How to Seize the Disastrous Effects of Water Damage in Carpets
Flood or fire causes devastating water damage especially to your carpets. These are inevitable events that destroy the quality and looks of your precious investment. Carpet fibers as well as the underneath pads absorb significant amount of water or liquid. This eventually leads to damages such as buildup of mold and mildew, fungi, spores, and other dangerous pollutants. Carpet restoration after water damage is an important task. Entrust it to the professionals instead of doing the task on your own.
Troubleshoot the Water Damage Effects
One of the top reasons why you need carpet experts in water damage restoration is because they have the knowledge, training, and technology to do the job. The most important step to counter the effects of water damage on your carpet is through troubleshooting.
What happens when you troubleshoot?
The first thing to do is determine the type of water you are dealing with. There are 3 essential categories of water damage based on the water type that affects your carpet and home in general:
Category 1 – Clean Water
Water in this group does not pose any health risks or threats to humans and other occupants of the property. The water possibly comes from broken appliances, sink overflows, or leaking pipes. Water is sanitary and is not likely contaminated with bacteria and other harmful pollutants. Water damage from sanitary source is oftentimes restorable.
Category 2 – Gray Water
This water classification is considered contaminated. Water source includes toilet overflows or dishwashers, seepage, and broken sump pumps. It means the water damage is potentially dangerous or hazardous to your health. Moreover, carpets that are damaged with Category 2 water should be replaced due to threats of containing microorganisms.
Category 3 – Black Water
The water in this category is unsanitary and contains bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that cause ailments. There are numerous sources of black water such as standing water, sewage backup and flood. Black water-damaged carpets need replacement right away in order to avoid future contamination.
What are the Classes of Water Damage?
Aside from the type of water, it is also imperative to know the extent or class of water damage. This vital information determines the kind of water damage repair necessary to solve the problem.
Class 1 – Least Harmful
This form of damage is easy to repair and restore. For instance, the carpet materials absorb a minimal amount of water. This type of situation requires easy and non-extensive water damage repair that some people prefer a DIY solution. However, if your carpet is too expensive and precious to take risks, make sure you hire carpet specialists to do the job.
Class 2 – Potentially Risky
The second class of water damage includes fast rate of evaporation. Cushions and carpets are highly, potentially damaged. Thus, it also needs more aggressive and advanced water damage repair solutions since the restoration is quite difficult to handle on your own.
Class 3 – Highly Damaged
This category has the fastest evaporation rate. Water source usually includes overhead sources or broken sprinklers. The damaged water source results to soaked carpets as well as soaked furniture and walls. The situation is too harmful that moving the rest of the stuffs in the room is necessary.
Class 4 – Extremely Hazardous
Water damage in this category does not only involve carpets and other small pieces of furniture and accessories. Special water removal procedures and water restoration is a must. The extreme damage also affects plaster, concrete, and hardwood floors.
Molds: The Health Risks of Water Damaged Carpets
Water damaged carpets are not just eye sores. Extreme damages result to mold buildup. Molds produce toxic substances, allergens, and irritants. Sensitive individuals adversely react to touching or inhaling molds or mold spores. Fever-type symptoms like red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and skin rashes are just few of the allergic responses to molds. Carpets are at risk of mold growth especially when water damage is unaddressed.
Water in carpets creates the best environment for molds to grow and thrive. Area rugs and wall to wall carpets provide breeding grounds for molds especially wet or damp surfaces. There are salient indicators of mold growth and buildup that all carpet owners must know.
How to identify mold in carpets?
Molds are rarely visible on the carpet surface, particularly in severe damages. There are identifiable instances of mold growth and presence that needs to be addressed as soon as possible:
- Visible Growth. Carpets with visible mold growth are not restorable or salvageable. These are cases when your rug must be disposed and replaced immediately. Professional carpet technicians inspect the carpet on both sides for mold growth.
- Wedding Padding Underneath. Wet padding that is moist and damp from condensation are highly at risk of mold growth. Padding and the carpet fibers that remain moist for a longer period of time are the breeding ground for mold and mildew buildup.
- Odors and Stains. One of the many indicators of mold growth is the stench and stain present on the carpet fibers. Expert carpet cleaners not only get rid of the water damage and deodorize the surface. They also take samples and send them for analysis in order to determine mold presence and growth.
- Carpets in the Basement. Basement carpets are most susceptible to flood and other water damage. Basements and similar areas have high humidity level and wide temperature changes that produce condensation. These are the environments that molds are most likely to grow, reproduce, and spread.
Methods for Water Damage Removal from Carpets
Efficient carpet restoration from water damage takes a lot of time, proper techniques, and resources. Water damage in carpets eventually destroys the rug, become eye sores, and poses numerous life-threatening health risks. Flood, fire, and other accidents potentially cause water damage. However, there are also helpful and effective methods in order to remove water damage and restore your carpet to its pristine condition:
1. Properly and Promptly Dry the Carpet
Address the water damage as soon as you possibly can. Take the carpet outside and dry it to prevent mold growth. A successful carpet cleanup requires substantial air circulation. It also needs the best equipment in order to efficiently dry out. Industrial dehumidifiers and fans help speed up the entire drying process. Make sure you set up multiple heavy duty fans and dehumidifiers inside the affected room. You can also simply open the windows if the weather is sunny and dry outside.
What do you do if you don’t have industrial grade fans and dehumidifiers?
Simple electric fans will do if you don’t have access to industrial equipment. However, make sure that you have more than 2 fans and dehumidifiers to do the job. Arrange them around the room in order to ensure proper air flow. Continue using the fans and dehumidifiers until the carpets are dry or for 24 to 48 hours. Remove the padding if soaked wet since it is quite impossible to clean or salvage this carpet accessory.
2. Effective Shampooing Makes a Difference
Commercial carpet shampoos do the job but make sure you have the right cleaning solutions for the type of carpet you are dealing with. Use a sponge and thoroughly rub it on a small portion of the rug. A light circular motion of the stiff bristled brush cleans deeply soiled carpets. Rinse the carpet multiple times, using clean water. Change the dirty water and get rid of the water from the sponge. This will weaken the carpet backing.
What happens after shampooing?
Dry out the carpet after cleaning and shampooing. Choose a warm dry place where you can flatly lay out the carpets. Use a fan in order to speed up the process. The carpet must be thoroughly dried out. Make sure that the carpet is completely dry from the surface to the base of the carpet fiber. Read the manufacturer instructions before you shampoo the carpet on your own as doing it wrong could shrink the rug. That is exactly why you must also hire a professional carpet cleaner just to be extra sure.
3. Keep the Carpet Out of Reach When Being Dried
Isolate the wet carpet and dry it out without contact with furniture and other stuffs. Remove the furniture, appliances, and everything on top of the damp carpet. Wood furniture should not touch or have contact with the carpet. Wet carpets are vulnerable to stains or dyes and wood furniture may cause extensive staining. Wood furniture damage may also occur if the pieces absorb water from the wet rug.
What are other things to avoid during the drying process?
Do not walk on the damp carpet to prevent staining the rug and other further damages. Delamination is a process that causes the separation of glue backing from the carpet fibers. You aggravate carpet delamination when you step on the rug during the drying process. Speed up the drying process with the use of dehumidifiers and industrial fans. Carpet cleaning specialists have heavy powered equipment such as fans and dehumidifiers to restore water damaged carpets and avoid the effects of delamination.
4. Use Powerful Chemical Cleansers for Water Damage
Concentrated and powerful chemical solutions remove water damage due to their special formulation. These cleansers also get rid of fungi, mildew, mold, spores, and other dangerous allergens and pollutants from the carpet. Formulated solutions also kill bacteria and microorganisms that result to secondary water damage. Initially check the manufacturer’s instruction as to the ideal chemical cleanser for your carpet. This helps you determine the safest and most effective chemical solution for water damage problems.
What are the other roles of chemical cleansers?
On top of getting rid of water damage on your carpet, chemical solutions also function as disinfectants and deodorizers. These cleansers restore areas with non-physical to water damages in your home. Hire a professional carpet cleaning company for security purposes. Take note that these chemicals are powerful, potent, and potentially dangerous when inhaled. Expert carpet cleaners have the training and safety gears to handle carpet cleaning chemicals with efficiency.
5. Reduce Indoor Humidity
Once there is a recent flood or other water damage incidences in your home or commercial building, make sure you install dehumidifiers right away. Damp and wet carpets are the ideal breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and other pollutants. Reduce indoor humidity in order to avoid mold growth. Dehumidifiers help control air moisture and deprive mold spores the water and moist they need in order to grow and develop into molds. A 30% to 60% humidity level is acceptable for indoors.
How to find the best carpet dehumidifier?
There are commercial grade dehumidifiers available in the market. You can also find industrial fans and driers that work for water damaged carpets. It is easy to rend industrial fans and commercial dehumidifiers out there. However, the best option is to hire professional carpet cleaners. These service providers have their own technology and equipment for carpet drying. It is more convenient and hassle-free rather than lease the bulky and heavy equipment and use them on your own.
6. Buy Top Quality Carpet Padding
One of the most prone parts of the carpet to water damage is the padding. This accessory easily gets wet as it is located underneath the carpet. It absorbs water and becomes susceptible to all types of water damage. There are cheaper carpet padding options and there are high quality pieces that are strongly resistant to water and absorption.
What to look for in carpet padding?
Although more expensive than ordinary padding, this accessory is often antimicrobial. Rubber-slab padding is solid and does not easily absorb water. It is designed with properties that prevent mold growth. It is the ideal carpet accessory for areas that are at high risk of floods, water damage, and high humidity levels.
7. Avoid Standing Water in Carpeted Areas
Areas such as the bathroom and basement are most prone to standing water. Carpets that are exposed to this situation for an extended period of time easily get damaged. Standing water due to spills or leaks should be regularly dried and cleaned. Once the carpet is exposed to standing water, immediately clean the rug and remove it from the area. Bring it out to dry from the carpet fibers to the carpet padding.
What if the carpet has been exposed to stagnant water longer?
The only viable solution to prolonged exposure to standing water is to immediately replace your carpet. Heavily damaged carpets are already susceptible to contaminants such as mold and mildew. Make sure you contact a professional carpet cleaner first in order to determine the extent of the damage. They can tell you if your carpet could be salvaged or it is beyond restoration.
8. When All Else Fails, Call in the Pros
Nothing beats the experts in terms of removing water damages on carpets. Extreme situations and severe damages on your carpet call for the assistance of professional carpet cleaners, nothing less. The good news is that there are numerous carpet cleaning companies available today. These are trained, licensed, and insured professionals that handle all types of water damage for different types of carpets.
What are the things to look for in carpet cleaning specialists?
A lot of carpet cleaning companies offer different service packages and this could leave you confused as to which company to hire. Use the following criteria to help you choose the best carpet cleaner in the market:
- Length of Years in Service. Businesses with years of serving their clientele have the experience and expertise in their field. Although most new companies offer promising solutions, it is always safer and better to choose a company with a longer and untainted track record.
- Modern Carpet Cleaning Technology. One of the best indicators of a reputable carpet specialist is their innovative equipment and cleaning machines. Hire professional cleaners with upgraded tools for carpet cleaning and drying out water damaged rugs.
- Quality Customer Service. Choose carpet experts that have proven customer service and loyalty. Check out the feedbacks and reviews from previous and current clients. Word of mouth is an effective way of knowing if the company takes care of their customers or otherwise.
- Competitive Prices. Different carpet cleaning companies have their own rates and prices. Compare their pricing and see which one suits your available allocated budget. Take note that cheaper prices do not necessarily mean good results though. Make sure you choose a company with reasonable service rates and the best quality results.
- Professional, Insured, and Courteous Staff. Licensed and highly trained carpet cleaners handle your water damaged carpets with the utmost care. They are also insured so that you are protected from unexpected expenses and costs during the carpet cleaning process.
Water damage is one of the many culprits that put your precious carpets at risk. Know the most effective and practical ways to restore your carpet from water damage. Most importantly, hire expert carpet cleaning specialists with proven results for the most extreme situations. Consult with a reliable carpet cleaner today!
