How Do I Get the Water Out of My Carpet?

7/15/2020 (Permalink)

We understand the need for rapid response and restoration to minimize the loss of your property. Call us right away we are available 24/7.

SERVPRO techs have professional equipment and advanced methods to remove water from your home and give you the best outcome 

Having a wet carpet in your Miami home can be very frustrating. You can blot with rags and towels, but that only works to get water out of the tops of the fibers. If you own a wet/dry vacuum, those work to extract moisture but lack the power in most cases to pull up embedded moisture from the backing and pad. This can result in more significant issues if the padding and subfloor remain damp.

Why are Portable Extraction Units Better Than Wet/Dry Vacuums?  

When your carpet needs water removal in your Miami home, the possibility for the best outcome involves the use of a professional restoration services company and equipment. The portable water extraction pumps used by SERVPRO techs have extreme suction to pull up even embedded moisture from within the carpet and pad. This removal gets assisted through the use of weighted heads on the wands that work to push moisture up and out. Other equipment includes  

• Truck-mounted extraction units
• Ride-on equipment  
• Manual tools such as mops and squeegees

What are Factors That Determine the Restoration Potential of a Carpet?

SERVPRO techs know that the carpet in your home is an investment, and when a water loss occurs, you want to avoid replacement if possible. The techs do the following standard actions to ensure the best outcome:   

• Determine the stage water degradation is at
• Test fibers to determine the construction materials
• Perform color-fastness tests
• Water extraction until dry passes occur
• Set up specialized drying configurations as needed

One of the most critical issues is how long the homeowner waited to bring in SERVPRO for water cleanup. If the water has aged beyond 48 hours or has the potential to contain sewage, the carpet may not have any restoration potential and require disposal as a loss. 

What is the Best Way to Dry Wet Carpet?  

The techs extract that maximum amount of moisture with their equipment as it assists with lessening the drying time needed and inhibits the probability of mold becoming an issue. The air movers that SERVPRO uses to dry properties can dry a carpet efficiently. The techs use specific drying methods to ensure the carpet backing and pad are as dry as the fiber on the surface. 

Tenting is a method that gets applied when the loss area does not cover a broad area, and only a small area needs drying. The techs put plastic over the loss area and direct both air movers and dehumidifiers into the space. This works to port away the moist air as it gets raised and dries the carpet from the bottom up. 

Floating can be used for any size of water loss. A side of the carpet gets loosened, and air movers and dehumidifiers get positioned to force air underneath while other units blow across the top. This is another drying method with a high success rate. After drying, the carpet needs only to get stretched and tacked back into place.

Monitoring During the Drying Process  

Before drying a water loss area, the techs measure the air in other areas of the home to determine the baseline interior humidity levels and then monitor the process carefully to ensure drying goals get attained. Once completed, the techs wipe down the surfaces with their professional-grade cleaning solutions to both clean and sanitize surfaces. 

Post-Drying Issues Sometimes Seen in Carpet Restoration  

Once the carpet verifies as dry through the use of the monitoring equipment, the techs address any remaining issues with the carpet. Water spots may be present due; this can get handled through cleaning the top layer of fibers and eliminating the spots which occasionally happen after drying. In cases where stain from hardwood furnishings leached into wet carpet fibers, the techs perform stain-removal, but outcomes can vary due to the wide variety of carpet fibers and types of stains used. 

Water odors can sometimes get left behind. The techs have numerous applications to handle any type of musty scents left within the carpet. The use of steam cleaning can work to neutralize even embedded odors and remove them without leaving any residues on the fibers. Another method that works for situations where strong measures are needed is thermal fogging. The techs heat a solvent until it becomes a fog and apply it around the property. It penetrates the carpet and other porous surfaces containing pungent smells and neutralizes odorous molecules. 

When you need water removal, contact SERVPRO of South Miami at (305) 269-8900. The certified techs are available 24/7 to come to your property and handle any size water loss.