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Water damage from flooding is not uncommon in areas where seasonal rains and storms occur. If you are a property owner in one such area then flooding and water damage to property is something that you probably would have experienced. For obvious reasons, the first area to get affected by any kind of water damage is your flooring. In homes with carpeted floorings, water damage can be especially problematic. In addition to having your carpeting soaked, the bigger danger is from the kind of seepage that can take place below the carpet and the subsequent mold growth due to dampness and moisture.
It may not sound great, but a carpet that has sustained water damage can quickly become a breeding ground for all kinds of organic germination most of which poses a direct threat to both life and property.
Do’s of Dealing with Carpet Damage
Here are some of the things you need to do to dry out your carpeting.
- Before trying to identify the source and or stepping into the water, make sure you cut off the electricity. This is especially true if the source of water damage is flooding. You don’t want to step into standing water that may or may not have a live wire.
- Discover or identify the source of water/flooding. If the water damage is due to a leakage or broken plumbing, then shut off all water supply, repair the damaged pipe or plumbing first.
- If the cause of flooding is because of a natural phenomenon such as a storm or rains, then try to block the source using sandbags, or any kind of boarding that will hold till help arrives.
- Once the water source has been plugged, remove excess water. If the level is low you could use towels and buckets to soak the water and or try mopping.
- After the excess water has been removed, let the air in. Open windows and allow air to move freely, turn on your ceiling fans and use humidifiers to eliminate moisture.
- If the damage is extensive and you are unable to handle the situation, then call for help.
- Contact a professional water restoration company. They have the know-how, they have the equipment, and they are trained specifically to deal with carpet flooding and the kind of problems arising from it.
Don’ts of Dealing with Carpet Damage
Here are some of the things you must absolutely avoid in case you are dealing with water damaged carpeting.
- Carry out incomplete drying of the carpets. If dampness settles in, then you are looking at potential mold growth issues.
- Attempt any kind of water damaged carpet restoration on your own if you are not trained for the job or if you don’t have any prior knowledge of dealing with water damaged carpets.
- Opt for crude DIY approach or home remedies especially if the advice is from sources that are not trustworthy.
- If your flooring is not carpeted, but you do use single carpets and rugs on your floors, don’t ignore or write off the problem.
Note – Simply rolling the carpet or rug and putting it away in your attic or basement without properly drying it can lead to mold growth in the place where they are stored. Again, once mold takes roots, it does not take long for it to spread to other parts of your home.