Plumbing fail? Laundry tub overflow? Don't ignore wet carpet!

It starts innocently enough. Perhaps the washing machine hose sprung a small leak, or maybe the bathroom sink overflowed. Suddenly, you're facing a puddle creeping across your carpet. The temptation to just blot up the visible moisture and carry on might be strong, but this approach could cost you dearly in the long run.

As any professional carpet cleaner in Christchurch will tell you, what you see on the surface is the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Water intrusion usually extends far beyond what's visible and ignoring it could lead to serious consequences for your home, your wallet, and even your health.

Water travels further than you think

One of the most insidious aspects of carpet water damage is how far water will travel, out of sight. That small, localised wet patch you can see? It’s usually not the whole story.

Having nowhere else to go, water will migrate along the between the carpet backing and the underlay, being absorbed by both as it travels, so that areas metres away from the original source can be affected.

Depending on the age and type of your underlay and the amount of water involved, water can quickly reach your subfloor and remain there, even if the carpet surface feels dry to the touch. This is not good news! The combination of wet carpet backing, wet underlay and wet subfloor can create a pandora’s box of problems.

Five symptoms of wet carpet you don’t want to ignore

1.    Sogginess and squishing – the clear sounds of water saturation!

2.    Discoloration and stains – unusual dark patches, white patches or patchy discolouration can be from prolonged moisture exposure. This also applies to sofas, rugs and upholstery.

3.    Water-damaged skirting boards and walls; if you spot signs of swelling, staining, mould, or unexpected peeling paint, water may have seeped into the carpet below.

4.    Musty or stale odours that persist even after ventilation.  A distinctive smell of rot or decay is a big red flag for possible Toxic Black Mould.

5.    ‘Crusty’ feeling on the surface of the carpet.

6.    Carpet buckling, loose or puckered carpet can mean the adhesive underneath has weakened due to moisture.



The hidden dangers below your feet

Mould and mildew growth: there’s nothing fun about these fungi! They can begin developing within 24-48 hours of water exposure and flourish in damp, dark environments like the space between your carpet and subfloor.

Structural damage: persistent moisture can lead to wood rot in timber subfloors, compromising the structural integrity of your home and becoming a costly problem.

Unpleasant odours: that musty smell? It's often the first sign regular mould has taken hold beneath your carpet; if  the more serious Toxic Black Mold is present, it has a distinctive and potent smell of rot or decay.

Health risks: a saturated carpet loosens and floats upwards the dust and dirt that all carpet accumulates in its fibres and on its primary backing. So even if the water source was clean water, your carpet will need thorough professional flushing and cleaning after it has been dried. 

If mould develops this significantly impacts indoor air quality, potentially triggering allergies, respiratory issues, and other health problems, particularly in children, the elderly, or those with existing conditions.

When time is of the essence

When it comes to water damage, the 24-48 hour window is critical. Within this timeframe, professional intervention can often save your carpet and prevent mould growth. Beyond this window, the challenges—and costs—increase dramatically.

The difference between contacting Advanced Carpet Cleaning in Christchurch immediately versus adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach can be the difference between a simple carpet drying job and carpet replacement – or in a worst-case scenario, the additional costs of subfloor and lower-wall repairs.

What to do if you discover wet carpet

When you first notice wet carpet, take immediate action to minimise damage before professional help arrives:

1.    Stop the source of water. Turn off water mains if necessary for plumbing leaks.

2.    Remove furniture and items from the affected area to prevent water damage to furniture and subsequent carpet staining, and to allow unobstructed access to all wet areas.

3.    Soak up excess water using clean, dry towels or microfibre cloths by folding them over a couple of times and stepping on them. Don’t rub wet carpet.

4.    Increase air circulation by opening windows (weather permitting) and positioning fans to blow across the carpet surface. If available, use multiple dehumidifiers to remove evaporating moisture from the air.

While these steps help temporarily, the next steps are vital:

5.    If the wet area is substantial you should notify your insurer or landlord.

6.    Call Advanced Carpet Cleaning or another professional carpet cleaner in Christchurch who have:

·        the capacity to respond quickly

·        the commercial grade dehumidifiers and air movers to install, and

·        the expertise to assess and remedy water damage correctly.

Don't delay - contact professional carpet cleaning services immediately, even if you think you've addressed the issue. If you’re worrying about the potential cost of getting it dry, the cost involved is negligible in comparison with the cost of new carpets and underlay or replacing skirting boards and repairing subfloors – even aside from the value of maintaining good health. A professional carpet cleaning service will be able to give a broad estimate of the time and cost of getting a carpet area dry, so don’t hesitate to reach out.