Water damage to carpets is a very common occurrence, and one that causes a whole lot of grief. Unfortunately, there's no standardized procedure for dealing with this pesky situation. However, there are steps you can take to minimize how much permanent damage is done. The key of course is to reach out to a professional
water damage restoration company like AIRCARE ENVIRONMENTAL. Before we go that far however, we first want to look at some other steps.
To Replace Or Not To Replace
It’s tempting to just give up and replace carpet. However, this isn’t always necessary. Carpet can often be salvaged, but you need to make sure you do the following:
- Turn off the water supply in your home.
- Avoid walking on the carpet.
- Remove any and all furniture and/or furnishings
- Begin the process of water extraction and removal as soon as possible.
Professionals usually need two to three hours to get out to your home. There is plenty you can do in the meantime to get the process rolling.
Ideally, you should separate the carpet from the attached tack strip. Discard the padding, raise the carpet and use fans and/or any other methods to expedite the drying process. The last one is really important. Carpet padding soaks up moisture like a sponge. It must be discarded, no matter what!
Dab dry towels on the carpet to help soak up more moisture. Take it outside if it’s not glued down. This is especially useful it’s summer.