A flooded home is a distressing sight for any homeowner to see upon their return. As soon as the initial shock of a flood subsides, a homeowner must assess what belongings can be salvaged and what will need to be replaced. Replacement of carpets may be necessary if only an inch or two of water entered the home. If your carpet gets wet, you should probably just replace it rather than risk trying to dry it out.
The Many Kinds of Flood Water
Experts in Wet Carpet Melbourne after water damage restoration classify flood water according to its source.The water in a Category 1 flood is from a clean source, such as a burst water pipe that supplies the home with water. Category 2 flood water is more contaminated and may have come from a source such as a sewage backup. Water in a Category 3 flood zone is severely contaminated from a source such as a broken sewer pipe.
The greater the level of contamination in the flood water, the more rigorous the disinfection process that must be used before the item can be used again. Carpets typically can't take the abuse of a thorough cleaning if doused in water that's heavily polluted. Regardless of the origin of the water, the carpet pad is almost always ruined and must be replaced.
How Long the Carpet Sat In Water
The length of time the carpet has been submerged in water is also a factor in determining if it may be salvaged or needs to be replaced. There are a few reasons why this is significant:
The longer water remains, the greater the risk of it becoming polluted with disease-causing microorganisms. After only a few days, the purified water coming into the house through the supply line will be tainted. More intensive disinfecting is needed if the carpet has been wet for more than 48 hours, and it may not be salvageable.
Second, mold and mildew can start to grow on carpet if it's been wet for more than 24 hours. Even for experts, it can be challenging to entirely remove them from carpet. After cleaning, there is no assurance that mold or mildew won't return; therefore, the carpet should be inspected regularly.
Methods of Cleaning
Even if the water used was clean, the carpet would still need to be shampooed, disinfected, and dried thoroughly before it could be used again around humans or animals. It's possible that the carpet will fade, stain, or stretch during the procedure, depending on its quality.To finish the cleaning, the carpet must be removed as well. Before putting carpet back down, the pad should be replaced and the subfloor should be cleaned and allowed to dry completely.
It doesn't matter what kind of flood water or how long it was exposed for, homeowners should seriously consider replacing their carpet. Carpet restoration can be expensive and may not be worth it if it compromises your health in the long run. Carpets that have been damaged by water should be replaced, and luckily there are plenty of high-quality, reasonably priced options available today for example carpet dryer hire
Conclusion
Your carpet's padding may have been damaged if a lot of water soaked through it. If you are unsure whether or not your carpet padding needs to be replaced, a professional carpet cleaner can help you. Again, damp carpet padding can contribute to the spread of mold and an unhealthy environment in your home.