The Tricky Question: How Do I Know If Everything Is Dry After Cleaning Up Water Damage?

While it seems like it would be obvious, it is not always easy to tell when carpet, carpet padding, or other types of flooring are completely dry.

While it seems like it would be obvious, it is not always easy to tell when carpet, carpet padding, or other types of flooring are completely dry. Thus it becomes a very tricky but very important question to answer if you want to be reassured that a leak or flooding issue is resolved and your home in Salina, Kansas, is as it should be.

WHAT IS THE REASON BEHIND EVERYTHING NEEDING TO BE DRY?

There are several reasons for the importance of making sure everything is dry after a home experiences water damage in Salina, Kansas. One of the biggest reasons is mold and the damage it can cause. In the right conditions, mold can grow within 24-48 hours. If it has been longer than that, it is fair to say that mold has begun to grow. If everything is not dry after it has been cleaned and disinfected, it is likely again that the mold will grow because it would be in an environment that it can grow in. Mold growth in a home is destructive to a home and harmful for those living in the home. 

LET’S SPEND A MINUTE ON MOLD ITSELF

As uncomfortable as it might be to realize, mold spores are essentially all around us in Salina, Kansas. For mold to grow, though, certain conditions have to occur:

1. Mold Spores
2. Oxygen
3. Moisture/Water
4. Organic Material (such as wood, carpet, insulation)

Unfortunately when water damage occurs in a home or business in Salina, Kansas, these conditions are met, and so it is very important to act quickly to prevent mold growth and further damage.

WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP

Cleaning up water damage is not a one-size-fits-all scenario in Salina, Kansas. The source of the water damage, how long the water has been in the home, what has been affected by the water damage, and more, all affect the cleanup process.

However, let’s focus on a carpet that has been damaged by water in Salina, Kansas. The basic steps for cleaning up water damage are:

• Remove the Water
• Dry the Wet Carpeting
• Check the Carpet Padding
• Check the Sub-Floor
• Reinstall the Carpeting
• Clean the Carpeting

It would be essential to make sure that all these steps were done with the correct tools and procedures. 

Again, even if there were two homes with carpet that were affected by the same water damage event in Salina, Kansas, the steps may differ based on the specific circumstances. So too, if it was wood, laminate, or tile flooring, these specific circumstances may necessitate a different set of steps requiring different equipment. 

STILL BEGS THE QUESTION – IS EVERYTHING DRY?

It would be impossible for me to say when everything is dry – because I’d physically have to be there – but there are signs that can occur if everything is not dry after water damage occurs in Salina, Kansas. 

• If you see areas that still seem damp.
• If you feel areas that are not dry.
• If you start to smell musty odors or mold.
• If you begin to have allergy or asthma health issues that you didn’t have before.

These could be signs that the area was not completely dry. If you start to see any of these signs or other signs that an area has not been completely dried, it means there is more work to do and the sooner the better to keep further damage or mold from occurring to your home in Salina, Kansas. 

Whether you need help determining whether an area is completely dry or would like FreshCo Cleaning and Restoration to take care of all the cleanup for you, we are here to help!

>
“I called and they had multiple openings right away. They came and were very professional. Did a great joband would definitely hire again.”

— Jordan B. in Wichita, Kansas