Can you save carpet after a water damage?

2/19/2018 (Permalink)

After a flood, many homeowners and property managers wonder if their carpet and pad can be saved.  The answer is, it depends.  Factors such as the age and quality of the carpet and pad, as well as the type of installation used, have to be taken into consideration. 

There are 3 floodwater categories that determine whether the carpet and padding can be restored to their pre-water damage:

• Category 1 (clean water): non-contaminated water that may come from a broken pipe, sink, etc. After the water has been extracted, carpets can be dried and restored in place.
• Category 2 (gray water): dirty water that has been released by sump pumps, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. The carpet can usually be restored if it has been wet for less than 48 hours. The pad is replaced in majority of cases.
• Category 3 (black water): water containing dangerous contaminants that may originate from sewage and toilet back flows as well as from floods caused by natural disasters. To protect your family’s health, carpets and pads should be removed then discarded.