Water damage, even at lower levels, can be a cause for replacing carpet after a flood. While there are ways to restore your carpet after significant water exposure, you can’t always get all of it, and in these cases, you may want to consider replacing all your carpet in one go.
You should know that it is crucial to consider replacing carpet after a flood if it has been wet for more than 72 hours. At this time, the water could have already made its way into the added layer of padding under your carpet, which is difficult to clean and ultimately leads to mold.
The Types of Flood Water
You should also consider the severity of the flood when deciding to replace your carpet. If you speak to water restoration experts, they’ll break down flood water into three categories.
Category 1 flood water comes from a clean source, like a broken water line inside your home.
Category 2 flood water carries more contaminants and comes from sources like an overflowing toilet or sink.
Category 3 flood water carries high levels of contaminants and comes from sources like a broken sewer line.
Suffice it to say, the more contaminated the water, the more you should look into replacing your carpet after a flood — this is because most carpet and carpet padding can’t handle the amount of cleaning it would take to tackle the high levels of contaminants.
Know Your Time Frames
Knowing how long your carpet has been wet after a flood is an excellent way to determine if it needs to be replaced. We’ve already touched on the 72-hour guideline, but there are other factors you should know about.
- The longer clean water sits, the more it becomes contaminated with disease-producing microorganisms. Clean water can become contaminated after sitting for just one day, and after two days, it will require extensive disinfection.
- Carpet that has been wet for more than a day is also at higher risk of developing mildew. Even expert carpet cleaners can have difficulty removing mold from a carpet completely, and there is no guarantee that the mold won’t reappear after cleaning — this requires you to test the carpet periodically.
Why Not Just Dry the Carpet?
Drying your carpet with high-powered fans is excellent if you’re talking about a spill. But when cleaning up after a flood, there’s just too much water that has already started to cause more damage than you can clean up before it gets worse.
Additionally, when we refer back to the different flood categories, cleaning up contaminated water won’t do much for the bacteria that have already begun to spread.
Avoiding Water Damage When Possible
There are times when you may be able to save your carpet before the water damage gets too bad. If you can spot a broken pipe, for example, you should do what you can to stop water from reaching your carpet.
One good way to do this is by shutting off the water in your home until you get the pipe fixed by a professional. Containing the flooding is the next thing that you should do. Try and stop the water from spreading into other areas of your house by using towels to soak up as much water as possible.
You should also avoid using fans that could push harmful bacteria from contaminated water into other areas of your home if you know that the flooding falls under category 2 or 3 floodings. If you’re unsure, it’s best to stick to containing the flood and ask a professional for advice on using fans later.
Instead of fans, you can open windows to let in fresh are and dry the carpet naturally while keeping doors closed as much as possible to contain the flooding.
What are the Benefits of Replacing Carpet After a Flood?
If you’re still tempted to try drying your carpet after a flood, it’s essential to know the benefits of replacing it.
First, a moldy carpet can affect your health if you don’t address it. These molds can make their way into the air, which can be especially harmful to people with allergies or respiratory illnesses.
Additionally, wet and moldy carpets will give off an unpleasant smell, making it difficult to enjoy spending time in your home. This water damage can also affect the padding underneath and lead to an uneven and uncomfortable carpet.
Replacing carpet after a flood is the best way to avoid these issues, helping you keep your family safe from mold and comfortable in their home.
Some Commonly Asked Questions
Water-damaged carpet can be a more complex issue than you may think. Here are some commonly asked questions regarding carpets after a flooding accident.
Why does carpet cleaning produce a weird smell?
Foul odors coming from the carpet are usually signs of mold or mildew. If, after cleaning your carpet, you still smell a strange odor, you should get a professional cleaner to check it out.
What is the difference between mold remediation and mold cleanup?
Mold remediation is the process of monitoring an area for factors that could lead to mold growth, while cleanup is the actual process of removing mold after it forms. Mold remediation helps stop mold from growing and spreading throughout the home after cleanup.
Why does my carpet appear lighter after a cleanup?
Professional restoration removes layers of dirt and grime that have settled on the carpet over time. If you notice that your carpet is lighter after a professional cleaning, know that it’s not because the cleaning damaged your carpet but because it has been restored to its original color.
Restore Your Home with Utah Disaster Cleanup
Replacing carpet after a flood is vital in restoring your home, but you should address more extensive damage first. If you need the help of restoration experts after your home has taken substantial damage, give Utah Disaster Cleanup a call.
With over 20 years of experience, we can help restore your home after disaster strikes and leave it in better condition than we found it for you and your family. Reach out today!
