Top Reasons Why You Need To Replace Water Damaged Carpets
By: 911 Water Damage Experts
If you’ve ever had to recarpet a home before, you’ll know how costly it can be. Not only do you have to pay for the carpet and underlay, but you also have to pay someone to install it, as well.
Therefore, when you find yourself with water damaged carpet, you might be tempted to dry it out and leave it as it is. But is choosing not to replace water-damaged carpet really the best decision?
You can find out below.
Do You Really Need To Replace Carpet After Water Damage?
First of all, let’s discuss why water can be so damaging to your home. After all, when you spill a glass of water on the carpet, it’s never all that much of a big deal.
The problem is that unless you have very apparent storm damage, water damage can be pretty sneaky.
A slow trickle of water can impact building materials slowly over time. Sometimes, it’s not until it ends up in quite a prominent part of your home that you realize it’s happening.
By that time, mould has had a chance to take hold, and porous building materials are often damaged beyond repair. Carpet doesn’t always need to be replaced, but the leak’s severity and how long it has been there can be the deciding factors.
Fortunately, you don’t have to make this decision yourself, as mould removal companies and experts tend to understand the best course of action when they inspect the damage for themselves.
When Should You Replace Water-Damaged Carpet?
Picture: Pixa
You don’t have to replace your carpet when you spill a glass of water on it, so when should you replace water-damaged carpet?
Once again, it comes down to how long the carpet has been wet and what your chosen mould remediation expert recommends.
As a rule, a severe leak that has led to carpet becoming wet for longer than 72 hours may be an ideal candidate for replacement. It can take just 72 hours for mould growth to begin, which means your family may be at risk of mould allergy symptoms if action isn’t taken.
A porous material like carpet can be challenging to clean once mould has set in, and removal can be your only option.
As soon as you notice a leak, act quickly. The sooner you stop the leak and get the drying process underway, the smaller the risk of complete carpet replacement being a necessity.
Water-Damaged Carpet Health Risks – What To Be Aware Of
Picture: PXFuel
Having a damp home due to wet carpet may not seem like a big deal, but it can be. Not only is wet carpet uncomfortable and damaging, but it may also lead to adverse health effects, regardless of whether mould is present.
Some studies have shown that asthma symptoms, upper respiratory illnesses, coughs, and nose and throat symptoms can all be exacerbated when living in damp homes or homes with mould.
Any standing water can also put your property at risk of increased mosquito populations, with the dampness also resulting in skin irritation.
With so many potential health risks, there’s simply no reason why you wouldn’t take action when your home has experienced a leak or storm damage.
Can You Avoid Carpet Going Mouldy After Water Damage?
Let’s say your dishwasher malfunctioned and soaked your living room carpet. You were home when it happened and were able to call a water damage expert right away.
In an alternative situation, your dishwasher malfunctioned after you turned it on for a long weekend away with friends and family. You returned home to damp carpet and a broken dishwasher.
In which of these situations would your carpet go mouldy?
It can happen in either case, but more likely in the latter. The longer you leave carpet, the more opportunities mould spores have to take hold, grow, and spread.
So, yes, you can avoid carpet going mouldy after water damage. You simply have to be proactive and call water damage or mould remediation experts as soon as you notice the leak or water.
I’ve Discovered Water-Damaged Carpets; What Do I Do?
It’s never easy coming home to discover wet carpet, especially if you have no idea what happened! You may not know what to do next, but we’ve outlined some easy steps to follow below.
Extract Water
Use a wet vacuum or a wet/dry vacuum to suck as much water out as possible. The more water you can extract from the carpet, the faster the drying process can be. Alternatively, you can hire a commercial-grade machine or bring in flood damage experts who already have all the equipment for such a job.
Ventilate The Room
Fans and dehumidifiers do an excellent job with drying and airflow, but there’s nothing quite like a cross breeze. Open as many doors and windows as you can to speed up the drying process. Drying carpet can take some time, so be prepared for some disruption for a few days.
Focus On The Smell
Dampness stinks. There are no two ways about it. Even after extracting water yourself, you may still notice an odour that lingers. This might be even more pronounced if the leak was caused by a storm or a septic and sewage overflow issue.
There are plenty of suitable odour-reducing products in your local supermarket. However, water damage restoration companies tend to have a wide variety of practical and fast-acting products that reduce odour better than most.
Is It Possible To Repair Water Damage To Carpet Yourself?
We may be a nation of DIYers, but there are some things we just shouldn’t DIY – and water damage to carpet is one of them. By the time you do your research, find all the right products for the job, and get to work, the clock has been ticking.
Remember, you have just 72 hours to start the drying process before mould starts growing and foiling your efforts. You can paint your fence and change a lightbulb, but leave carpet drying and general water damage to the experts.
If you have any questions about carpet and floor water damage feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT 24/7/365 any time all the time. We’re there when you need us!
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