Should Carpet be Replaced after Water Damage?

You went on a vacation or holiday, spent a great time with your friends and family members, and when coming back home, you find a disaster waiting for you, water flooding everywhere. It’s the worst thing that can happen to your carpet. But depending on the type of leaking water, the amount of it, and how long it’s been there, it could still be possible to save your wonderful carpet! And should carpet be replaced after water damage?

When confronted with such a problem, the first thing that springs to mind is a natural disaster like the ones shown in movies. However, this issue can be caused by aging infrastructure, a damaged pipe, or fractures in your wall or roof. The sooner you locate the water source and stop it from leaking, the better it will be for your carpet and home’s furniture.

Should carpet be replaced after water damage? When should I replace the carpet after water damage?

If the carpet has been wet for longer than 48 hours, you should consider replacing it. According to some research, mold takes between 24-48 hours to develop and no more than 72 hours to spread. Allowing this latter to take hold would not only damage your carpet, but it will also be hazardous to your health and safety.

Identifying the source of the flooding water is also necessary in order to know how to react. For example, suppose the water is coming from a toilet backflow, floodwater, or any water containing chemical waste. In that case, the water is contaminated and poses a serious threat to everyone living in the house.

On the other hand, if the flooding water is coming from a safe source, such as the water you drink or rain, you may be able to salvage your carpet as long as it hasn’t been wet enough for mold to grow.

We understand how tempting it is to try to dry the carpet in order to retain it. But we’re not talking about money here; we’re talking about your own safety. In addition, regardless of how expensive your carpet is, you should always prioritize your safety first.

How to prevent carpet mold after water damage?

The critical factor for saving your carpet in this situation is quickness. That’s right, the faster you are in acting, the better chance you have to save your carpet. If you manage to intervene before the mold starts growing, then you are more likely to save your carpet. Here are some tips that you can follow to take all the water off your carpet and protect it from mold invasion.

Extract all the water

Using a wet/dry vacuum can be super handy in such a situation. For those who are not familiar with it, unlike conventional vacuums, this specific type of vacuum allows you to not only take off dirt and grime but also liquid spills, like water, drinks, and so on.

Extracting all the water quickly gives your carpet enough time to dry, which can prevent mold from growing in your carpet.

Take your carpet out to dry

If you’ve got a big backyard and were lucky enough to have a sunny day during the incident, why not take your carpet outside? When your carpet is exposed to direct sunlight, it dries faster than when it is kept inside your home.

Doing so at the early stage of the incident might prevent carpet mold from growing as it won’t have enough time to call his family to invade you.

Ventilate the room

If, for whatever reason, you can’t take your carpet outside, we recommend that you ensure adequate ventilation within your home, particularly in the area where your damaged carpet is located.

Providing enough air to the carpet just after the water damage allows it to dry quickly and, therefore, increases the chance of saving it.

Call professional cleaning company

If you are doubtful about your ability to prevent mold growth, we strongly advise you to schedule an inspection as soon as possible. Do not attempt to save your carpet on your own just for the sake of saving money. Again, before you worry about your wallet, make sure you’re not in any danger.

If you are able to schedule an inspection soon after the water damage, there is a good possibility that your valuable carpet will be salvaged.

Do not waste your money treating your carpet if it isn’t worth it

Yes, some carpets aren’t worth saving. If the damaged carpet is inexpensive, nearing the end of its useful life owing to being too old, or has long since lost its luster, it is best to replace it with a new one. It simply doesn’t worth the expense of saving.

Do not try to save the carpet yourself, nor call a professional team to handle this task since the outcome that you will get from your carpet won’t justify the cost. Don’t try to be too sensitive. It’s not because it was your first carpet that means it’s worth saving. It doesn’t work like that.

Ok, ok, I’ll calm down, but honestly, just be aware of how dangerous it can be when looking to save a carpet that has the potential to endanger you or your family members.

How to eliminate the odor left by water damage?

You handled everything, and you managed to save your carpet, yet, you noticed an unusual odor. You guess it right. It’s the odor left by water damage. In order to take off that odor, you can simply rely on trusty pantry cleaners. Yep, the time has come to bring out the vinegar and baking soda to maintain the attractiveness of your home.

Simply combine one cup of vinegar with two cups of water in a mixing bowl, then pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the entire carpet. After that, sprinkle baking soda over the damaged carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up.

Conclusion

We hope that after reading the “should carpet be replaced after water damage” article, you have come to a conclusion that will help you decide whether you should save or replace your carpet. We would highly appreciate it if you let us know your decision in the comment section and what you think about the information we brought you.

Besides, in order to help you act as quickly as possible, we recommend you take a look at our recent post regarding how to get rid of carpet moths.