How To Know Whether Carpet Must Be Replaced Following Water Damage

Dealing with the water removal, drying and disinfecting, and dehumidification following the devastating effects of water damage from a pipe break in your home can be very upsetting. In addition you need to see that the cause of the water damage is remedied, and undergo repair or replacement of many elements of your home.

How do you decide your carpet can be dried out and re-stretched to live out its normal lifespan? It may possibly be saved, but that depends on the type of water that has saturated it. There are three different categories of water that may affect the decision.

1. Clean Water

If the water comes from a pipe break or leaking water supply line, then likely the carpet could be dried out and saved for re-use. If the carpet itself is heavily soiled or it is left wet for an extended period of time, it can deteriorate further. If resolved early on, the carpet can usually be saved.

2. Gray Water

Gray water comes from an overflowing toilet, or from a malfunctioning dishwasher or washing machine. It may contain urine and other bacterial or virus components but no feces, and can also deteriorate. The decision to keep carpet exposed to Gray Water is a tricky one and may depend on the speed of removal and whether an effective disinfection process can be undergone.

3. Black Water

The worst of the three categories is Black water. It may come as a result of a sewer backup or other situation where feces, microbes or harsh chemicals may be present. It involves careful handling to extract, and careful attention to subsequent disinfection and disposal of contaminated items. It requires replacing your carpets.

Call SERVPRO of Sun City/Sun City West/Southeast Surprise following a pipe break to help you take care of the necessary water removal, cleanup and restoration of your home and belongings. They can help you make the hard decisions about whether replacing your carpet is necessary and help restore a safe and comfortable home for your family