It’s estimated that water damage accounts for nearly 24% of all home insurance claims. Many people think that their homes are only at risk if they live in a flood zone.
However, the reality is that water damage can occur from a variety of different sources within your home. One of the first things that water typically damages is your floor.
And, unfortunately, certain floor types like carpets can get damaged often instantaneously. If you’re dealing with a water damaged carpet you might be wondering if it’s salvageable.
So is restoration possible with carpets? And why is restoration so important after water damage? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can find the help you need as soon as possible.
What Causes Water Damage?
There are a lot of different things that can cause water damage to carpets. Here in Florida, one big one is flooding and rain from hurricanes. However, the water doesn’t always come from outside of a flooded home.
Indeed, sometimes it can come from inside from things like:
- Damaged pipes
- Appliances like washing machines or dishwashers
- Clogged drains
- HVAC units
- Sump pump issues
- Structural damage
The longer you wait with water damage, the worse it’s going to be. So if you notice any of these issues you must start the water damage restoration process as soon as you can.
What Are the Different Parts of the Restoration Process?
The first part of the restoration process involves an assessment. The professional will stop the source of the water if it hasn’t already been done.
Then, they’ll do a safety check. In the event of standing water, they need to be certain that there isn’t an electrical hazard. They might also want to remove furniture from the flooded carpet.
Next comes extraction. Any standing water needs to be removed with things like wet vacs. Unfortunately, this isn’t going to remove the water that’s seeped into the carpet.
To do that, you’ll need ventilation from things like open windows and fans. Dehumidifiers are also important for removing any water that’s in the air. However, just because the water is gone doesn’t mean that it’s restored.
Next comes the water damage cleanup. This is important to remove any lingering bacteria. If the water damage is significant enough, you might also need mold remediation help.
The professional you contact will walk you through the specifics of how they approach restoration. However, it will likely involve some variation of this process.
Why Is Restoring a Water-Damaged Carpet So Important
The main reason it’s important to restore water damage is because of the health risk. If your carpet is damp for too long it’s going to develop mildew and other types of mold.
Besides smelling slightly unpleasant, mold also poses a serious health risk. Some of the potential health effects of mold include:
- Stuffy noses
- Sore throats
- Coughing
- Skin rashes
If someone is immuno-compromised it can even lead to chronic lung disease. Preventing mold isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. If the water damage is from sewage you also could get stomach sickness from being around it.
Besides the health factors, there’s also the damage to your carpet. Water-damaged carpets wrinkle and stretch which can make them look unsightly. Worse, if the water goes past your carpet and into the foundation of your house it can cause serious structural damage.
Restoring your water-damaged carpet can prevent costly repairs down the line. And remember that time is of the essence. You shouldn’t wait more than a day or two to contact a professional if you can help.
When Should a Carpet Be Replaced Instead of Restored?
There are multiple factors you’ll need to consider when deciding if you should restore the carpet or just replace it entirely. The first factor is the specific type of water damage. Water damage generally falls into two main categories: clean water and contaminated water.
Clean water occurs when a pipe bursts or a supply line leaks. Contaminated water comes from sewage leaks or floods. This type of water contains dangerous bacteria that can cause a variety of health problems.
If the water is contaminated it’s going to be a lot harder to restore than clear water damage. The second factor is the extent of the damage. Water that’s spread over the entire floor for days is going to be a lot harder to restore than a small amount of damage that’s localized to a specific area for only a few hours.
The last factor is the type of carpet. Carpets with natural fibers are much more susceptible to water damage than synthetic ones. As such, you should usually get a professional’s opinion before deciding whether you should restore or replace the carpet.
How to Find the Best Water Damage Repair Company
There are a lot of businesses that claim to offer water damage repair and restoration services. Sadly, not all of them are created equal. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for when choosing a company.
First, experience is important. The professional needs to be able to identify whether or not the water damage represents a health hazard. The more years they have, the better they are at doing this.
Second, check their online reviews. This will give you a better idea of how they approach customer service. Lastly, make sure they’re insured. Water damage repair can be dangerous work.
The potential for injury or sickness can be higher than other contracting work so they must be covered by workers’ compensation and general liability.
Need Help With Water Damaged Carpets?
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the importance of restoring a water damaged carpet. Here at Big Easy Restoration, we know how stressful it can be when water damage occurs in your home.
Unfortunately, this can get even more stressful if you’re dealing with a company that overcharges you or doesn’t even fix the problem. That’s why we’re serious about providing a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
Not only will we treat your home with respect, but we’ll walk you through the best possible solutions. So if you’re ready for help, get in touch with us today.
