A flooded home is a major inconvenience, especially if the water damage occurs in a finished part of the house like a finished basement or living space with carpets and upholstery. If you have experienced a home flood and have to deal with water-logged carpets, ServiceMaster of Baltimore wants you to know what to do to protect your home’s value and your family’s health.
Risks of Water Damaged Carpets to Home Value and Your Health
Carpet and upholstery is fibrous, which makes it comfortable on your feet and attractive in your home, but this also means that it absorbs and holds on to water. A small flood or small area of water damage doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire carpet needs to be thrown away, but it does need to be quickly taken care of to prevent mildew, mold, and the odors that result.
Damp and humid spaces are already an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth, and a flooded room adds more moisture that makes it easy for bacteria and fungal growth. Several varieties of mold are toxic to humans and pets, which can result in allergic reactions or serious health problems. Mold spreads easily through moist air, so it is key to prevent it from contaminating your home’s HVAC system and causing problems throughout the rest of the home.
Can I Deal With Water Damaged Carpets On My Own?
A small area of water damage likely can be dealt with on your own, but for large floods, you should call a specialist like ServiceMaster of Baltimore to evaluate the water damage to ensure the carpet is properly cleaned and sanitized and the floor underneath is stable.
If you need to deal with water damaged carpets on your own, time is of the essence. The first step you should take in this situation is assessing the damage, both the extent of the flood and the type of water that is covering your carpet. If the water is from a storm or any sanitary source, your carpet can most likely be salvaged. In the case that it’s unsanitary black water, there can be deeper issues. Either way, you may want to call a professional to extract the water from your carpet.
The next step of the process is to ensure the carpet is dry. You should get some large fans and keep them blowing in the room with the carpet to ensure that it’s dry and that air is circulating well in the area. After about 36 hours, you should do another assessment of your carpet to see whether it needs any additional work. Also, ensure that you use a dehumidifier during this process so you can stop mold from growing.
After your carpet has been sufficiently dried, it needs to be steam cleaned and deodorized. Water damage can cause issues with mold and mildew so it’s important to make sure you clean your carpet well. Also, make sure that you replace the padding under your carpet if there was any there before.
Restore Water Damaged Carpets With ServiceMaster of Baltimore
If you’ve been hit by water damage, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can help professionally restore any damaged areas. If you just have questions about disaster prevention, let us know too. Being properly prepared is essential for your safety and well-being.
