Posted on May 4, 2020 by Behnam Rugs

How to Save a Flooded Rug

When water pipes in your house freeze and break, your sink or toilet overflows, your washing machine or water heater breaks a hose, your skylight cracks, or your roof leafs, it seems that the water always finds its way to the most valuable things in your home. While we cannot offer much advice on how to save your computer, we can help you save your rug.

Persian and Oriental rugs are naturally absorbent due to the qualities of their fibers. If you have a wool rug or a wool blend rug, your rug will be especially absorbent. When your home is flooded, the water that fills it is not pure. It is often dirty and mixed with chemicals and waste. This water can cause color run-off and damage to the fibers of your rug.

When your rug has received water damage, the first thing to do is to extract the excess water out of the rug as soon as possible. You can blot it with towels or cloth. The longer that water sits in your rug, the more likely that it will experience lasting damage. Mold begins to grow in as little as 48 hours. If you have access to a water extractor, and you know how to use it, use it.

If you have access to a water extractor, but you are not 100% sure on how to use it, do not use it. The damage from flooding can be reversed. The damage from mishandling a rug with a water extractor might not be so easily fixed.

Soaked rugs tend to have colors run or bleed, and they also emit a moldy or musty smell. Your rug’s foundation will also weaken the longer you leave the water in the rug. All of this could result in permanent damage to your rug. It is important that you call a professional rug cleaner to help you with your rug so that permanent damage does not occur.

Behnam Rug will be able to completely extract the water from your rug, remove any mold, eliminate odors, and reverse color bleeding/color running. We also provide rug patching services for rugs that have experienced water damage in a small and specific area. Behnam Rugs provides all of these services and more, so contact us if you need assistance.

You may be able to have your insurance provider cover the cost of cleaning and repair. At Behnam Rugs, we can assist you with settling insurance cases, rug appraisals, and insurance quotes. You should always have an up-to-date appraisal, as most insurance companies will not honor an appraisal older than three years.

For more information about water damage, flooded rugs, insurance claims, and Persian rugs in general, please call 972-733-0400.