Fire Damage almost goes hand in hand with water damage. Water damaged carpet is one of the hardest items to salvage after flooding. It is very susceptible to holding bacteria and germs and developing mold and mildew which can be hazardous health risks. Before making the decision to salvage a water damaged carpet several factors should be considered. If the carpet is old it may be better just to discard it and start over with new carpet, Conversely if the carpet is new it may be more cost effective to try and save it. It is also necessary to consider whether the water soaking the carpet is clean, slightly dirty, or contaminated with raw sewage.

If the carpet has been damaged by black water it should be discarded right away. Black water is any water that has raw sewage in it. This water can contain bacteria and germs that can cause serious hazards to one's health. Once this water seeps into the fibers of the carpet it is extremely difficult to remove. The strong disinfectants which might kill the germs, such as bleach, will damage the carpet and anything less powerful will not sanitize the carpet. Mold and mildew grow very quickly when carpet is contaminated with black water. Therefore, carpet damaged by black water should always be discarded. The carpet should be removed with caution. The people who remove it should be wearing protective clothing to prevent contamination from the black water.

Carpet damaged with slightly dirty water such as dishwasher overflows, dirty water from cleaning, or toilet water overflows containing urine may be salvageable. If the carpet is going to be salvaged it has to be done quickly. The carpet should be taken up and the padding will need to be thrown away. The carpet on to be cleaned with disinfectants right away to prevent the dirty water from becoming black water as the bacteria in the fibers becomes more dangerous the longer it soaks in the carpet. The carpet needs to have as much water as possible extracted as soon as it has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The carpet should then be dried completely using direct sun or fans and dehumidifiers. The floor that the soiled carpet covered needs to be cleaned and disinfected as well. After the floor has completely dried new padding should be put down and the carpet reinstalled.

If the carpet is flooded with sanitary water there is a good chance that it can be salvaged. Some professionals may be able to clean and dry out the carpet without having to remove it. Otherwise the carpet should be removed quickly and the padding discarded. The carpet should be cleaned and dried in a timely fashion to avoid the possibility of mold growth. After the floor under the carpet has thoroughly dried, new padding should be laid and the carpet reinstalled.

Carpet which was flooded with clean water has the best chance of restoration. If there is any doubt as to how badly contaminated the water soaking a carpet is, it is probably wise to discard the carpet and buy new carpet. It is important to safeguard the health of your family and carpet that is inundated with filthy water is definitely a health hazard.