Should carpet be replaced after water damage?

If you have carpet in your home that has recently been damaged by water, what can you do? Is it possible to save your carpet after excessive flooding? The Carpet Cleaning Company is here with the answers. If you’d like to learn more, keep reading this blog!

There are three types of floodwater when it comes to carpet

The type of flooding that has created your carpet water damage will determine what your next steps need to be. Depending on the scenario, you may not have to replace your carpet at all. 

Below are the three main types of floodwater that affect carpet:

• Clean Water or Rainwater. This “Category 1” carpet situation is salvageable, so long as you can treat the wet carpet within 24-48 hours. 
• Greywater. This is considered to be a “Category 2,” and is a little bit trickier to remedy. The grey in the water is an indicator of contaminants, and swallowing or touching this water can cause illness. Greywater flooding usually comes from dishwashers, washing machines, fish tanks, sump pump issues, and toilet overflow. You will have to replace the padding under your carpet in this situation, but the carpet itself can still be saved if it is treated within 24-48 hours. 
• Blackwater. This is a “Category 3” situation. Blackwater is highly contaminated with pathogens and other microbial menaces. This damaging flood water usually comes from sewage, seawater, rivers, and weather events like hurricanes and typhoons. If your carpet has experienced a Category 3 flood, no matter how quickly you treat it, it will not be salvageable. 

How to Treat Water Damaged Carpet 

If you have decided to treat your carpet after a Category 1 or Category 2 flood, there are five steps you can follow to ensure that your carpet is completely restored:



1. Remove all water. Do what you can to remove as much water as possible from your carpet after the flooding has stopped. Towels are great, but a wet-dry vacuum is even better. 
2. Completely air out the room. Even if your carpet is dry, that doesn’t mean the room will be. Use a dehumidifier to dry out the room and remove water from the environment.
3. Sanitize and dry your carpets. Your best tools for this step are an air mover, carpet-drying fan, dehumidifier, and steamer. Make sure to get your carpets as dry as possible, and then sanitize them with your steamer. Keep the carpet-drying fan and dehumidifier running during this process.
4. Sanitize the rest of the room. Mold is still a risk if you don’t treat the walls, baseboards, and any exposed flooring. Soap, water, and a little elbow grease is all you need, but if you want to go the extra mile, you can use a mix of bleach and water.
5. Look for water-damaged furniture. If there was any furniture in the room when your carpet got flooded, you should check these items for water damage. Dry, sanitize, and air out your furniture just as you did your carpet, and put a dehumidifier near these items to eliminate mold risks. If your furniture has seen too much water damage and can’t be saved, you’ll need to replace it.

Is it better to completely replace carpet after water damage?

This depends on what kind of flooding there was, and how much work you’re willing to put into restoration. If your carpet was damaged by Category 3 floodwater, then you will have to replace it no matter what. However, if the damage was from Category 1 or 2 floodwater, your carpet is worth saving. Pulling up damaged carpet and installing new flooring is expensive and time-consuming. Although putting in the work to save your carpet from water damage can seem daunting, it’s worth it in the end.

Unfortunately, even with DIY remediation efforts, there is still always a chance of mold in carpet from water damage. You may have noticed that there are a lot of tools and equipment you need in order to dry out and sanitize your carpet so that you don’t get mold. What can you do if you want to save your carpet, but lack the funds or time to do the restoring yourself?

This is when you call in a professional.

Water Damage Restoration Services from The Carpet Cleaning Company

If you’re wondering how to get rid of carpet odor from water damage, a water restoration company like The Carpet Cleaning Company will already have all of the equipment needed to dry, clean, sanitize, and otherwise treat your water-damaged carpet. 

These carpet cleaners have plenty of experience about how to repair water-damaged carpet, and can effectively save your carpet. The Carpet Cleaning Company has the best equipment in the industry, and is up for the task of removing water from your carpets and preventing mold and mildew. 

If you have recently experienced water damage in your carpet, call The Carpet Cleaning Company immediately. Even if your carpet has been affected by Category 1 floodwater, this can quickly turn into a sour situation if left unchecked.