For homeowners that live in areas where flooding is a perennial problem, dealing with water damage will not be a new experience. However, if you live in an area that is normally safe but happens to be flooded during particularly bad or freak weather conditions, or due to a burst water pipe, you may not know what you need to do in order to minimize the damage to your property and everything inside it. For you, and other people like you, we have written this guide. In it, we focus on how you can best deal with water damaged carpets, firstly because we are experts in flood restoration for carpeting in Broomfield and secondly because the carpets are always the first casualty in any flood. Situated on the floor as they are, they will bear the brunt of any water ingress into your home.
If you have any questions after reading our guide, we invite you to call and speak to a member of our team during normal business hours. We are always happy to provide assistance and advice whenever possible.
Our Top Tips for Dealing with Water Damage to Carpets: What to Do and What Not to Do
We recommend you work your way carefully through the following dos and don’ts and call us or another carpet repair specialist if you are unsure about any of the points we make. The reason we suggest taking this matter so seriously is because of the additional damage that your property may suffer if you do not deal with water damaged carpets swiftly and effectively. As well as the damage to the carpets themselves, you could be faced with rampant mold growth and other problems that stem from excessive water seepage into the floor and crawl space beneath your carpeting. Waterlogged carpeting can also make a very attractive home for many other potentially dangerous microorganisms that may pose a risk to your health and the health of other family members.
The Dos of Dealing with Water Damaged Carpets
Here are the things you should definitely do if your carpets are damaged in a flood:
- Turn off Your Electricity – The first thing you need to do before entering your home and assessing the damage to your carpets is to turn off the electricity. With all that water sloshing around, you could easily suffer a fatal shock if you do not follow this advice. During heavy storms, domestic wiring can easily be damaged and the combination of standing water and loose live wires is a very dangerous one.
- Confirm the Cause of the Flood – If it was due to freak weather conditions then you can skip this step as it will already be obvious. However, if the cause is not yet known, you will need to identify it so that you can take immediate action to stop any further water damage. The most common cause of flooding in residential properties is water leaks from the plumbing so you will need to inspect your pipework or ask a professional to do it for you. If it turns out that a burst pipe is responsible for the flooding, you will, of course, need to turn off the water supply to your home straight away and make arrangements for the pipe in question to be repaired or replaced. If the flooding is due to a natural disaster such as a nearby river that has burst its banks, you can use sandbags to try to limit any further water ingress.
- Remove Water – Use buckets, mops, towels and anything else you have to hand, to remove as much excess water as possible. The quicker you get rid of the water the easier it will be for a carpet repair team to restore your carpeting to its former condition.
- Open All Windows and Doors – You need to create as much airflow around your home as possible. You can do this by opening all the windows and doors, as well as turning on your ceiling fans if it is safe to restore the electricity supply. The greater the airflow the faster your carpeting will dry out.
- Call for Help – If you need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to call for it immediately.
Once you have taken the necessary steps to contain the situation as best you can, we recommend calling a flood restoration specialist such as ourselves.
The Don’ts of Dealing with Water Damaged Carpets
The don’ts are just as important as the dos when you’re dealing with water damage to carpets so first of all: don’t skip this section!
- Try to Rush the Drying Process – If your carpets are not thoroughly dry before you move back in, you could be left battling mold and other issues that arise in damp properties.
- Try to Restore Your Own Carpets – If you’re not trained, you could do more harm than good.
- Forget Your Rugs – Even if your floors are not carpeted, you will still need to take care of any rugs that are present in your home when it is flooded.
If you need any more guidance or you would like our Broomfield carpet repair team to visit your property, please do not hesitate to call or message us now. We have helped hundreds of people in the area to restore their carpeting after flooding and would be very happy to offer you the same service.