Factors Required To Save a Carpet After a Flood

12/16/2021 (Permalink)

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Factors To Consider When Trying To Save A Carpet After A Flood

Any time your home in Greenlake, WA, floods, whether from a storm or a pipe break, your carpet is in danger of being compromised. The fibers tend to hold on to dirt and water, which can make restoration difficult and secondary damage likely. That doesn’t automatically mean you have to spring for new flooring, though. If the right conditions exist, you may be able to salvage it, cutting down on your repair costs.

What Kind of Water Caused the Flood?

The cleanliness of the water is the main factor that determines whether items in the room can be salvaged. When it comes to floodwater, there are three categories of contamination:

• Category 1 – Clean water, usually from a faulty supply line or pipe break
  
• Category 2 – Gray water, usually from an appliance overflow
  
• Category 3 – Black water, usually from storm flooding or sewer water

If the water’s contamination level falls under Category 2 or 3, your carpet needs to be replaced. The water is likely to contain harmful bacteria that would be difficult, if not impossible, to remove during the restoration process. If, however, it is clean water, a thorough drying should suffice.

How Long Has It Been Wet?

Another issue water remediation specialists consider when deciding if materials should be replaced is the length of time it has been saturated. If you call the professionals as soon as the flood occurs, they are likely to get to the problem in time to salvage as much as possible. Mold loves moisture, and it can start to grow as soon as 24 hours after water damage occurs. The longer you wait, the more you’re going to have to replace as the result of secondary damage.

If you have a pipe break in your home and your floors are flooded, call in the experts quickly. The sooner they fix the problem, the higher the probability that you can keep your carpet.