Flooding in your home is never an easy situation to take care of, and water damage to any carpeted area must be dealt with immediately. If flooded carpet hasn’t been properly dried after 24 to 48 hours, the remaining moisture creates the ideal environment for mold and harmful bacteria to grow. This can lead to a whole slew of serious health problems, such as respiratory disorders, so it’s extremely important to deal with the affected areas as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to minimize water damage damage and mold growth.
- Move all furniture and other objects into a dry room to avoid water absorption.
- Find the water source to determine if it contains sewage. If it does not, you must remove any standing water with a water removal vacuum. Be sure to use extreme caution when operating electronic equipment in a wet environment.
- After all standing water is removed, pull back the carpet’s edge to see if the carpet pad is wet. If so, you will have to remove both the carpeting and pad to dry and treat the underlayment. Hint: The pad is probably wet if it makes a “squish” sound.
- Set up fans to start circulating air and dehumidifiers to start removing humidity.
- Sanitize all affected hard surfaces with soap and water. Then, use a solution of 1 ½ cups of bleach per gallon of water to wipe down surfaces.
The decision to replace your flooded carpet and pad depends on the magnitude of the flood and what kind of water it is. If you have any uncertainties about whether or not the water is contaminated, contact the professionals at Plymouth Carpet Services. We offer quality emergency water damage mitigation services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Contact us today for your free estimate!