Can We Save the Carpet?
A pipe breaks
and water is everywhere. The insured calls the agent and the process
begins. The sooner the Policyholder calls the quicker the response
and, normally, the lower the total costs of restoration.
Although many
issues can be discussed involving water damages, in this article
we’re going to concentrate on just one—the carpet.
If all the dollars spent by the insurance industry on property
claims, floor covering is, by far, the most expensive category.
It stands to reason that if we can save floor coverings affected
by water damage the savings, on a national scale, would be significant.
As with any
loss, health and safety is of primary importance. The customer
should be cautioned about electrical hazards, slip and fall and
falling debris, such as drywall or acoustical ceiling tiles.
Quick response
is of the essence. The longer the unwanted water is allowed to
remain, the more likely the carpeting will experience permanent
damage. Because of this, regardless of the hour, the restoration
process should begin without delay.
Some customers
attempt to extract the water themselves. While this can be of
some benefit, a shop vacuum, towels and ceiling fans are absolutely
no replacement for professional extraction and drying equipment.
It is very important to get a professional mitigator on site as
soon as possible! The very best opportunity to save carpet (and
other items) is to have professionals on site immediately.
The initial
stage or phase of the restoration process includes addressing
safety issues and employing “contain and control” procedures.
Standing water must be pumped or extracted to prevent migration
of water into adjoining
areas and sub-surfaces. Professional moisture meters are used
to determine the exact location and extent of water damage.
The first
step professional restorers take is determining the category of
loss: (A) is this a Category-1 loss? (clean water source;) (B)
is this a Category-2 loss? (gray water: with some contamination
but not including pathogens or sewage;) or (C) is this a Category-3
loss? (black water: involves sewage and known contamination.)
Category-1
is a clean water source and has not come in contact with materials
that carry a health concern for the occupants. This would include
broken pipes, hot water heaters, tub or sink overflows, etc. professional
mitigation specialists can extract water from the carpet and pad
and dry them both in place! This dramatically reduces the cost
of the claim and helps restore the lives of the policyholders
much more quickly.
Category-2
is not a clean water source. This water contains some contamination
and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted
or consumed by humans. Typically this would include washing machine
or dishwasher overflows, toilet overflows with no solid matter,
broken aquariums, sump pump failures, etc. Because of the additional
contamination, this type of loss requires the replacement of the
carpet pad, but the carpet itself is normally salvageable. Note:
if a Category-2 loss is not treated promptly then the category
will escalate to a Category-3
loss (black water.) This is often considered the situation if
48 hours have passed since the loss occurred.
Category-3
is grossly contaminated water containing pathogenic or other harmful
agents. Examples of this water include sewage, toilet backflows
that originate beyond the toilet trap (regardless of color) all
forms
of flooding from seawater, rising water from the ground and from
rivers or streams, and other water entering the structure from
hurricanes, storms or weather-related events.
This water
condition is of primary concern when it comes to the health and
safety of the occupants. It should be treated seriously because
it is serious. Mitigation professionals should be called to deal
with this type of loss. Policyholders should not expose themselves
to Category-3 water. If, for some reason it is necessary, then
they should be reminded to wear gloves, shoe protection and other
items to protect themselves.
Carpet is
a multi-layered installation with a big sponge under it. Industry
standards require that carpet and pad (and anything that is absorbent
–textiles, drywall, etc.) that have been contaminated with
black water must be bagged and removed from the structure, and
disposed of in an appropriate location. Professional restoration
companies understand this and operate accordingly.
Every water
loss is different. Even with Category-1 and Category-2 losses,
there are varying circumstances that determine whether the carpet
can be or should be saved. How old it is, what condition it is
in, how it was installed and its construction are all factors
that have to be taken into consideration. Mitigation professionals
have the training and knowledge to evaluate each situation and
to determine the best course of action. They are also trained
to communicate well with policyholders, agents and adjusters to
insure that everyone understands the process and proper procedures.
So the next
time you meet with one of your insureds, tenants or property owners,
take a few moments to explain to them how important rapid response
is in the event they were to experience a water loss. Remember,
the single most important act in such an event is to call a professional
mitigation company like PuroClean Home Rescue (866-722-7876) to
help deal with the loss. Professionals will restore the lives
of the policyholders as quickly as possible with maximum cost
efficiency and in a trustworthy and understanding manner.
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