If not dried quickly, a water leak or flooding can leave your carpet in a soggy mess for several days. Whatever the cause, you must dry your carpet as soon as possible to limit the potential for mould and prevent damage to the walls and sub-flooring.
Drying your carpet after water damage is something you can do on your own, although it depends on the extent of the damage. However, it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible to minimise the risk of mould and restore your water-damaged carpet to the way it was before.
Steps for carpet drying:
Here are some necessary carpet drying steps that you can do on your own:
Pump out the standing water:
You must remove and pump out all the standing water to increase the chances of rescuing your carpet and limit the overall damage.
Suck up the excess water from the carpet:
You can use a dry/wet vacuum to suck up as much water from the carpet as possible, leaving it damp.
Remove the carpet from the floor:
Doing this will improve the airflow and significantly reduce the chances of mould growth.
Dispose of the padding of the carpet:
Depending upon the source of the water, you may need to remove the carpet padding. So, remove the padding if necessary and throw it away.
Dry the carpeting and the flooring:
For drying the carpet and the flooring, you can use air movers and dehumidifiers to fasten the process and dry the area.
Sanitise the flooring:
Since there is still a chance of mould and odour problems in the future, you need to sanitise the floor area with the help of any disinfectant.
Install new carpet padding:
Before resting down your carpet, you need to install new carpet paddings. They are readily available and do not cost a lot.
Reinstall the carpet:
After you finish the above-mentioned steps, you can reinstall your carpet on the floor. Check of tack stripes first and replace the sections accordingly.
Things to consider before drying your wet carpet
Before you carry out the steps mentioned above, here are some things you might want to consider before attempting a dry-cleaning run on your carpet:
The age of your carpet
If your carpet has already been damaged in the past or is very old, it is unlikely that you will be able to save it after flooding due to delamination. This is because the secondary backing deteriorates and separates from the primary backing. Additional damage in the past has likely weakened the backing as well.
Source of the water
The water source is also an essential factor that decides how easy or sturdy it will be to clean and dry your carpet. Drying the carpet will be easy if the water is from a supply line or any other clean source. However, if the floodwater contains contaminants and pollutants, it will be advisable to dispose them off.
Presence of mould
Mould thrives in a wet environment, and your damp carpet provides the perfect breeding ground. If your carpet is not cleaned and dried quickly, the mould will likely grow under, in, or on it. The source of water also determines the possibility of mould.
What should you do before drying your wet carpet?
Before attempting to dry the carpet on your own, you need to take these steps before starting:
Fixing the water source
It is futile if you are trying to dry your carpet without fixing the water leak. Whether you wait for the floodwaters to subside or shut off your main water supply, cleaning and drying your carpet will be much easier.
Dispose of the items damaged by the water.
It would help to dump things that cannot be dried fast or have become useless in the trash. This includes magazines, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and other clutters.
Remove the furniture
If you have furniture sitting over your wet carpet, it will stain your carpet and also slow down the drying process. Additionally, it might also ruin those items too. Hence, clear the room and move these items to another safe and dry spot.
While you can clean and dry wet carpets on your own, you should acquire the help of our water damage carpet drying team. We have all the specialised equipment and necessary training to efficiently and quickly complete the job.