When carpeted rooms flood, the mess and damage can be overwhelming. Whether the flood was caused by natural disaster, leaking roof, or backed up sewer lines, standing water can quickly lead to mold and bacterial growth. Protect your health and safety by dealing with flooded carpets immediately.

Flood Cleanup and Carpet Cleaning

Restoring your wet carpet after a flood or water damage can be a big job, but hiring a professional instead of attempting it yourself can get the job done right.

If there is standing water in your home or business, a flood cleanup crew will pump out the water and assess the overall damage. If the room has been under several inches of water for an extended period of time, there may be mold damage. If this is the case, they may recommend replacing the carpet rather than trying to clean it.

If the carpet is salvageable, or if the flooding has been minimal and you have already dried the area, a carpet cleaning company can restore your carpets to their original state. Before you sign a work order, the carpet cleaning company should give you a free onsite estimate. It is difficult to accurately estimate the costs of cleaning flooded carpets over the phone, because the technicians will need to see how much extensive cleaning and stain removal is needed.

Once the cleaning crew arrives, they will move any furniture out of the room and pre-treat the carpets. Next they will use steam cleaners that force hot water into the fibers to loosen dirt. Finally, they will rake the fibers to remove matting and restore the carpet to like-new condition.

Flood Cleanup Cost

Depending on the size of the room and the extent of the damage, flood cleanup can cost between $2,000-$7,000. Keep in mind that prices can vary from region to region, and from provider to provider. Be sure you understand everything that is included in the flood cleanup or carpet cleaning estimate, and do not be afraid to get several estimates before hiring a cleanup crew or carpet cleaning service.

Choosing a Flood Cleanup Provider

Your homeowners or business insurance agent is a good source for referrals for a flood cleanup provider. They encounter this type of situation often, and may know which providers are the most reliable and which to avoid.

If the flood damage is not serious enough to warrant filing an insurance claim, ask your neighbors for recommendations for a good carpet cleaning service. As for customer references from any company you get an estimate from. If you do not feel completely comfortable with a company when they arrive to give you an onsite estimate, hire another provider.

About Luke Armstrong

Expert in emergency fire and water restoration services, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, mold removal, as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning services. Contributor to several restoration and cleaning blogs.