When Will Molds Develop if Carpet Get Wet?

Oct 2
14:03

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Carpet can become an ideal place for mold to grow when it becomes wet. To grow, mold only needs moisture, oxygen, food and a place to grow.

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Keeping carpets clean and dry is the key to keeping them mold-free. When carpets do become wet,When Will Molds Develop if Carpet Get Wet? Articles it doesn't take long for mold growth to begin. While you may not see visible signs of mold growth, don't assume that mold is not growing. Taking care of your wet carpet ias soon as possible is the best way to combat mold growth. 

As you know carpets get moldy very quick, many older carpets with dirt as a food source start smelling moldy after being wet just a short time. It may be a week or two before it grows to the extent that it is visible to the naked eye as spots on drywall or carpet pads.

Proper drying is important

What is most important is how fast and how well the flooded areas are dried. Many times a person will think that moisture was removed when in fact enough moisture was left behind to allow mold to start growing.If a minor amount of moisture is lingering inside the wall cavities, behind the baseboards, in the carpet, or under the carpet padding it will likely be weeks before it all dries up, by that time the mold starts forming as visible sports on your walls.

How to properly dry out a property

Proper drying often involves discarding wet carpets and carpet pads because they trap moisture and hamper drying. If the flood was extensive, it may be helpful to remove the baseboards because these baseboards can trap water and prevent proper drying; in more  extreme case a few holes can be cut in the walls to allow wet air to escape and dry air to enter the wall cavities.The use of wet vacs to remove standing water, fans to move air, and  dehumidifiers to dry the air are helpful. Without dehumidifiers to dry the air you are simply moving wet air with fans and this is of little or no benefit.

Many mold remediators and carpet cleaning companies will focus efforts on drying the room that flooded and neglect nearby rooms where water flowed hidden inside wall cavities and under carpet or even tile.Before you realize that dry out was not done properly you may have white, green, or black mold spots showing up; you may also detect mold odors and  you will likely have mold capable of causing allergy or asthma reactions in persons who are prone to such reactions.

The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep carpets clean and dry. But, if you ever experience wet carpet, you can still prevent mold growth and save your carpet. The key is getting your carpet dry as soon as possible. You'll need to call the water removal experts. Our fast, professional water removal service will remove excess water from your carpet to prevent further damage to your home including mold damage.

For assistance on effective mold treatment, check out our main page here:

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