.
@@EddieCarrara1 have you made any videos or can you recommend any videos on replacing the carpet and insulation in one's own vehicle? Thinking about ordering a carpet and insulation kit to do simply get rid of any chance of mold or smell returning in my carpet/ insulation? Or any tips on truly drying out the carpet and insulation... massive heaters and leaf blowers and blower on wet vac for many, many days on end and the insulation is still damp. Thanks.
@@EddieCarrara1 Eddie - excuse me for asking about how to dry out a vehicle on the video about drying out a vehicle. I couldn't try the process you mentioned in the video due to my battery being dead. I have revived the battery and will try using the car's heater now. Still if have you any videos or tips on how to replace carpet using a carpet kit premade for my vehicle make and model, I would appreciate it. Thanks so much. Your videos are immensely helpful.
@@sharongilchrist5879 Hi Sharon, I don't have one on the carpet replacement. The reason is that it would take a skilled mechanic about 4 hours to replace it and about 8 hours for non-skilled lol. It's a lot of work and if your carpet doesn't smell moldy yet, this method is much easier. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you 😊
Thanks for this bro really love this. My 2006 mustang got hella water while I was at the hospital through my air vent being exposed. And I was able to to fix but for the carpet part I was kinda confused how to do it but with your video I was able to do it thank you so much
That's awesome Nachomane31, Ya gotta keep the stang dry 👍. I just help my daughter too, her panoramic sunroof shattered and her car was soaked, it took two days to dry but it's all set now 😊
I had never thought of putting the heater on recirculate. thanks
Hi Linda, just be sure to use the air conditioner at the same time because the AC is what removes the moisture from the cabin, the heat only helps dry it. Let me know how you make out, thanks
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
I wondered about using the air conditioner to dry out my vehicle but did not find any other advice on this.
I left my skylight open in a rainstorm. I was so frustrated with myself!! By the time I found your RUclips video I had already done the first steps you said to do, but I knew it wasn’t dry yet. I am unable to take up my carpets - they are really in there solidly.
Fortunately my seats have air conditioning and heating.
So I turned all the air as you said and very shortly afterwards saw steam/moisture coming out of the tailpipes as well as the drain area under the engine.
It has only been a couple of hours and already it is mostly dry. There is hardly any water dripping from the engine area. I will continue to work at this this way and hopefully it will continue to dry. Our summers (a couple months away still) are very dry so hopefully residual moisture will dry completely by then if not way before.
We are not having very warm days and in fact finally have rain- I’m in California.
What a dumb time to leave my skylight open!!
I have also put a small fan in the vehicle to help circulate the air more. I hope that was a good idea and not slowing things down.
Hi Deb, That sucks lol. If you continually use the AC ( with or without heat) even when driving around it will constantly pull moisture out of the cabin and deposit it out the drain tube. Let me know if I can answer any question for you.
Very simple, I have a Project car I'm fixing up that got Wet inside ... You gotta luv your Trolls 👀🤣🤣🤣👋🏽
Hey Damalagood, there are always going to be people who disagree, and that's ok, we can all learn different methods to get the same results lol. I know a lot of people don't want to let the car engine idle for 24 hours but we do it all the time and never have an issue, just an empty tank of gas 🤣. Let me know how you make out. What's your project?
U oh it's i i I'm
@@EddieCarrara1 Ayyyyye, I swear I didn't see this reply.. Thanks and I totally Agree with you, but it's an 2001 Honda Accord coupe v6.. It was the Sunroof leaking on me as I drove 😅🙏🏽
Why not use a space heater to dry it out? Save your $75 tank of gas!
Hi Lois, Try it, see if it works, this is just my method and I wanted to share it. There are other ways that may work.
Damn, it's been rainy the past few days. Such a headache with that air-conditioning drain.
Hi Edgardo, you probably have debris in the bottom of the evaporator or there's a leak somewhere else.
I've had a leak for 5yrs and know one can find it. Sunroof drains cleaned, water test, nothing. The interior windows are frozen all winter, and the headliner and carpets are soaked all summer. But yet, nobody can find the problem. I'm actually going to have the roof vinyl wrapped over the Sunroof and that will be that! The titanic is dryer than this car.
Hi Jeff, I wish I could help, water leaks are easy to find once you know where to look. You should check out my other water leak videos that explain how to find them and fix it yourself. I'll be here if you have questions 😊
" Let it dry in the sun" You never been in Ireland?
The sun won't work, not for cars that have had bad water leaks that fill up the floor pans.
Sobs in Canadian 😅
Instead of wasting gas just use a a house dehumidifier, put on the front seat or in the back, Then run an extension cord through the door where the rubber seal is. Then shut the doors and windows. Run it for 12 hours over night on full , Might have to empty the reservoir a few times.
That's not a bad idea except not everyone has a home dehumidifier, and it would be quite a challenge to set it on the seat without damaging the seat material, then having to empty it would be another challenge. That's why I suggest spending $20 dollars on gas, no extra labor involved except turning a key, pushing a couple of buttons and closing the door. Set it and forget it until the water stops dripping out the evaporator. Dinner is served 😁
What if you have a dehumidifier that you could put in the car and run an extension cord to it?
That would work Southerner66, just empty the catch basin often and run the heat at the same time lol.
Hello! Than you for the helpful video.. I have a question.. my car’s carpet is being locked by the transmission, glovebox, and cable. Do I just lift the carpet up, or do i have to take it all out?
I recommend you just lift it to allow air to circulate under it so it can completely dry.
I had two inches of water in the front passenger area and got most of it out with a shop vac. I'm just going to stick a small dehumidifier in the car tonight and see what happens.
That will work just like running your AC because an AC is a dehumidifier 👍 Keep me posted Erichsh.
My question is how do you get the carpet to where you can lift it up? What steps does it take to get under carpet?
Usually if you pull up the door sills you'll be able to lift the carpet and shove something under it to keep it lifted so you can mop up the excess water and allow air to flow under it too.
I'm experiencing electrical issues with my car , i lost a couple of computers due to rain . My car wasn't flooded or driven through water ponds it was parked in open parking under rain . The mechanic told me he has no idea how water came inside !!! This wasn't the first time it's the third time and I don't know what to do , it cost me alot of money . I changed windshield molds . But still water are getting under hood some how . Can you advise??
See if you have a water doctor in your area, just google it, sometimes those guys are pretty good.
I have a 2005 Ford Mustang... I'm experiencing with my passenger side floor all wet. My headlight, window and radio isn't working.....
Hey SEx34, you'll have to fix the leak first otherwise drying the car is useless. Do you know where the water is coming from? Has the windshield been replaced? Any accidents with body damage?
Ist most to have full tank of gas when doing this method
Hi Khalid, good idea 👍 because you don't know how long it will take to dry it out completely.
So my car leaked a couple months ago..not even exactly sure when. I chose not to deal with it at the time, and since then my daughter has been born. If the water has been sitting for a few months, does it still pay to try to fix the situation? Or should I get rid of the car? Want to keep my family safe.
Hi Matt, it all depends on if your car smells musty or not. It would be worth drying it out anyway to sell it. Let me know if your car smells musty or not.
Thanks a lot for the video, do I have to lift up the carpet? Thats a little bit difficult for me to do, can I just do the second step and still dry up the car?
Hi Daniel. I recommend you at least pull the carpet on the edges and vacuum any standing water under the carpet if possible. It will speed up the drying process a lot.
@@EddieCarrara1 Thanks Eddie, I will try that.
I got wet my back carpet.. And i want try this timorrow but u havnt mention this procedure doing by door closed or open? I have a working ac and new 2023 car
Sorry for the late reply, all doors and windows closed, AC and heat on high, sitting in the sun if possible, with the recirculate button on. Wet vac as much as possible, it will speed up the drying time.
I just got 2006 GMC Canyon rug was mold on it . Replace with new 1. I did new windshield install and rear window . Passenger side was dry when I got the truck and wet on driver side .Now water came in some were under dash . Now trying keep carpet dry until all the time trying to find were water coming in . Would just pull rug up completely just do away with rug? Less chance of getting mold or no? Until I find the leak . I hard to find how the water getting in . I took lot of water up with a wet vacuum.
Hi Frank, if you can live with no carpet until you find the leak that's a great Idea. Once the carpet is out you should be able to locate the leak much faster. Look for trails of water, rust stains etc. watch some of my other water leak videos to get an idea on how to locate them. Keep me posted.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hi Eddie, I notice when pull carpet up on passenger side looks like a pad on the floor . Could that be there to protect heat coming up from exhaust? Other 1 I am going check is air vent .
When I turn on the heat and AC should I leave the windows and doors open or everything should be closed? Thanks
Hi Samira, you can keep everything closed because the AC will draw the water out of your vehicle and drain it out the AC drain. Sorry so late with a reply. Let me know how you make out.
It's not great idea...half baked. What you want to do it warm up the inside of the car as much as possible with the heater. Hot air holds humidity. After a while of heating, open all doors and windows to allow the humid air to escape. Repeat. If the outside air is humid then maybe use the AC to dry the air, but it's probably much faster just to exchange the air by opening doors.
I use this method at least 50 times a year, the AC is a dehumidifier. Once the water stops dripping from the AC drain, the car is dry. How many times a year do you use you method?
@@EddieCarrara1 if you heat up the wet area the water will evaporate faster than if you cool it. Basic science. What works the fastest is sucking out the water with a shop vac. The AC will condense humidity, what I am saying is to heat the air first to saturate the air. Depending on the outside temperature, if it is very hot the car will naturally heat up in the sun in which case the AC alone may do the job. If it is cool outside you need to warm the wet area to encourage evaporation.
It's already messed with my lights (moisture)if I dry everything out will I still have to replace all that? Some things work again once dried out but I know some things don't too sigh
Hi Shawna, first you need to stop the water from coming in, once that's fixed you'll need to dry everything out and see what works and what's not. Sorry I don't have a better answer. Let me know if I can answer any other questions, thanks.
So why have the heater on. My intrerior temp gets seriously cooking (it's 95 outside plus running the heat in the car so insanely hot) like you can barely touch the steering wheel. This extreme heat does not seem like it's very good for anything inside inclluding interior, electronics, etc.) Does running the ac w/ a medium temp work so I don't cook the interior?
Do you dry your cloths on tumble dry with no or low heat? You don't have to answer that lol. The hotter the interior the quicker it will dry as long as you're moving the heat around. BTW, you're not cooking the interior, you car temp in the direct sunlight gets to about 160* FYI.
I had a leak in my heater core and for now it's bypassed. I dont have a wet dry vac and may get one but want to know if vacuums at gas stations and car washes can be used on wet carpet?
Hi Richard, I know I'm late with this reply but remember there is coolant mixed with that water so you may need to have it professionally cleaned.
This is so helpful thank you so much!!!
You're welcome Haley, let me know if you have any questions 😊
Hi Eddie, by letting Car idle with Heat, A/C, and Recirculator on with Max Fan, Can the Electronics get damaged at all ? And how long on average does it take to dry out completely? Thx for your help
I have never had any problems when doing this job, I'm doing one as we speak. It all depends on how much water you get out with the wet vac. Park in direct sun if possible for more heat and when the water stops dripping from under the car from the AC you'll know it dry. 12-24 hours.
I didn't get onto this soon enough and the carpet has black mould. Where can I find step by step instructions for removing the carpet?
Hi Belinda, That would be a lot of work, the complete interior would need to be removed... everything except the dash and headliner 😳
@@EddieCarrara1 I guess if I can't do it, I don't have a car
@@EddieCarrara1 Hi Belinda. I'm a semi-professional car detailer in the UK. I'd advise taking the steps Eddie lays out in the video. A day or so of further natural air-drying later, spray the carpet with black mould and fungus carpet cleaner and then shampoo extract the carpets. You can hire a detailer to do it which would be expensive in the States, especially Western States, or you could do it yourself with a Bissell Spot Clean Pro or similar. They retail on Amazon for around $150. I'm about to do the same process on a customer's Ford Fiesta that's got rear seat/floor water damage from a rear window being left open in an overnight thunderstorm. The car smells really funky!
Luckily I've got an ozone air disinfector to sort any remnant smells out. Hopefully I won't need it though. Happy New Year and good luck!
What about using Damp Rid as well!???
It wouldn't hurt but a probably a very long process, Damp Rid is for humidity not water leaks.
@@EddieCarrara1it helped my car recover!
I had auto tech car liners to catch water in both sides!
following your car settings video would it help if I also turned on the defroster mode
Hi Koron60, no, just keep it on max AC and heat with the recirculation mode on.
buying a car where you have to do this in December is kinda fucked up I can say.
Sitting in the garage for almost 2 months, vacuum, release floor carpet and make it stand up to get as much as possible out, putting tons of newspaper under the carpet while its still up, put an electrical heater in there for a total amount of like 4hrs.
After it seemed dry I put the carpet back down to see what happens.
2 days later check again and its fully wet under it again.. (its been sitting in the garage still, no driver seat etc.)
I‘ll check again tomorrow and if its wet again Im gonna be annoyed.
You have to find the leak first before you dry it. Watch some of my water leak videos to help locate or pinpoint the point of entry.
@@EddieCarrara1but it hasn’t moved from my garage for 2-3 months ,it feels dry now after leaving external heater on 12+ hrs
@@KingRvlt Yes because there is usually a one-inch thick layer of insulation under the carpet and it takes forever for it to dry out, that's why I always recommend lifting the carpet and run the AC. The AC system is a dehumidifier and will littery suck the water out of the carpet.
shouldve tried that I guess :)
Back at it, its still wet, is there a way I can contact you elsewhere? Im not sure if Im doing your method right
Will this work if you have water under the back seat carpet. I got the front dry but the back is still wet after a month
I recommend wet vac it first, (remove the vac filter) and get up as much water as possible, you may have to idle the car for 12 to 24 hours, put it in direct sun, and put the heat on high, floor, AC and recirculate for maximum efficiency. I'm doing one as we speak lol.
Hi. Can you give tips on how to dry masonite board on your trunk spare tire cover? Thank You!
Hi Haaniel, I recommend you bring it inside the house or place it in the sun for a few days if you live in a warm climate.
@@EddieCarrara1 Thank You..
Thank you
You're welcome Troy, let me know if you have any questions.
Any idea about water leak in rear passenger side carpet 2003 Lincoln Signiture THX
Hi Rick, check under the passenger's front carpet just to be sure it not wet, if it is, it's possible the AC evaporator is not draining or the drain hose fell off. Is it hot and humid right now where you live? Are you using the AC?let me know, thanks.
Very helpful! thanks!
You're welcome Tom, let me know if I can answer any question for you.
Hi Eddie - so my convertible had a leak. Got mold and that musty smell. Leak has been fixed and supposedly everything was dried out. Problem is I still have that musty smell and I'm still seeing the white mold behind the driver seat. So I'm confident the leak is fixed, but i have a suspicion that under the carpet may still be damp causing the mold to return and that smell. Using your method to completely dry out the car, will that get rid of the musty smell too? The carpet itself is dry to the touch even after a rain storm. Your help is appreciated!!!
Hi Karlyn, unfortunately the smell may be permanent unless you replace the carpet. My wife left her windows open during rains storms once too many times and we could never get rid of the smell. They do sell bombs for your car that you can try but Im pretty sure it will not remove the smell 100% Here is the link amzn.to/3zVNrx1 I'm not trying to sell you anything but we use these at work for our rental cars, they smell like clean cotton/bleach. If you buy through this link I do make a commission but you don't pay any extra for the product. Let me know if it helps if you buy it. Also, you can probably find them at your local auto parts store.
Do you think an ozone machine will work after I completely dry out the car? I think the only reason the mold is coming back is because the pad under the carpet is damp. Nothing is wet, but that's the only thing I can think of. If I have to go the route of replacing the carpet, do you know how much that'll be?
@@kinyun1 it’s definitely worth a shot but you really should lift your carpet first and make sure it’s completely dry underneath. Keep me posted on what happens. Thanks.
Thanks for the video! Is there any way to get water out from under the carpets using a dehumidifier and the Car AC/Heater? Or do I need to rip out the seats, center console and carpets to get the water out?
Hi Jordii, If you use a wet/dry Vacuum it will cut your time in half, if you can lift the carpets on the edges and in the footwells you'll be able to vac under them as well and save even more time. Yes, use the cars AC and heat system to your advantage like in the video. Let me know how you make out.
@@EddieCarrara1 Hey Eddie. Thanks for that! Was able to get rid of surface water using a wet/dry vac and ran the car's AC/heater during the day and fans and a dehumidifer overnight for about a week. Got all the water out. Thanks for sharing this information!
@@JORDIIMusic was the whole process cheaper than getting it professionally dried?
I can't figure out how to pull up the carpet It's stuck under the door trim
Hi Janie, yes, you'll need to pull up the trim, its usually held down by plastic clips the just pop free when lifted.
Wet passenger side front and back on a 2018 Camry. Toyota said the sunroof drains all work. I heard water sloshing a few months back. I recently moved to a warm humid location. Floors are soaked and more is coming. Any help?
Hi Sheneik, I think your AC evaporator drain is clogged. I recommend you have someone blow compressed air up the tube from under the car to see if that's your problem. Yes it can flood your car if it's not draining. Let me know what you find, thanks.
leaf blower!
Hi Brian, nope, ain't gonna do it 🤣
@Eddie Carrara worked for me hahahah, I used the ship vac on reverse to get under the carpet under the set
Thanks for the video. Found it because my 16 F150 has a bad leak and I need to get it fixed and dried out... Leaks most at the passenger rear roof corner. I get water showing all the way to drivers floorboard.
I really need to get this fixed!
with this video having a F150.
Any suggestions???
Thanks in advance
Hi Mr Jasonace99, I have a lot of videos showing how to find leaks on my channel. I recommend you start there and if you have more questions I'll be rings here. If you do find the leak in a body seam, use 3M brushable Seam Sealer, you'll find a link to it in the description of most of my water leak videos.
Awesome!
Thanks Matt, let me know if I can answer any question for you. Cheers 🍻
Do you have any methods that don't include starting the engine? I have a 1991 3000GT VR4 that is flooded and the water has damaged the electronics already...
Hi Ben, it's the running of the AC that is what removes the moisture from the vehicle. Do you live is a dry hot climate? Do you thing you could remove the carpet ( it's a lot of work)?
@@EddieCarrara1 I live in Washington state 😅
Unfortunately my passenger seat is seized up to the carpet is not yet fully removable. However the moisture I'm mostly worried about is on everything else like the windows. It's almost like someone sprayed my car with a water hose
@@benshapiro2wt298 Yeah, it's because it can't escape. You could wet vac a lot of it up but it will not dry, you need heat and AC. What sucks is you live in the wettest state here in the US lol. Sorry buddy.
@@EddieCarrara1 it's okay I plan on tearing apart the entire car soon anyway. I need to rebuild my wiring harness
@@benshapiro2wt298 Wow, that will be a time-consuming project, good for you Ben to even think about tackling that job lol.
So basically now that it's winter and I don't have a garage or the sun I'm fucked?
Hi Drew, nope, not true. I do this in the dead of winter here in NH. Having the blistering heat from the sun will speed the process but you can do it in the winter as well. The key is to have the heat temp on hot, have the air recirculation button on, and the AC needs to be on to remove the water. Yes you can run the AC with heat and it will not effect the temperature. Let me know how you make out, thanks.
Great video .Glad You made it . Nobody talks about it🤘🇬🇧
Hi Flicki Flak, yes I know, most people will not even take the time to do the work because it's time consuming, but it needs to be done to avoid mold and musty smells from permanently infiltrating your vehicle.
a trick : watch movies on Flixzone. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies recently.
@Roland Bjorn Yup, I have been using flixzone} for since december myself :)
@Roland Bjorn definitely, have been watching on Flixzone} for since december myself =)
Windows opened or closed?
Closed, Recirculate on, AC on, Heat on, Blower on high. Wait for the water to stop dripping from the AC drain. Vacuum as much water out with a shop vac first to speed the drying time.
@@EddieCarrara1 thanks, wasnt that bad, just a window left open during a rain.
@@gamervet7793 So that would be windows closed in both scenarios 😂 It's good to dry it out quick 👍
So no need to remove carpet for this??
Hi Sameer, it would be good to at least lift it to get out excess water first and leave it lifted with blocks of wood or something to dry it underneath. Let me know if you have more questions.
Hey, I have a 3 door Peugeot 207.. it rained heavily and it flooded inside due to a leak somewhere. Now every time I go around a corner I hear a sloshing sound under the car. Any fix to this?
Hi Ander, Is water visible in your trunk? The fastest way to remove water from your vehicle is a wet vac, or drill a hole in your floor so the water can drain. Don't laugh, I see it all the time, definitely not the proper procedure 🤣
@@EddieCarrara1 what does it mean if the water is in the trunk? In my car, the water is where my spare wheel compartment is. Does this mean the AC method won't work properly?
What's the music you used please?
Hi Amy, Greasy Wheels in iMovie, why? are going to use it in one of your videos?
Today i drop a whole liquid that cleans the rims in my car carpet. I just clean it with towels but still seems wet. What happen if i leave it like that? Will it smell bad later when it dry?
Hi Droneland, it probably won't smell but it may stain the carpet.
My problem the car just got the dood jet washed the inside .There are the idiots you get round here unfortunately. Hectolitres me he did when i asked him why it was wet
Hi Flicki Flak, It takes a long tome to dry the vehicle properly, sometimes 48 hours depending on weather conditions and procedure.
How long do you leave the vehicle running with the heat/ac on?
Hi Jasper, until the carpet is dry, the water leaking from the AC drain will stop dripping when the interior moisture is gone. Be sure to use the AC in recirculating mode so you're only circulating the cars cabin air and not outside air, that is the key to completely drying the car 👍, I've had to let cars idle for 24 hours sometimes. Let me know how you make out or if you have more questions.
@@EddieCarrara1❤
How to get Capet out
That would be a lot of work Renay, it usually involves removing everything from inside the car, if you can list the carpet and run the AC like I show in the video it usually takes about 12-24 hours.
Hi Eddie - was away for 2 weeks, returned to a Subaru Outback with 1-2 inches of water standing in floorboard of back passenger side on driver's side - driver's floorboard wet, but no standing water. It has been extremely hot and humid while I was gone. There is mold all over the inside of the car - doors, leather seats, leather console, carpet. My number one question: can I use a wet dry vac safely if the water likely contains mold or will it ruin the wet dry vac? Do I need a wet foam filter on the wet vac if I can use it or just go without a filter? Purchases a Ridgid 4 gallon wet dry vac - of couse it doesn't come with the wet foam filter. Any other wet dry vac you recommend? It was extremely hot and humid while I was gone - plus the day before leaving I was airing out the car (all 4 windows down) and it poured rain. I felt I had to roll up the windows because I was leaving town and it would rain while I was gone. Oye.
Hi Sharon, Use the vac without a filter, then just wipe it dry when you're done. It sounds like your car may have more issues than just water. If it's moldy you'll never get that smell out, plus all your electrical components may have issues. It may be time to upgrade to a new vehicle and avoid future problems. Let me know how you make out.
Check out this video Sharon, it may help you temporarily ruclips.net/video/-VaDBnxRbds/видео.html
@@EddieCarrara1 Hey Ed - thank you for this feedback. Yes, the sunroof drain was clogged on each side. I used the wet vac with no filter. I removed the plastic trim towards bottom frame of floorboard and lifted carpet both in front and back of driver's side. Have had 2 leaf blowers on both sides for one week now. Carpet and padding is dry in some areas, but I can't reach under the seat or gas pedal/ brake area up front. You have voiced my greatest concerns - simply the car is ruined due to possible damage to electrical system. Have a guy coming next week who says he can dry out the carpeting & padding and take care of any mold in it. Any idea if this is generally covered by comprehensive auto insurance policies?! Your videos are SUPER informative and helpful. Thank you for your great work and your time in responding.
Bob and Brad rotator
Great video but what would you recommend for the parts of the car surrounding the window and the sunroof? I went through a car wash and it leaked all over my car, floorboard is fine, but the upper parts are not! They have started to look stained so what would you recommend? Thanks
Hi John, the (factory-installed) sunroof seal will leak a little but it should leak into the sunroof drip tray. If the tray is not draining you may want to check the drains. You can find more videos on how to check the sunroof drains on my channel. Let me know if this helped and if you have any questions. Cheers🍻
Proceeded to list car for sale$$$😅
Couldn’t you just use a hair dryer?
Unfortunately Ea a hairdryer will not work.
So how long do you have to leave the vehicle running for ?
Until you don't see any water dripping from the AC drain tube. This could be from 1 - 24 hours. Keep in mind that you don't have to do it all at once.
@@EddieCarrara1 My neighbors would grab up my little Honda, and go joy riding!