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Restoring Water Damaged Carpet

Water damaged carpet is a serious matter. It is not only expensive, but has the potential to be a serious health hazard. Restoring water damaged carpet should only be performed personally if the damage is caused by clean or unsanitary water, otherwise hire a professional. The following guidelines set forth how the restoration should be completed under these circumstances.

Flood

Mold, fungi, mildew or other bacteria will grow in a flooded area if left for more than 12 hours, so it is important to attend to any water damaged areas as soon as possible. First, turn off the water that is the source of the flooded area so the problem is not worsened. The padding underneath the carpet must be thrown out, as it is not salvageable.

Drying

Determine the extent of the problem and whether you can take care of it yourself, or if you need an expert to help you. You will need to lift the carpet, tear out the padding, and keep the carpet elevated with props to assist in drying the damaged area. Remove any standing water and disinfect the flooded floor area by scrubbing it thoroughly with a detergent or bleach solution.

Ventilating

Next, begin ventilating the room to reduce humidity and air in the damaged area. You can use fans or air conditioners to move the air around. After about 12 hours, your carpet should be dry, and you can replace the padding and put the carpet back in its proper place.

Mold

Carpet that has been left wet for an extended period of time has most likely begun to grow mold. If the carpet has been wet long enough to begin growing mold, fungi, mildew, or other bacteria, you should work with an expert to remedy the problem, and most likely dispose of the carpet entirely.

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