Water Damage Drying Log Template (Free PDF)

What goes on a water damage drying log?

A drying log records, for each chamber and each visit, the temperature and relative humidity outside, in an unaffected area, inside the chamber, and at the dehumidifier exhaust — converted to grains per pound (GPP) — plus grain depression, the equipment running, and notes on any changes. Paired with a moisture map of material readings, it documents that drying was monitored and effective.

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Download Water damage drying log (PDF)

Letter size, landscape, print-ready. Free to use on your jobs — no sign-up, no email required.

Preview of the Water damage drying log template

What's on the template

Job, property, date of loss, chamber, water category and class
Drying goal (GPP or dew point) and the meter used
Date, time, and technician for every visit
Outside, unaffected-area, chamber, and dehumidifier-exhaust °F / RH% and GPP
Grain depression (chamber GPP minus exhaust GPP)
Air movers, dehumidifiers, and air scrubbers on site that day
Notes on equipment added, removed, or moved

How to fill it in

Fill in one sheet per drying chamber at the first visit, with category, class, and your drying goal.
Take the outside and unaffected-area readings first — they are your baseline and your dry reference.
Read the chamber and the dehumidifier exhaust, convert each to GPP, and subtract for grain depression.
Record equipment counts every visit; equipment-days on the invoice should match this column.
Visit at about the same time each day with the same meter, and note every setup change.

Need the numbers? Use the free gpp calculator, grain depression calculator and drying goal calculator. Industry practice per IICRC S500, 5th edition (2021) — verify against the current edition.

Frequently asked questions

How often should drying readings be taken?

At least daily, at about the same time and with the same meter, until the drying goal is met. Readings that stop improving are the signal to change the setup.

What is grain depression?

Grain depression is the difference between the GPP of the air entering a dehumidifier (the chamber) and the air leaving it (the exhaust). It shows how much moisture the dehumidifier is pulling out of the air.

Is a drying log enough documentation?

No. Under the S500 5th edition, drying performance is judged by environmental control plus falling material moisture readings, so keep a moisture map alongside the drying log, and photos of the setup.

Can I use this template for insurance claims?

Yes — it is a generic record of readings and equipment. Carriers and reviewers price mitigation from documentation, so equipment days on your invoice should trace back to this log.