Can My Carpet and Pad Be Saved after a Flood?

After a flood, many home and property owners may wonder if their carpet and pad can be saved as carpeting can be an expensive investment. Saving it is more cost-effective than replacing it but successful flooded carpet cleaning depends on many things.

The age and quality of the carpet and pad, as well as installation type, are key factors. But knowing the type of floodwater involved is essential to knowing if water damaged carpet cleaning is possible. In the water damage restoration industry, we classify floodwater into three main categories.

The three main types of floodwater

Category 1: Clean water from a broken pipe or rainwater that has not mixed with contaminants. Saving a carpet damaged by Category 1 water is possible if the carpet has been wet for less than 24-48 hours. Otherwise, the water may “degrade” into Category 2. Professionals can restore both padding and carpet through proper sanitation and remediation procedures.

Category 2: Greywater which is contaminated and can cause sickness if swallowed or if it touches the body. This includes overflow from washing machines or dishwashers, toilet overflows with no solid matter, broken aquariums, sump pump failures, etc. With this type of loss, the padding needs to be replaced, but the carpet can be salvaged. Not treating a Category 2 loss within 24-48 hours will turn into a Category 3.

Category 3: Blackwater that’s highly contaminated with pathogens or other harmful agents and materials. Examples include sewage, toilet backflows, flooding from seawater, rivers, streams, and water from hurricanes, storms or other weather-related events. Cleaning your flooded carpet is nearly impossible if Category 3 water saturated it.

Every water damage situation is different. So, you cannot know for sure if or when your carpet and pad can be salvaged until you have a professional restoration company inspect the carpeting.

Also, the faster you report the disaster, the lower the costs will be. If you’re dealing with a flooded carpet problem, contact your local PuroClean office right away.

Flooded carpet cleaning: DIY or call a pro?

While trying to extract the water yourself has some benefits, professional carpet cleaning is a much better solution. A shop vacuum, towels, and ceiling fans are no match for professional extraction and drying equipment. Plus, an expert can evaluate the entire water damage incident and mitigate and remediate the entire loss, not just the carpet.

Also, the mitigation process should begin without delay. Otherwise, the carpet can suffer permanent damage. To have a better chance of saving the carpet, contact a professional restoration company at once after the water damage incident. They have the tools and expertise to sanitize and dry the flooded carpet efficiently.

Except for cases of blackwater flooding, professional carpet cleaning can bring carpets back to life. The goal is not to replace, but to restore. A professional can help you save money by avoiding the high replacement costs.

After any flooding incident, always call your insurance company. Your homeowners insurance might cover the flood damage, but some flooding losses are not covered. For those, you might need separate flood insurance. If the loss has coverage, take photos and videos of the damage right away and file the insurance claim. Your insurance agent may also recommend a reputable restoration company to come to your rescue.

For any of your flooded carpet cleaning needs, call the PuroClean professionals. Our restoration teams will provide an industry-standard estimate and create a proper plan of action to restore your carpet quickly.