When you are the unfortunate target of flood or water damage that wrecks your property you will be confronted with two choices when it comes to exactly what you should do with the carpet. Dry it out and salvage or completely replace. The age and condition of the carpet undoubtedly will be the first thing to consider.

The type of water and the length of time it is saturated will be major factors in this decision. Water leaks, spills, and floods are a regular occurrence in most areas. Instant examination regarding not only carpets but also structural components, along with quick elimination of all standing water is crucial in order to decrease and eliminate health hazards. Immediately after all standing water has been eliminated, the area needs to be appropriately dried out to avoid moisture damage or mold development.

There are 3 categories of flood water which can enter you home. The first category is Clean Water. This is sanitary water and doesn’t present health problems if rapidly eliminated.

The second category is Grey Water. This is water which is not totally clean and poses a bit of a health hazard, for example washing machine and dishwasher water. In this case the carpet can also be salvaged if cleaning and drying are done in a timely matter.

The third category is Black Water. This is grossly contaminated water which can consist of pathogens. Instances of this would be sewage, commode backflows and seawater. Black water poses great health risks and when the damage is extensive, replacement of the carpet is always the best option.

Now the length of time your carpet has been subjected to water is the next consideration. Typically carpet can hold water for about two days, but yet mold can still begin growing inside of a twenty-four hour period of time.

There are a lot of instances when a property owner attempts to remove the standing water on their own, and then neglects to provide the proper tools for completing the drying process. The floors may appear dry or feel dry to the touch. Yet it can still be extremely hard to know what amount of moisture remains inside the structure.

Elevated moisture in the environment following some sort of interior flood may also trigger secondary harm to the furnishings and personal belongings in the home. Therefore, complete drying and dehumidification is crucial. High velocity fans (minimum of two) set at floor level is going to work the best to help combat this problem. If high velocity is not an option then use as many regular household fans that you can get your hands on and set them around the circumference of the wet carpet. After the carpet feels dry, it typically takes another 24 - 48 hours for the padding underneath to dry out. Again, complete drying is critical to avoid any of the health issues that can culminate.

Keep in mind that, when in doubt, there are a multitude of water damage specialist, usually standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that are able to lend advice and services.