It might be a pleasant experience to go on a long drive in the rain but if your doors and windows are leaking water and making your body and feet wet, it surely becomes a huge headache.
A wet floor can be a perfect breeding ground for molds and bacteria, not to mention the possibility of getting rust in the body. So a wet floor is not only annoying but also an open invitation to health risks. Let’s take a look at how to deal with such problems.
Why is my car floor wet when it rains?
There might be numerous reasons for the wet car floor, the most prevalent of these is the installation of low-quality rubber seals in windows and windshields. A clogged drain, an improperly closed sunroof, leaking doors, and a variety of other factors might all be to blame for the wet car floor.
Table of Contents
Few reasons behind a wet car floor are discussed below –
Clogged up drain:
There are several precautions taken to get rid of the annoying leaking problem and to make sure you stay unaffected no matter what the weather conditions are outside.
The water drainage system in the car is quite an astonishing feature that deals with water splash, rainwater and keeps them from getting in but it is pretty vulnerable to dust and debris.
If not clean properly the channels could get clogged up and turn into a mess in no time. A clogged-up drain is an open invitation for the rainwater to get inside of the vehicle and create annoying soaked up floors.
Poor quality rubber seals:
Rubber seals are there to keep water away and provide a better grip on the windows, door, and windshield. But if you install a low-quality material seal then you are up for a great deal of trouble.
First of all, a low-quality seal will dry up fast, turning brittle and deforming, losing grip and efficiency. You are sure to deal with leaking water in your car if you try to save up money on the rubber seal and look for cheap products.
Rust and leakage:
If you are not properly cleaning and maintaining your car, and facing no water leakage or any other problem then you should be worried.
The water might not be leaking inside of the car but the dirty clogged up drain might be diverting the water somewhere else.
In a few months, you are sure to find rusty parts in your car’s door & body, even in the engine that is so brittle that even the metal body can’t keep the rain from getting inside.
Broken sunroof:
Broken sunroof is an obvious reason for your floors getting wet when it rains. But what if you couldn’t notice the difference, there could be a defect in the closing mechanism or a little bit of crack that is leading rainwater inside.
Why is my car floor wet when it rains driver side?
You can put the blame on all the clogged-up drains, ac and heater drain, and several other things. While raining, the driver side gets especially affected and it’s very concerning as all the mechanical and electrical controls are on the driver side.
As the driver side has the control and almost all necessary equipment installed, the proper drainage system is placed there to get rid of any water runoff.
If your driver’s side is getting wet then it is high time you check for any sign of junk build up especially on the drain and other waterways. A broken air cooler or heater can also add on an extra hurdle for making your interior watertight.
What do you do when your car floor gets wet?
To get rid of the wet car floor, you will need to identify the point of leakage first. If you are currently driving in the rain then you have no other option but to wait until reaching home.
After reaching home you need to look for any obstacle that is blocking the drainage system and get rid of it.
You also need to be aware of the rubber seal’s condition and see if it’s repairable or not, if it can be solved with a quick fix then you won’t need to completely change the rubber seal.
How to fix a wet floor in the car?
The following steps might help you to fix a wet floor in the car –
Installing better quality rubber seal:
If your Car doors, windows, and windshield are leaking water then it’s high time you think about completely changing the rubber seal.
Low-quality elastic seals dry up fast, get broken into pieces, and let the water inside your car, if you’re choosing a low-quality material just to save money then it’s gonna cost you more in the long run.
You would need to change it every now and then if you are looking for a cheap alternative.
Checking and cleaning the drains:
If you maintain a regular habit of checking the drain and other water runoff release systems of your car then you can prevent them from getting clogged up. A clogged-up drain, AC, and heater system will only add on trouble.
If those drains aren’t cleaned on a weekly or monthly basis then they will clog up pretty badly and will hold water in them. Those water will surely create rust on the body and will eventually get inside your car.
So proper maintenance is a must if you want to solve the leaking problems for good.
Getting rid of rust:
Having rust on your car body is a sure possibility of leaking water from time to time. There could be hidden rust building up in hard-to-peek places like under the car’s bonnet, near the gas paddle, or on the place where you keep your feet.
Hidden rust will affect a large portion of the body and create holes and fall apart, so water splash can easily reach the floor mats.
You can easily fix this problem if you make sure to go through proper checkups for your car on a weekly or monthly basis and fix any minor problems.
How long does it take to dry out a flooded car?
If the car engine is not affected you won’t have to worry about drying time, it might take 20 to 30 minutes to completely dry out. Sun-drying the floor mats and other accessories will prevent any mold build-up but if it’s monsoon time then you can rely on the trusty old dryer.
You can also use a vacuum to get rid of any unwanted moisture from the seat and floor.
Now in the worst-case scenario, let’s assume your engine gets flooded and not working at all then you can try this step:
For carbureted engine
- Make sure the throttle is kept fully open
- Crank the engine a few times
For injected engine
- Make sure the key is shut off
- Press the throttle for 6 to 7 minutes
- Gently let the paddle come up
- Crank the key
Why is it wet under my floor mats?
If it is wet under the floor mats then you are dealing with a hole in the body, mainly on the lower surface of the car.
If your AC and heater drain is properly cleaned from time to time then you won’t face any wet or moisture on the upper side of the mat but when it comes to the lower or the underside of the mat getting wet then it is an indicator that it is high time for some bodywork.
Your car has a hole in the body and when you are driving through any puddle it’s letting the water in and making the mat wet.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking car?
Now if the car is leaking water with a bad, broken rubber seal then it’s gonna cost you $20 to almost $250 for good quality. A good quality windshield rubber seal will cost you $150 to $200, and fixing or replacing a window rubber seal will be $80 to $130.
Now about the bodywork and rust repair, a minor repair is gonna be $50 to $100. If the rust is spread in more areas then you might have to pay $200 to $300. But if your car needs a major rust repair and bodywork then it might cost you up to $1000.
Now about the deep cleaning process, you will need to get rid of the clogged drain and other water release ways. So you can go for a professional deep cleaning costing $50 to $250 or you buy a pressure washer, and other deep cleaning accessories and do it yourself.
Final Thoughts:
The most common reason behind a wet car floor is the presence of inferior quality elastic seals in windows and windshields. An obstructed water drain, an inappropriately shut sunroof, rusty leaking door, and an assortment of different elements may all be faulted for the wet car floor.