Emergency Water Damage Removal From Carpeted Floors
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Osmund Aft
Osmund Aft is a writer of Water Damage stories for Babylon, NY Water Damage Restoration and Great Neck, NY water damage restoration By Osmund Aft
Published on 10/26/2008
When flooding occurs in your house, water removal is a priority. Well-protected and non-porous floors are easier to clean. A good mop or a rug can usually do the job. Water removal from carpets though is a different ballgame.
When flooding occurs in your house, water removal is a priority. Well-protected and non-porous floors are easier to clean. A good mop or a rug can usually do the job. Water removal from carpets though is a different ballgame. It takes a greater amount of effort and a greater amount of expertise.
When water damages our carpets, it's usually a big deal. This is especially true if we have grown quite attached to a particular design or make, or of the carpet is really expensive. Some carpets we consider as irreplaceable, like if its part of a family heirloom piece or a memento from a much treasured travel.
Water removal from carpets goes beyond sentimental reasons. It also goes beyond aesthetic reasons. There are serious health hazards that go with water damaged carpets.
Carpets are excellent water absorbers. When flooding occurs, expect carpets to soak up all the liquid around it. If it has not been aired or dried properly, if water removal efforts are insufficient, the carpets can be the home of tons of microorganisms, mold and fungi. When this happens, the carpet becomes a health hazard. Actually depending on the quality of spilt water, carpets can still be considered as health hazards even if the carpet dries.
Also, because carpets are great water absorbers, they concentrate the water to wherever they happen to be located. This might result in the water easily seeping the floor underneath, even destroying quality wood or concrete. As such, water removal is a priority. If a carpet had been soaked for more than 5 hours, it is best to check immediately on the floor underneath.
One of the best ways of water removal for carpets is to dry it in direct sunlight. If it's clean water that soaked your carpet, direct sunlight can be enough to remove considerable germs and microorganisms. If drying by sunlight is not possible, airing is the second best option. Airing though takes a bit of time, especially for carpets of high fiber counts.
There are those who recommend that water removal be done through a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner may be advisable for to remove debris after the drying process but there is very little it can contribute for water removal. The heat in a vacuum is not sufficient to address to dry carpets. You would just be exerting so much effort for minimal results.
You may need to disinfect your carpets after it got soaked and thankfully there are now options available on the market to disinfect carpets without having to wash it. You can check these "dry-disinfectant" options for your added safety.
If you are uncertain whether a carpet is worth saving, it is best to consult a professional. The same goes if damage is more significant than spilt clean water. Some specialty services offer stain removal and restoration. It wouldn't hurt to consult those who have worked in the business for a long time.
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When water damages our carpets, it's usually a big deal. This is especially true if we have grown quite attached to a particular design or make, or of the carpet is really expensive. Some carpets we consider as irreplaceable, like if its part of a family heirloom piece or a memento from a much treasured travel.
Water removal from carpets goes beyond sentimental reasons. It also goes beyond aesthetic reasons. There are serious health hazards that go with water damaged carpets.
Carpets are excellent water absorbers. When flooding occurs, expect carpets to soak up all the liquid around it. If it has not been aired or dried properly, if water removal efforts are insufficient, the carpets can be the home of tons of microorganisms, mold and fungi. When this happens, the carpet becomes a health hazard. Actually depending on the quality of spilt water, carpets can still be considered as health hazards even if the carpet dries.
Also, because carpets are great water absorbers, they concentrate the water to wherever they happen to be located. This might result in the water easily seeping the floor underneath, even destroying quality wood or concrete. As such, water removal is a priority. If a carpet had been soaked for more than 5 hours, it is best to check immediately on the floor underneath.
One of the best ways of water removal for carpets is to dry it in direct sunlight. If it's clean water that soaked your carpet, direct sunlight can be enough to remove considerable germs and microorganisms. If drying by sunlight is not possible, airing is the second best option. Airing though takes a bit of time, especially for carpets of high fiber counts.
There are those who recommend that water removal be done through a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner may be advisable for to remove debris after the drying process but there is very little it can contribute for water removal. The heat in a vacuum is not sufficient to address to dry carpets. You would just be exerting so much effort for minimal results.
You may need to disinfect your carpets after it got soaked and thankfully there are now options available on the market to disinfect carpets without having to wash it. You can check these "dry-disinfectant" options for your added safety.
If you are uncertain whether a carpet is worth saving, it is best to consult a professional. The same goes if damage is more significant than spilt clean water. Some specialty services offer stain removal and restoration. It wouldn't hurt to consult those who have worked in the business for a long time.
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