Flood... SOAB!

[EB847]

my ro/di flooded the kitchen and 50 sq ft of carpet. Im assuming the carpet has to come up for mold issues, etc. anyone ever have this happen, and what did you do about the carpet???? plz help

 

[jandree22]

A wet/dry vac would sure be handy right now for the carpet. If that's not available, blow as many regular 'ol fans as you have across the wet carpet to dry it out faster. Also, take whatever bath towels you have available and soak it up. I doubt the carpet will have to be pulled, but at least try one or more of the methods above.

Flooding happens to everyone in this hobby... it's a *****, but it's just one of those things... good luck!

 

[EB847]

thx. got the towels and fans goin. i was told the pad is toast and will need to be replaced to prevent mildew and subsequent smell... anyone know if this is true?

 

[Unarce]

I think you'll be okay since it was clean water, right? As long as you wet vac as much as you can, than air it out with fans and with the windows open for a few days, it should be fine.

 

[EB847]

yeah, straight from the ro/di (don't ask). i'm just worried about mold. the pad is saturated like a sponge. i can do a decent job of drying, but it will still be damp and dark which is not good. after spending 4k so far on the tank, i don't even want to think about calling a carpet guy on friggin Easter sunday.

 

[FragMaster]

Go to home depo ASAP (after you dry it up with a shop vac and towels as much as you can) and rent a comercial size dehumidifier and set it right in the middle of the flooded area. After that area drys well around it move on to the next. Keep an eye on the catch tank though as it will fill up in 8 hours or less. I garuntee you in two days max it will be dry as a bone all the way to the bare floor.

 

[Nautilus1]

Spread Baking soda all over the carpet. It will absorb water and help with the smell. AFter the powder has about 24 hrs on the carpet, vacuume it up. You will need a lot of baking soda.

 

[gregx]

Get the carpet on insurance & have polished floor boards, much better.

 

[Chubosco]

Where I live, Columbus, Ohio, I have seen a van that specializes in cleaning up water. It might be cheaper to call someone like that than to replace everything. Just get an estimate if nothing else seems to work.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh man that sucks! I agree with the shop vac/dehumidifer routine. Also you can use a good commercial carpet scrubber (on vacuum) to help get the H2O out of the carpet.

If you do go with the dehumidifer, check your tank's evap rate...it probably will rise as well.

 

[trido]

Go to home depo ASAP (after you dry it up with a shop vac and towels as much as you can) and rent a comercial size dehumidifier and set it right in the middle of the flooded area. After that area drys well around it move on to the next. Keep an eye on the catch tank though as it will fill up in 8 hours or less. I garuntee you in two days max it will be dry as a bone all the way to the bare floor.

As a contractor......I second that method. Dehumidifier all the way

 

[Rob Top]

I'd like to call my self an expert at cleaning up floods
HD, with the dehu is VERY important. They also rent large air movers, get a couple of them and 1 day with this going and you will be fine

 

[FragMaster]

I too am a flood master!!!
Did it three times so far and counting LOL!!! ( over the course of 15 years or so though!)
The last time was a DUZY!
Try around 150G on your carpet in a basement!!!!
The half of the entire front glass exploded!
( Around 5 years ago now I guess?)
A big ass mantis shrimp did it!
I walked by the tank and saw him right, so Iwent inslowly for a closer look.
YUP a 6 inch mantis came with my new rock! I startled him and he smaked the glass with his club and it was all over but the crying!
Coral, fish, snails, the mantis, rock, sand ALL over the floor!
Had to use tupper ware, buckets, rubber made containers, sumps,
Shipping bags.
TOTAL NIGHTMARE!!!!

2 days,a carpet cleaner, shop vac and a dehu. and itr was all good.
Had a new tank up in 4 days withthe old stock and rock, sand ect ect.
Left the critters with the local shop until it was ready again.
LUCKLY they had an empty 150 that just finished its cylce with a shcool of anthias in it. It was gona be the frag tank.
Had to rent it for $50 a week!!! for 3 weeks!!!

 

[trido]

My brother put a golf club through the side of my old FW 70G. One hell of a follow through with that stroke. :lol:

 

[FragMaster]

OMG!!! I would have followed through with putting my foot in his !@#! LOL!

 

[Anonymous]

The idea that the carpet has to come up at all seems odd to me. After all, whenever the rug gets shampooed it gets wet, no?

I'd dry it as best you can with fans and wet vac, and then don't worry. If it starts to stink down the road, then think about yanking it; but I'm guessing it won't.

 

[bradl.]

Take pictures, and start ripping it up. Your homeowners ins. will cover it. If you just leave it.theyll send in a guy with fans and a humidifier. Im speaking from experience. Your pad and walls will take forever to dry if you dont rip.

 

[FragMaster]

I'm telling ya man, since its only fresh water all youneed todo is vacum up whats left and dry it with towels, then go and rent a dehu. No smell will be awaiting because its fresh clean water. No mildew because the Dehu. sucks up ALL of the moister, ( even under the base borads).

I bet he already has it cleaned up though.

What of it guy? Any upd ates as to how it turned out for ya?
Inquiring minds want to know! LOL!!!

 

[trido]

Take pictures, and start ripping it up. Your homeowners ins. will cover it. If you just leave it.theyll send in a guy with fans and a humidifier. Im speaking from experience. Your pad and walls will take forever to dry if you dont rip.

I really feel that this is bad advice. The carpet is far from ruined. It may take a few days to dry out but there will be no ill effects from fresh water. Home owners insurance is for real emergencies such as falling trees and house fires. Not minor floods. I'd bet if you made a couple small claims like this one you will end up with a higher premium or get dropped. Either way you will lose.


BTW. I am far from an insurance agent.

 

[FragMaster]

Not to mention its fraud, your rates could go up or you could go to jail.
AND most home owners insurance DO NOT cover flooding.
Its true. A HUGE amount do not. Alotof peole just assume its covered under all the listed crap they didnt read.
3 days max with a dehumidifier and its bone dry. If you follow the given advice and steps in posts above ( involving the dehu.) and it takes longer than 3 days I will give you my entire tank of ricordea.
Were only talking about a 50 square foot area here. (not that its small but its not as large as you think.)