When excess amounts of water get into your house and doesn’t get addressed immediately, it can cause costly damage to your property’s structural elements and furnishings.
Among the most vulnerable items in your home are your carpets and rugs. Due to their placement and material, carpets and rugs sustain damage and can contribute to further flooring damage because they readily soak up moisture.
Because carpeting and rugs can be expensive and provide numerous benefits, you may be wondering if a water-damaged one can still be salvaged or thrown out. This post shares five valuable tips and things to consider if you’re undecided about whether or not to throw out your water-damaged carpets and rugs. Read on to learn more.
Ask The Experts
The easiest way to find out if a water-damaged carpet is worth salvaging or requires replacement is to call the professionals like Water Damage Specialist, a reliable water damage restoration company in Australia.
In general, the experts can assess water-damaged carpets and rugs and provide professional recommendations on whether or not you should throw them out. If a water-damaged carpet or rug can still be saved, the water damage restoration specialist can efficiently restore and repair them immediately.
These professionals have the proper training, experience, and necessary tools and equipment to save water-damaged carpets and rugs, providing rapid cleaning and restoration.
Check How Extensive Is The Damage
A small amount of water from a leaking pipe differs from a flooded carpet due to multiple burst pipes. The more water soaked on your carpet or rug, the wetter the carpet backing, subfloor, and underlying structures get.
As such, it gets more time-consuming and expensive to dry and restore the materials completely. Please note that your carpeting or rug may look dry on the surface; nonetheless, wet carpet pads and floorboards can create the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Consider Water Type
The type of water that occurs can significantly impact whether you should throw out your carpet and rug or restore it.
Generally, three types of water damage occur:
Category 1
Category 1 refers to damage caused by a clean water source. This water source contains little to no contaminants, so it doesn’t represent a significant health problem when it comes into contact with it. Examples of Category 1 water damage come from rainwater and broken supply pipe.
Generally, carpets, rugs, and other personal belongings affected by Category 1 water damage can be cleaned and restored.
Category 2
Category 2 damage refers to visibly contaminated water that could lead to minor health issues if contacted or ingested. Also known as gray water, Category 2 water damage typically comes from washing machines, bath water, or toilet overflow. With Category 2 water damage, carpets and rugs can still be repaired and restored.
Category 3
Category 3 refers to blackwater damage or water that contains dangerous pollutants, harmful bacteria, and toxic contaminants. Generally, blackwater can be from natural disasters that cause flooding, sewage backups, or any contaminated ground surface water.
When your carpets and rugs are soaked in blackwater, you should get rid of them immediately. Carpet water damage caused by Category 3 water makes repair and restoration impossible since extensive harm has already been done and dangerous contaminants have already soaked the materials. It’s better for everyone’s well-being and safety to throw away carpeting affected by black water.
Ask Yourself How Long Has The Carpet Or Rug Been Soaked
Did you know it only takes one to two days for mildew and mold to grow on damp surfaces? Carpeting and rugs can begin to have a musty smell and flaunt dark spots. Once this occurs, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate mold and mildew completely.
Even if you try to disinfect the carpeting material, prolonged exposure can cause mold to still thrive and return eventually. This is particularly true if graywater contaminates your carpeting and rug material. Most homeowners replace their rugs and carpets when mold is already present.
Carpet Material
The carpeting material can generally influence whether or not you should throw it away. Some high-quality carpeting and rug material aren’t the same after water damage. Of course, if you have antique or expensive throw rugs damaged by water, a specialist can go the extra mile to restore them. Nevertheless, there’s no guarantee that it’ll look the same.
Also, if your carpeting is already worn out, water damage can cause irreversible damage. In this case, picking out a new carpet or rug is the way to go.
Takeaway
In most homes, carpets and rugs offer numerous benefits, from anchoring space and providing aesthetic value to insulating the floor and ensuring a warm welcome for your feet. Unfortunately, they can be easily damaged, especially when water is involved.
That said, by weighing in the abovementioned considerations, you can make a well-informed and sound decision on what to do about your water-damaged floor furnishing.
