Carpets remain a popular décor choice for homeowners as they immediately transform your flooring to a warm and plush surface underfoot. And when it comes to carpet maintenance, most people will vacuum their carpets routinely, and possible have them professionally cleaned on an annual basis. However, not many people ever think about water damage as a potential risk to their carpets.

Hence, you may not be equipped with the knowledge on how to address this situation if you ever experience it. It should be noted that flood damage is not exceptionally rare. From burst pipes to a leaking faucet in the home, there is always the chance of water damage to your carpet. Below is a concise list of steps that can help you mitigate flood damage and prevent permanent disrepair of your carpet.

Step 1: Empty the room

Flood damage is not just a massive risk to your carpeting. It can also pose a host of potential problems to your furniture, books, electronics and anything else that is in the affected room. Furthermore, it can be challenging to safely remove the wet carpet and prevent further damage to it if there are bulky items on top of it. Therefore, it is essential to empty out the room post haste for the protection of your belongings as well as the carpet fibres.

Step 2: Water extraction

Do not make the error of merely removing the carpeting from the room and leaving outside to air out. Depending on the severity of the flooding coupled with the types of fibres, your carpet could have absorbed gallons of water. Hence, once you have full accessibility to the carpeting, it is imperative to engage in water extraction.

To perform this task, you will require a wet vacuum with powerful suction features to eliminate the moisture. If you do not own this equipment, it is advisable to hire professional carpet cleaners that will be armed with the right machinery. Take note that the longer the moisture is left to seep into the carpet, the higher the chances of permanent damage to the under-padding of the rug.

Step 3: Dehumidification of the carpet

Once water extraction has been carried out, you should then have your carpet dehumidified. This procedure is typically carried out professionally as it requires heavy-duty fans to dry both the fibres and underpadding of the carpet thoroughly. It is crucial not to miss this step as even a minimal amount of moisture in your carpet exponentially increases the chances of a mould infestation.