Carpets have been a crucial part of most homes lately. However, water damage has also been a major concern for carpet owners. The most appropriate way to deal with water damage on carpets is to clean them and appropriately have them dried.
However, whenever the damage caused by the water exceeds a certain degree, it would only make much sense if the carpet got replaced. A couple of incidents would cause water damage to one’s carpet, mainly plumbing issues and flooding. Not only is water-damaged carpet an inconvenience to its users, but also a health threat to them, for it can be a breeding ground for molds and other bacteria.
Types of Water Damage
Clean Water Damage
It is the type of damage on a carpet caused by its contact with clean water, one that contains a minimal number of contaminants in it. These waters may come from flooding caused by rainfall, broken water pipes, and even a spill caused by a person. Cleaning a carpet with water damage of this type is recommended other than replacing it.
Greywater Damage
Unlike clean water damage, its water contains a moderate amount of contaminants. A source for such water is from the discharge pipe of a dishwasher. Moderate contaminants are manageable to clean and dry, making replacement not a valid option here at most times.
Blackwater Damage
Blackwater is water mostly from sewer systems; hence it is highly contaminated. When black water settles long enough on the carpet, it makes it hard to clean, making replacement a valid option. One way to know if a carpet is suffering from water damage is when a musty, foul smell emanates from it.
Ways of Cleaning a Water Damaged Carpet
Clean Water Damage
How one would handle clean water damage on their carpets would be different from handling the black water damage. However, the process would only succeed when the homeowner follows the right procedures immediately after recognizing an issue. In cleaning a carpet with water damage, time is of much essence. Below are some of the steps one would follow when handling a carpet from clean water damage.
Extraction of Water and Carpet Drying
The process begins by freeing the carpet from any furniture found on it. Afterward, one should ensure that the carpet is free from direct contact with any other wetting agent, such as a flooded floor. If any, remove the excess water surrounding the carpet or even move the carpet to a drier surface. Afterward, the water from the carpet can get extracted using the most efficient method. A couple of drying methods can get used here, which can cause an increase in the rate of drying.
It would be best to start the drying process by opening the windows and turning the overhead fans on for maximum air circulation. A humidifier, when strategically placed, can also get used to adsorb the excess moisture in the environment. Sucking out the excess water droplets from the carpet using a vacuum would also catalyze the drying process. Removing the carpet from the floor would assist greatly in slowing down the growth of mold on it.
Padding Replacement
In most cases, padding is usually placed between the carpet and its floor. Whenever water damage occurs, it is most likely to soak the padding to a point where drying would no longer exist as an option. It is recommended that the padding gets replaced for the best results when cleaning a water-damaged carpet.
Patience
It is crucial to give the carpets enough time to dry out their moisture efficiently. Depending on the material used to make the carpet, the number of days required to dry it completely may vary. With most carpet materials taking an average of three days to dry off, heavier ones would take a longer time. If not given enough time to dry up, then the cleaning process might not turn up as a success. It is better to exceed the waiting time when drying the carpet than use it when wet.
Blackwater Damage
Blackwater, like those from a sewage system, contains many contaminants. When they get their way to one’s carpet, it makes it dirty and puts those in the household at risk of acquiring infections and other health issues such as gastrointestinal infections. Additionally, the carpet might begin growing molds on it after 24 hours of exposure if not handled promptly. Below are some of the steps one should consider when handling carpets with black water damage.
Protection and Damage Evaluation
As mentioned earlier, black water is highly contaminated, making it necessary for persons to wear protective equipment before handling it. Rubber gloves and boots together with protective eyewear would efficiently prevent one from getting into direct contact. Once protected, it may be best to evaluate the damage on the carpet. If only a section of the carpet got damaged, it might be possible to do the restoration by oneself. However, if the carpet got completely soaked, then it would be best to ask for professional carpet cleaning assistance from persons with biohazard training to handle the job for you. In extreme instances, one would get required to replace the carpet.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning a carpet with water damage starts with trying to drain as much of the black water as possible. It can effectively get done using an old towel or even a wet vacuum. It is best to try and drain the water from both sides of the carpet for maximum efficiency. After cleaning the affected area or of the whole carpet, depending on the degree of contamination, it would be best if it was left to dry out completely.
Drying
The opening of windows, turning on fans, and even the industrial dehumidifiers would boost the drying process significantly. However, leaving the carpet outside for it to get dried up naturally would also work well for an option. Cleaning carpets damaged by black water is difficult and not recommended, making its replacement the best way to handle the situation.
