A burst pipe, a leaking washing machine or a bath that overflowed: when water soaks into a carpet, the first few hours matter most. Water does not stay on the surface. It runs down into the underlay and spreads underneath, far wider than the wet patch you can see. Left too long, it can cause musty smells, mould and damage to the floor below.
Here is what to do straight away, and how we extract the water and dry carpets for homes and businesses in Cheltenham and around Gloucestershire.
What to do first
- Stop the water and stay safe. Turn off the water supply. If water has reached sockets, cables or appliances, switch off the electricity before you go near it.
- Check where the water came from. Clean water from a pipe or tap is one thing. Water from a toilet, drain or outside flooding is contaminated, and carpet and underlay soaked with it usually have to be replaced rather than cleaned.
- Move furniture off the carpet. Wooden legs can stain a wet carpet. Put foil or plastic under anything you cannot move.
- Take photos. If you plan to claim on your insurance, photograph the damage before anything is moved and speak to your insurer early.
- Do not use a household vacuum on a soaked carpet. It is not made for water and it is not safe.
- Get air moving. Open windows if the weather allows and keep the room ventilated until the water is properly extracted.
Why towels and a wet vac are not enough
Towels and small wet vacs only reach the top of the carpet. Most of the water sits in the underlay, and that is where problems start. A carpet can feel almost dry on top while the underlay underneath is still wet days later.
How we extract the water: the Water Claw
We use a Water Claw, a specialist extraction tool connected to our powerful extraction machine. It seals onto the carpet with strong suction and pulls the water up through the carpet and the underlay. It removes far more water than ordinary extraction from the surface.
Drying: air movers and lifting the carpet
Once the bulk of the water is out, we set up professional air movers. Where it helps, we lift the carpet so air can flow underneath and dry the underlay and the floor too. On a recent job the carpet was dry by the next morning, but drying time always depends on how much water there was, how long it sat, the type of carpet and the room itself.
Can a flooded carpet be saved?
Often, yes, if it was clean water and it is dealt with quickly. We will tell you honestly what we find. If the water was contaminated, or the carpet or underlay has started to break down, replacing it is the safer choice, and we will say so rather than sell you a clean that will not last.
After drying, a deep clean with hot water extraction removes the dirt and tide marks that flood water leaves behind.
Need help with a wet carpet?
Act quickly: the sooner the water is extracted, the better the chance of saving the carpet. We come out to urgent water extraction jobs, so call 07377 693 355 to check availability, or send a few photos on WhatsApp and tell us what happened. We usually reply the same day. AG Carpet Specialist covers Cheltenham and the surrounding area.
