<h3>How to Dry Wet Carpet in The Basement</h3>

This is an excellent article on how to take care of wet carpets.

If you are a homeowner you know the extra responsibility and work that comes with the territory of owning your own home. One situation that most homeowners will probably experience at least once is some type of water damage in their basement. It can be from severe rainfall which seeps in through the foundation. Another common cause of water leakage and wet carpet in the basement is through leaky or broken pipes. The collateral damage of these types of water damage includes destroyed ceiling tiles. But even more important, your carpet and padding needs to be quickly dried to prevent mold and mildew--not to mention a musty smell that won't go away.

If the problem is coming from outside the house or the source is not related to your plumbing then call a professional. Otherwise, it's likely the water is leaking, or even flowing, through the ceiling tiles in the basement. If that's the case then immediately shut off the main water valve in your house. If you don't know call a trusted neighbor who you think would know.

If the water is from a pipe that is either cracked, completely broken or out of the fitting, some water could still flow out for a couple minutes after you shut it off. Place the nearest bucket or plastic tub on the floor underneath the leak.

After turning off the water (by turning right to close='OFF' & turn left to open='ON')get the Wet/Dry Vac out to soak up as much water as possible. I used a shop-vac before and it worked just fine if you're concerned about soaking up water and your shop-vac doesn't specifically state "Wet" on it.

Use this type of attachment to cover as much wet carpet as possible. Slowly go over the area multiple times and from different directions. Depending on the size of the wet area, you should spend at least 30 minutes for a 5x5 area (feet). This attachment will create a good suction and may possibly raise the carpet a few inches from the pressure. Don't worry, this is actually good, since the pad can begin to dry that way too.

Turn the humidity down, or off, for your furnace if you have it on. Humidity is your worst enemy during this period. If you have a dehumidifier, place it in the middle of the room where the water damage is.

Set up at least two High Velocity Fans (preferably floor level). If you don't have these then find as many fans as possible. Maybe your neighbors have some. Perhaps your employer has some in their warehouse. The more powerful the fan the better. Make up for a lack in quality with quantity if you have to--take as many different lower-strength fans as possible around the circumference of the wet carpet. (Also set up your "wet floor" caution signs").

After completing the first six steps, the area (depending on the size) should start to feel dry. Don't stop the fans though! The pad is probably still a little damp even though you can't feel any dampness. Leave the fans on for another 12-24 hours. If you want to, sprinkle some Arm & Hammer baking soda (or other brand I suppose)over the area that was soaked but is now somewhat dry to the touch. Use a broom or whatever else you can find to spread it over the area. It's important to make sure at least the carpet is dry enough that the baking soda won't cluster up on you because it will be a pain when you vacuum it up. Leave the baking soda on for about 45 minutes to an hour and then vacuum it up using the shop-vac. Repeat a couple more times if necessary. You could also put a fresh layer of baking soda before you go to bed and vacuum in the morning.


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