How Do I Know If My Carpet Has Water Damage?
Carpet water damage can create more problems than you may realize. It can create problems with the flooring underneath, the baseboards, and even the foundation.
Anytime you have water damage in your home, you should investigate to figure out what the source is. Fixing this will prevent any more incidents that may happen in the future. There are many causes of water damage to your home that could be affecting your carpet. If your carpets obtain a large amount of water, make sure to soak it up as soon as possible to help prevent water damage. Sometimes the water will develop there over a long period of time, such as a leak, and you won’t notice until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to know the signs.
Signs of Carpet Water Damage
There are a few ways you can tell if water has affected your carpet. If you notice any of these signs, you should investigate immediately to avoid the growth of mold or the damage getting worse.
Soggy carpet
Hopefully if you notice your carpet is soggy, you’ll have enough time to clean up the water before it obtains substantial damage. Even if the damage that occurs isn’t major, it could still lead to mold growth.
Musty smell
If you notice a change of smell to your carpet and you can’t figure out why, water damage could be the cause. Excess water does a good job hiding in your floors, so a musty smell is a leading sign that there is water damage hidden in your carpet.
Discoloration and fading
Even a small amount of water can cause damage if you let it sit for long enough. With carpet, it can be hard to notice that water has soaked into the floor. One of the first visible signs of carpet water damage is discoloration. If you notice any green, black, or white spots you may have water damage.
Wrinkling
The most obvious sign of water damage to your carpet is when the carpet warps from the damage. If you notice your carpet has wrinkles in it, that’s a good sign of water damage to your carpet. Peel back the carpet where it is wrinkled to see if you can spot any more damage from underneath. Also make sure to check the baseboards around where the damage is. It is possible the damage spread to the baseboards, or even started there.
When to Replace Your Carpet
The general timeline for when to replace your carpet after water damage is 72 hours. If the carpet has been left wet for that long, it’s most likely already obtaining mold growth. Make sure to soak up water from your carpets as soon as you notice it. It’s also important to clean up the water from the floor properly so you don’t have to deal with repairing the carpet. Replacing your carpet might solve the issue, but what if more of your floor is damaged underneath? This is never something you want to happen, but water can very quickly cause damage. This would require a professional to repair the flooring and make sure there is no other water damage lurking somewhere in your home.
This is why we recommend calling a professional to handle the damage before it starts affecting other things in your home. It is possible to fix it yourself, but if it’s not done correctly it could obtain even more damage.
Final Thoughts
Carpet water damage can be a serious issue. Finding the problem that is causing the damage and fixing that will save you so much money and time down the road. There are many signs of water damage to your carpet to look out for. Make sure to pay attention and take action as soon as you notice any damage. Call your local plumber to investigate and solve the problem for you.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you have water damage in your home. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.
