Once carpets are exposed to large amounts of water from a flood, mold and mildew along with other types of damage, can and often do occur. When carpets are exposed to water, mold immediately begins to develop. However, if you react quickly enough you can prevent mold from developing. Heart of Texas Chem-Dry will share how you can save carpet and prevent mold from developing and making your home a hazardous environment after a water damage emergency.
How to Prevent Mold in Carpet & Under Pad from Water Damage
Step 1. Obviously find the source of the flood and stop it. Next start by removing as much water as possible. You can use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the water from the carpet. There is other equipment designed for extracting water from carpet that can be rented but the best course of action is to call a professional carpet cleaning company certified with the IICRC.
Step 2. Once the water has been extracted from the carpet you will want to dry the carpet out quickly. You can use high powered fans and dehumidifiers working together to help dry the carpets. You can also open windows to improve circulation to help dry the carpets out faster. It is important to dry the carpets out quickly in order to combat mold and mildew growth properly. Again, it is best to hire a professional with industrial fans and demumidifiers.
Step 3. In some cases the under padding of carpet may need to be replaced. You can reuse your carpet if cleaned properly first. When a flood occurs you will want to dry and then clean the carpet with a carpet cleaning machine using a solution designed and approved to kill mold and other fungus. You can rent a chem-dry or steam cleaning machine but for best results, hire a pro!
Step 4. If the flood damage was severe, you will need to replace the padding. After removing the old padding, you will need to disinfect the area before installing the new padding. Start by bleaching all surrounding areas such as the concrete foundation, baseboards, and walls. It is important to kill or treat the entire room for mold. If mold develops anywhere inside the room, mold spores will be released and infect the entire areas once again. Porous areas such as fabric, carpets, and walls will begin spreading mold. This will create a hazardous environment.
Step 5. As a final precaution, you should clean your furniture, curtains, and other washables before installing the under padding and relaying the carpet to ensure that no mold or fungus is left behind to spread. After the areas and all the items that been infected by the water has been dried and disinfected, reinstall the under padding and the carpet.
Carpet Cleaning, Stain Removal & More in Waco, Dallas, Harker Heights, Cedar Park, Allen & the State of Texas
Mold poses a serious risk to any home. There are many types of mold that develops inside a home and some are quite harmful. Even the simplest or less harmful molds can still cause problems for those with respiratory problems such as asthma. To ensure that the carpets, rugs, and upholstery have been properly dried and disinfected, consider using a water flood damage restoration team. Heart of Texas Chem-Dry is certified with the IICRC. We provide professional flood damage services and can help restore and protect your carpet after a water disaster. Contact us today!
