HELP! Came home from work to find an inch of standing water in my house.

[blurredvision]

Got home from work this afternoon and found about an inch of water standing in my kitchen, utility room, and bathroom, and the carpet in the entire hallway is absolutely soaked. A seal busted on the cold water intake on the water heater, so water was coming out at a fairly liberal pace.

Luckily (never though I'd say luckily), we had a mouse problem about a month ago, and they chewed a entry hole in the water heater closet from underneath the house. Since it's extremely difficult to get to, I simply hadn't attempted to close off that hole yet, so a majority of the water escaped through there, though there was still a ton of water standing in the floor and hallway. I've spent the last hour with the wet/dry vac, getting all that I could. So far, I've emptied about 15 gallons of water.

I'm most concerned about the hallway with the carpet. So far, I took every towel we had in the house, laid them out, walked around on them and got them all soaked. Then, I spent about 30 minutes with the wet/dry vac, and using an attachment, going up and down the hallway trying to suck out as much water as I can. I've probably been up and down the hallway 10 times now. I'm also putting my full weight in certain spots, then immediately trying to suck out whatever water I manage to squeeze to the top.

Since my back was starting to hurt and I've made a lot of progress, I wanted to take a couple of minutes and ask you guys what's the best way to clean/dry drenched carpet? I absolutely want to avoid a mold problem. Should I continue with the wet/dry vac for another 30 minutes? Should I take a hair dryer to the carpet when I feel I've reached the maximum potential of the wet/dry vac? Should I let it air dry once I'm done with the wet/dry vac? Once my towels get done in the dryer, I will lay them out once again and walk around to try and soak up any more water.

I appreciate any input from homeowners who have been in a similar situation.

 

[Ns1]

wow, good luck

 

[Ballatician]

That sucks - I remember something similar happening years ago in my house. I'll try to find out what all we did.

I do remember that huge fans and dehumidifiers were involved though in addition to using a wet vac like you are.

 

[dullard]

Wet/dry vac, fans, and dehumidifiers can work. Pulling up the carpet so that it can dry from both sides helps better. But even then, the carpet and/or pad often is toast. Call your insurance company, it might be worth just getting a claim and having professionals do it or replace it all.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Ballatician
That sucks - I remember something similar happening years ago in my house. I'll try to find out what all we did.

I do remember that huge fans and dehumidifiers were involved though in addition to using a wet vac like you are.

yup. there are lots of flood damage clean up companies as well. make sure it gets fully dry tho, keep pressing down with the shopvac until you cant get any water up from that. i had an overflow that flooded a bathroom and hallway, i used my shampooer in the same manner youre using the shopvac. worked pretty well, and with 2 fans running as well as a dehumidifier in the hallway for 2 days it dried up completely, no mold.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
Got home from work this afternoon and found about an inch of water standing in my kitchen, utility room, and bathroom, and the carpet in the entire hallway is absolutely soaked. A seal busted on the cold water intake on the water heater, so water was coming out at a fairly liberal pace.

Luckily (never though I'd say luckily), we had a mouse problem about a month ago, and they chewed a entry hole in the water heater closet from underneath the house. Since it's extremely difficult to get to, I simply hadn't attempted to close off that hole yet, so a majority of the water escaped through there, though there was still a ton of water standing in the floor and hallway. I've spent the last hour with the wet/dry vac, getting all that I could. So far, I've emptied about 15 gallons of water.

I'm most concerned about the hallway with the carpet. So far, I took every towel we had in the house, laid them out, walked around on them and got them all soaked. Then, I spent about 30 minutes with the wet/dry vac, and using an attachment, going up and down the hallway trying to suck out as much water as I can. I've probably been up and down the hallway 10 times now. I'm also putting my full weight in certain spots, then immediately trying to suck out whatever water I manage to squeeze to the top.

Since my back was starting to hurt and I've made a lot of progress, I wanted to take a couple of minutes and ask you guys what's the best way to clean/dry drenched carpet? I absolutely want to avoid a mold problem. Should I continue with the wet/dry vac for another 30 minutes? Should I take a hair dryer to the carpet when I feel I've reached the maximum potential of the wet/dry vac? Should I let it air dry once I'm done with the wet/dry vac? Once my towels get done in the dryer, I will lay them out once again and walk around to try and soak up any more water.

I appreciate any input from homeowners who have been in a similar situation.

You're in Kentucky? You've got a real big problem.
It'll mold up before you can dry all the way down, and anything that retains moisture will bloom in the summer when your humidity kicks up.

Your best bet is to pull the carpet up, toss the pad, set the carpet up on boards or hanging and let dry by forced hot air.
Unless you're willing to work that carpet (Vac / Fans / Towels / Repeat.... until it's dry, you're going to have problems.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: Ballatician
That sucks - I remember something similar happening years ago in my house. I'll try to find out what all we did.

I do remember that huge fans and dehumidifiers were involved though in addition to using a wet vac like you are.

yup. there are lots of flood damage clean up companies as well. make sure it gets fully dry tho, keep pressing down with the shopvac until you cant get any water up from that. i had an overflow that flooded a bathroom and hallway, i used my shampooer in the same manner youre using the shopvac. worked pretty well, and with 2 fans running as well as a dehumidifier in the hallway for 2 days it dried up completely, no mold.

You're in AZ? The relative humidity practically guarantees no mold.
If he's in Kentucky, his humidity will make mold in 24 hrs.

 

[Flammable]

only one thing to do...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRISkyV_B8

 

[OrByte]

If I were you I'd quit dicking around and get a company in there.

It isn't worth trying to do it yourself and risk getting a serious mold problem which could be costly down the road.

Edit: an inch of standing water in such a wide area means that your carpet is not the only problem.

your walls are soaked too. Dry wall might need to be replaced.

are you on a slab? if not that water could be doing alot of damage underneath your house too.

get a company in there.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
Got home from work this afternoon and found about an inch of water standing in my kitchen, utility room, and bathroom, and the carpet in the entire hallway is absolutely soaked. A seal busted on the cold water intake on the water heater, so water was coming out at a fairly liberal pace.

Luckily (never though I'd say luckily), we had a mouse problem about a month ago, and they chewed a entry hole in the water heater closet from underneath the house. Since it's extremely difficult to get to, I simply hadn't attempted to close off that hole yet, so a majority of the water escaped through there, though there was still a ton of water standing in the floor and hallway. I've spent the last hour with the wet/dry vac, getting all that I could. So far, I've emptied about 15 gallons of water.

I'm most concerned about the hallway with the carpet. So far, I took every towel we had in the house, laid them out, walked around on them and got them all soaked. Then, I spent about 30 minutes with the wet/dry vac, and using an attachment, going up and down the hallway trying to suck out as much water as I can. I've probably been up and down the hallway 10 times now. I'm also putting my full weight in certain spots, then immediately trying to suck out whatever water I manage to squeeze to the top.

Since my back was starting to hurt and I've made a lot of progress, I wanted to take a couple of minutes and ask you guys what's the best way to clean/dry drenched carpet? I absolutely want to avoid a mold problem. Should I continue with the wet/dry vac for another 30 minutes? Should I take a hair dryer to the carpet when I feel I've reached the maximum potential of the wet/dry vac? Should I let it air dry once I'm done with the wet/dry vac? Once my towels get done in the dryer, I will lay them out once again and walk around to try and soak up any more water.

I appreciate any input from homeowners who have been in a similar situation.

dont bother w/carpet.

call insurance. they'll replace it. and fix all other water dmg

 

[Ballatician]

I forgot about the pad. Like they are saying above, pull up the carpet to dry it and more than likely you'll have to replace the pad. The glass is half full though - if you've ever thought of changing carpet styles/colors or going to wood floors, now is a great time.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Flamethrower would be more efficient.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: Ballatician
That sucks - I remember something similar happening years ago in my house. I'll try to find out what all we did.

I do remember that huge fans and dehumidifiers were involved though in addition to using a wet vac like you are.

yup. there are lots of flood damage clean up companies as well. make sure it gets fully dry tho, keep pressing down with the shopvac until you cant get any water up from that. i had an overflow that flooded a bathroom and hallway, i used my shampooer in the same manner youre using the shopvac. worked pretty well, and with 2 fans running as well as a dehumidifier in the hallway for 2 days it dried up completely, no mold.

You're in AZ? The relative humidity practically guarantees no mold.
If he's in Kentucky, his humidity will make mold in 24 hrs.

Even though it's winter and humidity is hardly a problem right now?

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: OrByte
If I were you I'd quit dicking around and get a company in there.

It isn't worth trying to do it yourself and risk getting a serious mold problem which could be costly down the road.

Edit: an inch of standing water in such a wide area means that your carpet is not the only problem.

your walls are soaked too. Dry wall might need to be replaced.

are you on a slab? if not that water could be doing alot of damage underneath your house too.

get a company in there.

No on the slab, we have a crawlspace underneath.

Gonna see what I can do about pulling up the carpet right now. Just had it put down 2 years ago .

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: dullard
Wet/dry vac, fans, and dehumidifiers can work. Pulling up the carpet so that it can dry from both sides helps better. But even then, the carpet and/or pad often is toast. Call your insurance company, it might be worth just getting a claim and having professionals do it or replace it all.

This.

It's VERY difficult to get the carpet and pad totally dry without the proper equipment, and if the water soaked into the walls, portions of them may have to be replaced to keep mold from growing inside your walls. (not a good thing)

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

best bet is to pull up the carpet. pad is likely toast.

 

[Eli]

Once you get as much of the water out as you can with the wet/dry vac and towels, set up a couple of fans and let it air dry. Shouldn't develop into a mold problem as long as it is dried quickly and thoroughly.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Carpet may be toast too. With just a small amount of moisture rettention it can begin to mold, then you'll have a musty smell in your house.

Call insurance before you go any further. Call a professional cleaner for this type of situation too. They'll know exactly what to do and you'll save your back in the process.

My brother went through this sort of thing some years back. Insurance covered everything and the adjuster even paid him for a lot of the furniture that received water damage that he didn't even notice had gotten damaged.

 

[SSSnail]

I can't believe nobody said this, ShamWOW!

 

[lizardboy]

Originally posted by: SSSnail
I can't believe nobody said this, ShamWOW!

look above (youtube link)

 

[Tempered81]

Blower fans will help dry the carpet out, they are high CFM, look like a motor out of an ac unit, and cost quite a bit (200 bucks). I worked for a plumbing contractor and we did insurance work, (like your hosue)

open edge of carpet, and put blower under - start at one end, turn it on, open doors/windows, let it blow dry out towards open door

fan picture:
http://www.unoclean.com/Pullma...-Mover-Blower-Fan.aspx

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Eli
Once you get as much of the water out as you can with the wet/dry vac and towels, set up a couple of fans and let it air dry. Shouldn't develop into a mold problem as long as it is dried quickly and thoroughly.

Famous last words.
We're talking a house in Kentucky during the winter, yeah, we're opening windows and doors. If he wanted to rent some dehumdifiers and fans, you might make it happen, but chances are not good. Looking at the weather for Lousiville, the relative humidity is in the 80%+ range. Nothing is drying very fast.