Difficulties of Fixing Water Damaged Carpets Yourself

White indoor carpeting with water stains from flooding

Serious water damage to carpets is fortunately not a common occurrence in most homes but it can happen, often either because of adverse weather conditions or because of an emergency plumbing issue. Water-damaged carpets can be a significant headache for homeowners because, while it may at first seem like an easy task to clean up the mess, this is not usually the case. In this brief guide, we will discuss the difficulties of tackling water-damaged carpets by yourself. As water damage and flood restoration specialists in Westminster, CO, who also offer professional carpet repair services, we are ideally placed to advise on this matter.

  • It’s Usually Time-Consuming and Labor-Intensive - Cleaning up water damage from a carpet is often a very time-consuming and labor-intensive task. First, you will need to remove all of the furniture from the affected area, then you will have to extract the excess water from the carpet. Finally, you will have to dry it before cleaning it thoroughly and drying it again. When performed by an amateur, this entire process could take anywhere from several hours to several days to complete, depending on the extent of the damage and the type of equipment that is available to use. You also need to consider how difficult it could be to move heavy items of furniture by yourself and whether it would be safe to even attempt to do so.
  • Not Easy to Avoid the Risk of Mold Growth - One of the most significant risks untreated water damage carpets poses is mold growth. If the affected carpets are not dried thoroughly, mold can quickly grow and become a health hazard to every member of your household. It may also cause irreversible damage to carpet fibers if it is left untreated for too long. And cleaning up mold can be an even more challenging task than restoring a water-damaged carpet, requiring a lot of specialized equipment, knowledge, and techniques. With all this in mind, the best course of option is always to make sure that the job is done properly the first time, thereby avoiding any chances of you and your family having to deal with a future mold outbreak in your home.
  • Potential for Serious Health Issues - Water damaged carpets can pose significant health hazards to you and your family. The damp and humid environment that is inevitably created by water damage is the perfect breeding ground for a wide variety of bacteria and viruses. These microorganisms can cause a number of serious health problems in humans, such as allergic reactions, respiratory problems, and various different types of infections. With all of this at stake, it is not surprising that so many homeowners elect to hire a professional carpet repair and flood restoration specialist rather than attempting to deal with the mess by themselves. The financial and emotional cost of any health issues that your family may suffer in the future would, of course, far outweigh the cost of getting the job done properly by hiring a team of experienced and fully qualified professionals in the first place.
  • Possibility of Damaging the Carpet Fibers - Water damage itself can cause irreversible damage to carpet fibers if it is not handled properly. The excess moisture weakens the individual fibers, making them more brittle and prone to breaking when handled in the future. If they are not dried and cleaned correctly, the whole carpet can become discolored and the fibers may permanently lose their softness and elasticity. It is this loss of elasticity in the fibers that make them more vulnerable to damage, even when handled gently. Just vacuuming your carpet in the future could cause serious damage to the fibers if they are incorrectly treated after being damaged by water.
  • The Possibility of Financial Loss if You Get It Wrong - If the damage to your carpet is severe, and it is not tackled in the right way, you may end up having to replace it entirely. This will, of course, prove to be a very costly exercise, especially if you have expensive or custom-made carpets. Attempting to clean the carpet yourself can also result in damage that will require professional repair in order to render it invisible. For all these reasons, it is always advisable to find a local professional to restore a water-damaged carpet rather than trying to restore it yourself. Unless you have the right equipment, chemicals, and experience, you are unlikely to succeed.

To summarize, while it may at first seem like a good idea to try to tackle water-damaged carpets by yourself, it rarely, if ever, turns out to be the best option. The risks of future health hazards, mold growth, potential damage to the carpet fibers, and costly repairs are simply too high for most people to accept.

In the opinion of water damage specialists and homeowners alike, it is always best to seek professional help if you want to ensure that your carpets are cleaned and restored correctly. Professional flood restoration operatives have the equipment and expertise to handle all types of water damage efficiently and effectively, and, in the process, prevent any further damage or health hazards.

If you happen to live near our local base, you are welcome to call to discuss our range of cleaning and restoration services at any time, which includes water-damaged carpet repair in Boulder and surrounding areas.

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