One of the most difficult situations facing any homeowner is knowing what to do with carpeting if you sustain water damage. There is no standard for dealing with every flooding situation. Every crisis must be considered based on the circumstances of the event.

A few questions can help you determine the next steps to take to return your carpet to its pre-flood status.

Sanitary Flooding
Sanitary water comes from a pure water supply, without chemicals or contamination mixed in. While many homeowners opt to replace carpeting in all situations, you can return your carpet to pre-flood status with a few necessary steps.

Keep traffic to a minimum until the carpet is completely dry. The carpet back is weakened when wet and can easily degrade with stress. That should go away once it’s dried. Remove all furniture or other items that can stain or damage the carpet during the drying process. Extract all excess water – a restoration company can help with this task. If you fail to do extraction in the right way,  it can lead to several types of bacteria, including mold and mildew. Often the best route is to take up the carpet and replace the padding underneath to ensure a fresh start once the carpet is dry.

Unsanitary Flooding
If the water is identified as unsanitary, there are few options for saving the carpet. If the water intrusion is a result of water from some form of contamination, the water can be classified as unsanitary. That includes water from dishwasher overflows, toilet overflows with urine present, and other sources where pollutants and bacteria are present.

It is recommended that carpet and padding be replaced as soon as possible if there are bacterial concerns. Then proper cleaning should be performed to the area before new padding and carpeting are installed.

Black Water
Black water includes water that contains raw sewage. This is considered highly unsanitary and can cause serious health effects if not treated immediately.

When black water is involved, all floor covering materials should be discarded and all surface evaluated for proper treatment. The home or facility should take special precautions during the process to ensure the environment is returned to pre-flood conditions before it is inhibited once again.

Is it time for new carpeting in your home?