If you’ve experienced flooding in any capacity, you might be wondering, “Should carpet be replaced after water damage?” Any type of excess water in your home requires professional water clean up. Any flooding or water damages can potentially to cause hazardous conditions and costly repairs for homeowners.
When it comes to treating wet carpet, the need for replacement depends on numerous factors. However, the general rule of thumb suggests replacement if the carpet hasn’t received treatment in 72 hours.
Instead of wondering how to appropriately clean water from your carpeting, rely on a trusted water damage restoration company in Los Angeles that knows how to remove excess water and provide high-quality water damage restoration services.
Continue reading below to explore essential safety tips and answers to all of your water damage related questions.
When Should You Replace Water Damaged Carpets?
If your home suffers water damages that saturate your carpets, then time is a critical factor. The faster you can intervene, the better
Experts recommend replacing the carpet after 72 hours of exposure. So, if you have a wet carpet for 72 hours or more, then it’s time to call in professionals. The reason for this time frame is because mold and mildew begin spreading after 72 hours.
However, you should note that every water leak and flooding situation is unique. Some carpets only experience minor leaks that don’t require complete replacement, while others may experience heavy saturated flooding that seeps through multiple layers, requiring a full replacement.
Dangers of Excess Water
There are plenty of concerns that arise when homeowners experience flooding and water damage to carpets. The most common problem that homeowners experience is mold growth, which can lead to negative health symptoms.
In addition to health problems, water damage can create structural problems that further damage your home. Here are some of the most common risks associated with flooding and water-drenched carpeting in your home:
- Potential mold and mildew growth
- Headaches and sinus problems
- Exasperated asthma symptoms
- Stagnant water could turn into contaminated water
- Structural damage to organic materials
- Creates an ideal environment for mosquitoes and other pests
- Damaged subfloors and foundation
All of these symptoms can arise if you neglect your wet carpet. To best prevent further damages, hire a water mediation professional to get the job done efficiently.
Safety Tips for Homeowners with Water Damage
If you experience flooding that saturates your carpets, then there are some important safety tips you should remember for a safe and effective removal.
Hire Professionals to Complete Water Extraction
When dealing with flooding, it’s best to hire a professional water remediation company. While you can attempt to handle a water damaged carpet, it’s not the best idea because you may not thoroughly extract all the water—neglecting to do so can lead to hazardous conditions.
Use a Dehumidifier and Ventilation
If your home has experienced any level of flooding, it’s important to utilize a dehumidifier and appropriately ventilate the area. By using a dehumidifier, you can reduce the relative humidity in the room while ventilating helps to dry out the excess moisture left over post-flood.
Check Every Layer of Carpeting
Another important safety tip to keep in mind is ensuring every layer of carpeting has undergone inspection. Typically, there are flooring layers underneath the top layer of carpeting, like the carpet padding and subflooring. A thorough inspection of each layer of the carpeting guarantees your foundation stays dry.
Utilize Sanitizing Solutions
A final safety tip is to use sanitizing solutions on any areas that may have mold or mildew growth. These commercial-grade solutions actively kill mold and mildew on most surfaces that experience flood exposure.
Common Mistakes While Treating Wet Carpets
Unfortunately, there are some interventions homeowners take that can make the damage to your carpets even worse. Avoid these common mistakes to prevent worsening your current water damages:
Never Use a Standard Vacuum
Water and electricity do not mix, so always be cautious when attempting to vacuum up any water. Never use a standard vacuum; instead, use a wet/dry shop vacuum to safely remove liquids. Better yet, hire a professional to use a commercial-grade extractor for the best results.
Don’t DIY Clean Mold
Baking soda, bleach, and vinegar work great for certain jobs, but it does not effectively remove harmful mold, mildew, and other contaminants that may be lingering under your carpets. Furthermore, scrubbing mold and mildew can result in the particles becoming airborne. If this occurs, the mold spores can travel to other areas of your home and begin growing beyond the wet carpeting.
Not Finding the Source
The biggest mistake that homeowners make is not finding the source of the water leak. If you don’t find the source of the water and get repairs to fix the leak immediately, then you’re at risk for further damage.
Most often, water damages come from a broken pipe, weak spot in the joints, or outdoor flooding. However, whatever the reason, it’s vital to have the leak inspected and repaired so that you can avoid future damages.
With professional help, you can find the source of the leaks and receive high-quality mold remediation services which restore your carpeting and environment to the proper indoor air levels.
Choose Professionals for Thorough Water Removal Services
Don’t let your water damaged wood floor or carpets ruin other parts of your home. Instead, take control of your home by hiring a professional team of emergency restoration experts. At Restorerz Emergency Services, we provide emergency mold and water remediation services to get rid of your water damage as soon as possible.
Our trained team of experts knows how to extract and treat your property with the care it deserves guaranteeing comprehensive services that get rid of the flooding the first time.
Instead of wondering “Should carpet be replaced after water damage,” let professionals inspect your water damaged carpet for the best results. Call Restorerz Emergency Services at (323) 826-5598 for emergency water remediation and to learn more about our services today.