Does Water Damage Ruin Carpet?

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

A pipe break, leak, or flood can ruin carpeting. Even if an incident involves clean water, prompt drying is necessary to prevent mold growth. Homeowners should consider the following factors when weighing the options of restoring or replacing flooring.

Water Categories

The extent of damage to the carpet depends on the level of contamination in water. Mitigation professionals classify water damage into three categories:

• Category One water is clean and treated
• Category Two water is contaminated but does not contain solid waste
• Category Three water is heavily contaminated and may contain solid waste

Carpeting saturated with Category One water from a pipe break can be dried, but it is important to mitigate damage quickly to prevent mold growth. Porous flooring exposed to contaminated water may run a higher risk of developing mold. Depending on the duration of time since the damage occurred, it may be possible to clean carpeting, or porous flooring material may need to be torn up, disposed of, and replaced. 

The Condition of Carpeting

Carpet that has remained waterlogged for longer than 24 hours runs a higher risk of supporting mold growth. Moisture can penetrate to the underlayment and subfloor where hidden mold may multiply. It is important to dry every layer of flooring.

Advice From Restoration Experts

A service that specializes in cleaning up residential water damage can advise homeowners about whether flooring should be restored or replaced. Trained professionals will factor in the type of damage and condition of the flooring. It is important to allow the affected area to dry completely before replacing flooring.

Water damage caused by a pipe break can simply be dried if homeowners act quickly. Replacing carpeting exposed to contaminated water may be safer in the long run. Mold can result in costly damage to a residence. Seek a recommendation from a damage mitigation and restoration company.