One of the most difficult restoration activities includes water removal services for carpets. This is due to their large coverage area and placement in homes. Their location on floors make it the most susceptible to absorb large amounts of water as floodwater accumulates from the lowest levels and rises up depending on the duration and intensity of the flooding.
Carpets and rugs are generally expensive, and some would even be priceless, so effective water removal services should be employed to restore these valuable possessions and minimize loss and cost.
The most important consideration for a water-damaged carpet or rug is that it would be very susceptible to mold infestation, making them potential health hazards. Molds could start to grow on wet carpets if these remained soaked in water for more than 24 hours. It is imperative that water removal services should be performed immediately within that time to prevent mold proliferation to take place and prevent future complications.
Carpet restoration companies are equipped with sophisticated machines and instruments that can perform effective water removal services for water-damaged carpets. If the area affected were large enough to prevent do-it-yourself activities to be performed, it would be best to consult or employ the services of these restoration companies. For expensive rugs and tapestries, it would be wise to leave the restoration to the experts and prevent further loss to these priceless objects.
For carpets that are manageable in sizes, owners could perform their own water removal services to restore these water-damaged carpets. If owners decide to perform these activities on their own, the first thing to consider should be to dry out the material. Drying the items under the sun would be an effective method, particularly for smaller-sized materials. However, for large-scale carpets that would be impossible to move without damaging, other alternative drying methods could be employed.
Air movers or air blowers can be installed indoors to hasten the drying process. Wet-Dry vacuum cleaners could also be used to remove excess water from the carpets, as well as dirt and debris that was brought in by the floodwater. During the water removal services, good ventilation should be maintained. Windows and doors should be open to allow good air circulation to flow into the area and facilitate faster drying. Dehumidifiers could also be used to remove moisture from the air where the water-damaged carpet is located.
During the cleaning process and after the excess floodwater, dirt and debris has been removed, applying carpet shampoo could help in fully restoring the item back to pristine condition. However, when using carpet shampoo, the owner should be aware of the composition of this cleaner and if this will be compatible with the carpet to be cleaned. Shampoo can cause shrinkage if not matched properly. Rinse the carpet with pressurized water to remove embedded dirt before the drying process and complete the water removal services.
After the drying out process has completed, remaining dirt and debris could be removed by a standard vacuum cleaner. Repetitive passes of the vacuum could remove dirt within the fibers. There are sub-layer extractors available that can remove embedded dirt and remaining moisture from within the layers of the carpet. As a final step, spray the carpet with an effective fungicide to prevent mold infestations from taking place.
Simple restoration techniques can be employed by homeowners to recover water-damaged valuables like carpets and rugs. Using these techniques can minimize losses and prevent further risks to health for homeowners and their families.
Samantha Kleiner is a water service advocate for Orlando Water Restoration Service and Orlando Emergency Water Restoration
