The carpet must be treated with a disinfectant following extraction of excess water. Most homeowners insist that the carpet should be replaced in all flooding situations but this is usually not necessary in the case of sanitary flooding. A few simple guidelines may be followed to insure the carpet can be returned to pre-flood conditions. Traffic on the wet carpet should be kept to a minimum until the carpet is completely dry. The latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together is weakened when wet. Excessive traffic on the carpet may cause delamination. The latex should regain most of its strength after drying.   Action should be taken immediately to shut-off and control the source of the water. It may be necessary to punch small holes in the drywall to release any standing water that has accumulated within the walls. It is impractical to begin restoration efforts prior to identification and elimination of the water source.   Quickly remove any furnishings that may stain or damage the carpet.   Immediately contact a professional restoration technician to perform the work.   Extraction of excess water should begin immediately and the carpet should be completely dry within 12 hours following intervention. Failure to follow these recommendations may allow for the development of several types of bacteria and fungi that may negatively affect human health. To reduce the possibility of this occurrence, the application of a disinfectant to the face fiber is recommended. Many of these treatments will destroy stain resist treatments.   To expedite drying, the carpet should be removed from the tack strip and the carpet padding (carpet cushion) always should be discarded. Carpet should be elevated and fans should be utilized to speed drying time. In circumstances where high humidity may delay drying time, dehumidifiers should be secured to assist in drying out the environment. ___________________________________________________________________   Did you know? Carpet water damage can be one of the frustrating occurrences for any homeowner. In most case, the insurance provider will choose to restore the flood damaged carpet, but the carpet manufacturer will void all carpet warranty following flood damage. Call Spotless Carpet Cleaning now before it's too late. We will answer your emergency call 24/7.