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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Does anyone have ideas or advice on how to dry out a flooded carpet and underlay?

25 replies

Lioninthesun · 26/05/2014 18:28

We had a flood last week and although I acted quickly to turn off the stop cock it has managed to flood the carpet all around the bathroom. I have Cloud 9 underlay (so thick) and it has soaked all over the landing, into my room, into DD's room and down the side of the stairs. The plumbers took up the carpet and underlay nearest the bathroom door and in my room a bit and I have been airing the floor then underlay and then putting the carpet back. However when I do this I can only get so far and to be honest it doesn't seem to be doing much since I lay the carpet back (plus carpet looks like it has shrunk Sad Please tell me this will stretch back to place? ). I have been also putting towels on it to walk over so that it soaks up some more, which is creating huge amounts of washing Sad but feels like it is doing more than the dehumidifier which is on in my room all day.

My friend has leant me a washer vac, but am a little nervous of using it yet as it washes before it sucks water up IYKWIM!

I am so lucky not to have carpet downstairs!
(On the bright side, if anyone is considering Kahrs engineered wood flooring I can recommend it as even with a few cm's of water on it hasn't bowed or anything!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Lioninthesun · 26/05/2014 20:52
OP posts:
FunkyBarnYardBroom · 26/05/2014 21:04

If you don't put water in it will just suck Wink

I have no idea about the rest of the details tho xx

FunkyBarnYardBroom · 26/05/2014 21:04

If you don't put water in it will just suck Wink

I have no idea about the rest of the details tho xx

Selks · 26/05/2014 21:08

How wet is it? Would hiring a dehumidifier (a big one) work?

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 26/05/2014 21:13

Ah, sucky sucky long time! That makes sense I will attack at dawn when DD wakes.
I have a small dehumidifier but it isn't full after a day so not sure how strong it is. It feels very similar to when it happened and getting a musty smell now... I only just had these fitted Sad

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wowfudge · 26/05/2014 21:24

Do you have accidental damage cover on your insurance? If so, make a claim.

We had a flood and unless you can get things dried out quickly there's a real risk they could go mouldy. Our carpet was binned, everywhere scrubbed down and an industrial dehumidifier put in the worst affected room for a fortnight before it could be recarpeted.

DocDaneeka · 26/05/2014 21:36

As a flood veteran (!) I'd say bin the carpet and underlay, and get an industrial dehumidifier and a large fan in ASAP. It will take a few weeks for the uncovered floor to dry never mind with a saturated carpet on it.

You will end up with mould which is pretty damned hazardous. Really not worth the risk. Even if you have to manage without carpets for a while if insurance won't cover it.

amistillsexy · 26/05/2014 21:44

I agree-it's an insurance job, I'm afraid. They will contract a company to dry out the house, using industrial dehumidifiers and fans.
They will either take out the carpets straight away, before dehumidifying, or leave them and see what they are like after they've dried out.
They might also want to check the condition of the timbers, as they might be in danger of rotting if they've been left wet for any length of time.
One word of warning-check the dehumidifiers constantly, since they are terrible for leaking. I've had at least one leak so badly it caused enough damage to need a secondary insurance claim for the flood damage it caused!

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 26/05/2014 21:55

OK, that is all quite alarming..It is a new build house and the builders are over in August to do touching up etc. I was told (although of course now can't find paperwork) that until then they were insuring the house as is NHBC etc...
It was their fault, no doubt. I even clarified by saying to the head builder (reputable local firm) "So what was the upshot, anything I could have done to prevent it?" and he said "No, not at all. It was a faulty part fitted under the bath Usually they go nearly immediately, but clearly not this time". His plumber, so their issue? I am now freaking a little that I should have got insurance just in case...
Fuuuuck.

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DocDaneeka · 26/05/2014 22:09

Household insurance would usually cover that. Assuming you haVe insurance?

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 26/05/2014 23:13

That's just it - I can't find the paperwork re them insuring it despite having had the convo with the builders.

I simply can't afford to replace the carpets. Have been saving for months for driving lessons once we moved, then the cat needed stitches and we have been living off our freezer food for 3 weeks with only occasional bread and milk shops in between. I built this house to get a fresh start but everything seems to be going a bit wrong already

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 27/05/2014 05:28

Everywhere I look online says to get rid of the carpet.
I think I need to post in legal and see where I stand re asking the builders to take responsibility.
I don't want us getting black mould in our bedrooms!

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wowfudge · 27/05/2014 07:36

Post in legal - Yes for new builds the NHBC provides insurance-backed cover for faults which result from the construction of the property. However, it is your responsibility to insure the building and the contents.

For us it was the accidental damage cover on the contents insurance which covered the leak we had.

Presumably you have a mortgage? Did the mortgage provider not want to see evidence of insurance cover? You need to sort out your own insurance as a priority.

That said, if the leak can be claimed for under the terms of the NHBC guarantee then you need to claim now. You should have all the details with your purchase paperwork.

If I were you I would bin the bathroom carpet and underlay - I don't think carpet is a good idea in a bathroom anyway. Try using your friend's washer vac without water on the other carpets so that you are not living with horrible damp conditions for now.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 27/05/2014 09:56

The bathroom is tiled - it's the hallway and two bedrooms leading off it where the carpet is damaged.

Thank you for that information. I own the house outright and sold off most of my assets to build it, which is part of the frustration. I haven't had an NHBC pack yet, just the builders folder with all of the info on the underfloor heating etc (only downstairs sadly). I have posted in legal for some advice, thank you again!

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DocDaneeka · 27/05/2014 10:07

What happened with us (similar fault) is that we claimed of household insurance and the insurers pursued the builders under the NHBC guarantee.

My priority would be get the carpet out of the house, keep a 1 ft by 1 ft square to show loss adjusters. Once it is out and floor is drying then try and untangle paperwork. The longer a sodden carpet is in there the more damage it is doing.

You can live without carpet for quite some time (voice of experience)

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 27/05/2014 10:14

OK, well it is only just starting to smell and in my room where I have the dehumidifier. The hallway seems to be a lot dryer this morning, although I suspect that is just in comparison to my room. So I think I have a couple of days before it gets too bad. I need to figure out how to get it to the tip (don't drive) so some favours need to be called in.

I think it should be covered under Buildmark so am going to see what advice I get on legal as to whether I contact them or the builders directly and how to go about it.

I know it will have to go. I lived in a couple of do-uppers when I was early 20's, just thought that was all behind me now I have DD!

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lagerlout · 27/05/2014 10:20

Your space sounds like it is too big for this to be a viable option but I saw a company called Supreme Pitch do a demo on their Miracle Shammy at the Ideal Home Exhibition and it pulled liquid out of carpets with ease.

wowfudge · 27/05/2014 12:54

Sorry lion - I misinterpreted your post. Hire a man and a van for the job? Do you have a friend who could help you? Take photos, etc and keep copies of all receipts for costs you incur dealing with this.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 27/05/2014 17:31

If it needs going to the tip then I will ask the builders I think. They have vans and it seems unfair to put the onus on me when it was their fault! I think that would be fair? Or perhaps a local animal sanctuary would use it?

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 27/05/2014 17:32

larger thank you - I did try the VAX my friend lent this morning but it didn't do much!

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wowfudge · 27/05/2014 19:19

Try a karcher hired from HSS but don't put water it, just use it to take the water out. They might do you a deal if you hire a dehumidifier as well. Always worth asking.

Selks · 27/05/2014 22:52

If you need to get rid of the carpet many councils will take them away for a nominal charge if you lug it outside. Hope it doesn't come to that though.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 28/05/2014 09:35

Updated twice on the other thread! Sorry!
Builder came over yesterday morning and had another look and agreed bedroom and DD's room are pretty bad. He came back with planks of wood and two fans to prop up the carpet and get air flowing along.

It is still a bit smelly in my room so not hopeful, but if I can save the hallway and DD's room I will be very happy. The hallway obvs goes all the way down the stairs as well so would be a PITA to get up. Builder has been very helpful but perhaps only really hoping he won't have to shell out 5k on replacements!

Thank you again for all of your advice, it has been really useful Smile.

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gobbin · 30/05/2014 18:11

Take photos. Get on to the builder and keep at it until their insurance company gets their arse in gear.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/05/2014 18:42

I'm still not hopeful about the bedrooms but the hallway has definitely dried out considerably.

Just trying to gauge what my water bill and electricity bill will be for the month as I have had to have 2 fans and a dehumidifier on every day for nearly a week now... Sad

I will take pics but hoping I won't have a problem if it is just the 2 bedrooms need replacing. He did worry me with a comment that the smell would go away once they dried out though!

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