Best Practices for Handling Water Damaged Carpet
A sippy cup of juice that leaks. A glass of water knocked over from the coffee table. A coffee cup that takes a tumble. We’ve all been there…most likely several times. When it comes to these kinds of spills in your carpeted living space, sopping up a bit of liquid doesn’t take more than a kitchen towel, some cleaner, and a little blotting to dry up the affected area. But what about when the job requires more than a singular towel? When a pipe bursts, a bathtub overflows, or floodwater turns your carpet into one big soggy mess? Read on for some tips on how to best manage water damaged carpets.
Address the source. Before anything else, it’s important to assess where the water is coming from. Is the water coming from a source that could contain toxins, such as wastewater or floodwater? If the water is coming from a leaking pipe, has the water been turned off?
Considering these questions will help give you clarity on if it’s even safe to try to dry the carpets on your own. Water is divided into categories based on source and safety. Carpet affected by category one “clean” water sources such as broken supply lines are generally considered safe to handle. However, water from categories two and three are both considered hazardous and unsafe to deal with. Category two water is described as “gray water,” which contains potentially harmful microorganisms. This water may come from a used toilet or the wastewater from a dishwasher. Category three water is also known as “black water” and includes sewage water or floodwater. If your carpets have been affected by water from categories two or three, call a professional water extraction service to handle the cleanup for you.
Pull up the padding. No matter how quickly you catch water damaged carpets, if you have padding underneath your carpet it will need to be replaced. Carpet padding acts like a gigantic sponge when it finds itself in contact with large amounts of water and there is no effective way to dry the padding and prevent mold growth. Luckily, carpet padding is relatively inexpensive to replace. Pull back the wet carpet, and remove the padding underneath with gloves. Then you lay the carpet back into place and start the drying process.
Begin drying the carpet as soon as possible. After addressing the source of the water, speed is everything when attempting to save carpeting. Mold can begin growing within a day of water damage, so time is of the essence. The best guideline is to try to have the carpeting completely dry within 48 hours of water damage occurring. The best way to do this yourself is with a rented carpet cleaning machine or a wet/dry vacuum, although this can be time-consuming.
Use reinforcements. Help speed along the drying process and prevent mold with fans and dehumidifiers to pull excess moisture out of the room as quickly as possible. Calling an expert in water extraction, like us, can prevent costly repairs to your home and personal property. We work directly with your insurance company. You have nothing to lose…give us a call.
Prevent mold. Even if you begin addressing water-soaked carpets immediately, its best to apply an antimicrobial cleaner at the end of your cleaning process. Calling a professional early can prevent mold from growing.
Don’t be afraid to bring in help. Whether your water damage comes from category two/three sources or just an overwhelming amount of “clean” water, remember that you can call professionals like Water Extraction Experts 24/7. Our team of certified technicians has dealt with every type of water-related emergency and has the proper equipment to clean, sanitize, and help prevent damage to your property as efficiently as possible.
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Hiring a professional water extraction team like Water Extraction Experts can give you peace of mind that your home is in good hands. We work directly with your insurance!
We are equipped to guide you through the process of protecting your property and getting you back to your life as soon as possible.
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