Flooding and Carpets

Wet carpets can encourage mold growth. (Photo Credits)

Flooding automatically brings about carpet damage. And usually homeowners feel helpless when they cannot even lift the carpet because it is too heavy because it already soaked in the flood waters.

The Institute for Restoration Cleaning and Certification advises homeowners to seek professional help in case their home carpeting came into contact with flood waters.

“Mold can begin to grow if the water is left standing for long. The experienced technician will come out and assess the damage and determine whether or not the carpet can be salvaged. There are a number of factors that go into deciding this. One of the factors to consider is the source of the water. Is it clean and pure, or did sewage get mixed in during the incident? If the water contains harmful bacteria and is allowed to sit for an extended period of time, carpeting may need to be replaced. Only a trained technician can accurately assess the damage and determine what steps need to be taken. Water damage to your carpet is a frustrating situation. To ensure peace of mind, contact a certified technician that can handle this type of situation and get things back to normal.”

Read their whole advice on dealing with flooded carpets here.

Professional Help is Needed

Service Ratings Website Angie’s List has the same advice for homeowners. San Diego, CA

“Water damage can easily be hidden underneath rugs or carpet, so be sure to give your home a thorough inspection if you suspect water damage. Cleaning water-soaked carpets and floors is difficult under any conditions, but in the aftermath of a storm or flood, contamination by mud, silt, sewage and mildew, can compound the problem. The Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification recommends that in such cases, a certified mold restoration service provider should evaluate water damage and remove mold.”

Take a look at the whole article here.

The website Do It Yourself meantime came up with a photo instructional guidelines meant to teach homeowners on what to do when flooding strikes the home carpet. “If you have decided to proceed with repairing or replacing your damaged carpet and you have determined that the wet carpet needs to be disinfected, make a solution consisting of 1-gallon of clean water with 2-tablespoons of liquid bleach. If you have furniture sitting on the carpet, remove it so that your floor area is open. Use the solution to scrub the contaminated carpet. Use a box cutter or utility knife to cut through the carpet and padding around the contaminated area. Lift the carpet and remove the padding.”

The continuation of this post can be found here.

The earlier a homeowner deals with a flooded carpet the better the chances that something can be done to salvage it