A leak can easily cause significant water damage to your property. Among the most vulnerable areas are your carpets. Moisture soaks deeply into the minuscule fibers, creating a wet and soggy mess that may even lead to mold formation if not treated promptly. Below, learn what you should do if you’re dealing with emergency water damage on your carpet.

How to Handle Water Damage on Carpets

1. Extinguish the Source

It’s not beneficial to clean the carpets if you don’t resolve the primary source of the problem first. If your sump pump malfunctioned during a storm, for example, handle all necessary repairs before you address anything else. If it’s due to a plumbing leak, have a professional fix the problem. You’ll have some peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to deal with a similar situation again.

2. Extract the Water

Then it’s time to focus on removing the water. If you’re dealing with extensive emergency water damage, it’s best to use a wet and dry vacuum to pull as much moisture from the material as possible efficiently. This is crucial, as the moisture could otherwise impact the integrity of the bottom padding and potentially even soak through to the subflooring. Weakened wood could cause serious structural problems in the home. Lingering moisture can also cause mold and mildew to develop.

3. Clean the Carpet

Once you’ve removed as much water as possible, shift your attention to actual carpet cleaning. To begin, make sure that you establish some form of proper airflow in the space. Circulation will help dry any lingering wet spots more quickly and will help eliminate some humidity, too. While emergency water damage is best treated by a professional, you can sprinkle smaller affected areas with baking soda to minimize any remaining moisture and freshen up the floors. You may also wish to use a steam cleaning device to kill off any bacteria or toxins.
 

You shouldn’t handle emergency water damage on your own. Turn to the team at Flood Brothers Restoration in Snellville, GA. Offering more than 15 years of industry experience, the disaster recovery company can assist with everything that’s necessary to restore your home to its previous state. Count on them for carpet cleaning, mold remediation, and odor removal. Visit the website to find out more, or call them at (770) 985-2748 to schedule an appointment.