Can I Save My Carpet and Carpet Pads After Flooding?
Water damage can affect several parts of a home, including the walls, ceiling, and flooring, especially the carpets and carpet pads. After flooding, one of the first questions homeowners ask is if they can save their carpets and carpet pads from water damage.
Austin Fire and Flood is the area’s premier water damage restoration company. Fully licensed and insured, the company has several years of experience renovating and mitigating fire and flood damage from all sources. Today, the team is here to talk about how to save carpets and carpet pads after flooding.
Generally speaking, homeowners may be able to save the carpets and pads if they have been wet for less than 48 hours depending on the category of water damage. If they have held water for more than two days, mold may have formed, and it may be impossible to restore them to their original condition. A professional water damage restoration company can often restore carpets with proper cleaning and mold remediation.
Carpet pads are more difficult to save than carpets. Carpet pads don’t hold up well to water damage, and even minor water damage can cause them to fall apart. So in many cases, homeowners can save their carpets but not the underlying pads.
Water Types and Carpet Cleaning
The type of floodwater also determines whether you can salvage carpets and pads after flood water damage. The EPA designates floodwater categories depending on their source and contamination level.
Category I
Category I water refers to clean water from a drinkable source with no contaminants. Common sources of category I water include rainwater, broken pipes, or sinks. This kind of water poses the fewest health risks and is relatively easy to clean, but it can still significantly damage the carpet and degrade into Category II water if left alone. Carpet padding may be salvageable with this type of water damage.
Category II
Category II water or greywater contains contaminants that can make a person sick if they ingest it. Contaminated sources of Category II water include dishwashers, washing machines, sump pumps, and toilet water without solid matter. Category II water on carpets is more destructive and requires sanitizing and drying, and may not be salvageable. Carpet padding will not be salvageable with this type of water damage.
Category III
Category III water or blackwater is the most dangerous and includes contaminated water from sources such as sewage lines, rivers, oceans, toilet backflows with solid matter, and industrial water sources. Category III water poses an extreme health hazard and will make it nearly impossible to salvage a carpet unless it is immediately removed and treated. Carpet padding is not salvageable in this category.
Tips to Mitigate Carpet Damage after Flooding
Water damage is frustrating, but there are a few things homeowners can do to mitigate damage before calling a professional water damage restoration company:
- Locate the source of water and turn off the water to stop its flow.
- Open windows to allow airflow into the affected room if weather permits.
- Pull the carpet off the floor and hang it outside to dry if it is safe to do so and weather is permitting.
- Make sure to sanitize the floorboards before reinstalling the carpet.
Water Damage Restoration Company
No matter the scope of the damage, it’s a good idea to have professional help. Austin Fire and Flood can help salvage carpets and carpet pads from water damage. Homeowners who require water damage restoration in Austin can contact the company online or call (512) 912-6814.
