From drinking, showering, to cooking, water is part of our everyday life. However, an overflowing bathtub, leaky pipe, or bad rainstorm are things nobody wants to encounter. They can cause big messes and big problems. One of which is damaged carpet.
Carpet is typically made of a combination of wool, nylon, or olefin. Wool typically doesn’t absorb water right away. It will absorb water over a long period of time, and it will absorb water vapor. Since the water vapor molecules are smaller than water molecules, it is easier for wool to absorb the vapor. Nylon is similar to wool since it has hydrophilic properties. Hydrophilic means “fear water” so nylon pushes water away making it fairly water resistant. Olefin is similar to wool and nylon; however, it dries very quickly and rarely absorbs moisture.
When picking carpet, keep these things in mind.
Picking carpet with these materials may help you avoid the hassle of carpet water damage and cleanup. Since some of these materials can still absorb water vapor and some water molecules, it’s important to pay attention to humidity levels in your home. Humidity measures the amount of water in the air. So, the higher the humidity the higher the water in the air. Consequently, the higher the humidity, the higher the chance water can get into your carpet and cause damage.
Though carpet has hydrophilic properties, water damage can still happen. Spilling a glass of water won’t do much damage; however, if flooding occurs water damage cleanup will quickly follow. Stagnant water on carpet is a mold fest waiting to happen. Within 72 hours mold can grow and spread if the conditions are right. Mold growth can lead to toxins that are dangerous to inhale. Not to mention a terrible mildew smell that will take over your home. Best thing to do is to act now!
Depending on the extent of the damage, a variety of things may need to occur to restore your carpet. Here are the steps to take when dealing with carpet damage:
Stop the water source as soon as possible. If the source is a storm, try to isolate the flooding to a certain area. Close doors or fix windows to stop the outside water from coming in. Put towels at the base of doors to stop the spread of water. If the source is coming from inside, turn off the water to the home and isolate the flooding.
Next, a combination of water damage extraction, cleanup, drying, sanitation, and restoration needs to occur. Typically, an average household does not have the adequate equipment to complete these tasks. Therefore, gaining help from a professional water damage cleanup company is required and recommended. 1st Response Restoration performs these tasks and will help with any restoration needs.
As mentioned before, mold can be harmful if not treated. Therefore, water damaged carpet must be restored or replaced. If the extent of the water damage was minimal, cleaning and sanitation will suffice to eliminate harmful mold. However, if water damage was extensive, replacing your carpet may be your best option. It is always important to consult with water damage cleanup professionals when making this decision.
Overall, water damaged carpet should be taken seriously. There are ways to avoid water damage cleanup by picking a specific type of carpet; however, water can get the best of us and cause a mess. The water damage cleanup experts at 1st Response Restoration can help cleanup or replace mold and water infested carpets. Better be safe than sorry and utilize their services!
(208) 684-0201