Dry carpets with a dehumidifier? That's right. Most people are familiar with the idea of drying clothes or dishes using a dryer, but why not carpets too?
When placing your carpet, it is important to ensure that it is completely dry before laying it down on your floor. If you do not ensure that your carpet is dry, you risk mold or mildew.
Getting the carpet and pad to dry fast enough can be hard and the best way to counter this effect is by using a dehumidifier for wet carpet. It may cost some money to buy the dehumidifier, but the sooner you use the dehumidifier on a wet carpet, the better.
Clean and Dry a Carpet (Using a Dehumidifier)
Removing Moisture from Wet Carpet: Why Is It Necessary?
Moisture in carpet padding can cause many problems, such as mold and mildew. The moisture will also attract bugs or animals to your home or basement. Moisture can even make the structure of your home such as sub floor unstable because it settles between the floorboards, which weakens them over time.
To speed dry a wet carpet pad, you'll have to get the moisture out. A dehumidifier, particularly one with a pump, will help remove the moisture in your basement carpet by creating a low level of humidity in an enclosed space like a basement.
How Does a Dehumidifier Help in Drying a Wet Carpet?
A dehumidifier will help get rid of excess moisture in your wet carpet after a flood or cleaning by pulling air into the unit through an air movers filter.
The heated air is cooled and collected inside the machine. The moisture in the cooling process condenses against the wall, then runs down to be pumped out of the unit and into an external drain.
How Can You Dry a Carpet Using a Dehumidifier?
A dry carpet is a necessary component of a healthy home. You can assist the drying process using these steps:
Step 1. Assess Water Damage.
After recovering from a flood or cleaning, use rubber gloves to check how wet your carpet is. This will help determine the length of time required for drying. If your carpet is extremely wet, you may need to call a professional drying service as a carpet cleaner.
In the case of flooded carpet padding, it is very important to ensure that you don't have any other water damage in your areas such as leaks of a roof, basement, or damaged foundation. Because this will require the attention of services from professionals as certain steps should be taken first before attempting to dry a wet carpet.
Step 2. Remove Wet Items
Remove all wet furniture, appliances, or other items from the room or the basement area. This will help your dehumidifier to work faster and more effectively. It will reduce water damage to the carpet and pad as well. You can also use a floor drain to bring out any excess moisture in your carpet after removing sopping wet furniture that may have water damage.
Step 3. Pour Carpet Detergents
Pour liquid ammonia or other carpet detergents that work on your type of carpet. This will help break up any dirt and grime that has come with floodwater so it can be removed more easily from the carpet pad. If possible, mix this cleaner with water before pouring it on your carpet.
Make sure to follow any instructions for the specific detergent to avoid damaging your carpet pad, such as by using hot water or operating it for an extended time.
4. Wet-Dry Vacuum
You can use a wet-dry vacuum to wash your carpet, starting with the perimeter and working towards the center.
With this machine, you can suck out water from an affected area fast before it has a chance to damage your carpet pad. After sucking up the floodwater or cleaning solution, allow the suction to continue for at least 15 minutes to dry the wet carpet.
You can also use a shop vac if you have one. Use the wet-dry vacuum on any rugs or carpets that were soaked by floodwater or cleaning agents.
5. Dehumidifier to Dry the Carpet
Now, you can use a dehumidifier to speed dry a wet carpet pad. Place an active dehumidifier with a pump in a room or basement with a low humidity level. Set the dehumidifier at its highest fan speed to pull air mover through the filter as quickly as possible.
Make sure the room or basement temperature is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for best results in drying wet carpet, or 80+ degrees if it's hot outside.
You can use a dehumidifier for 2-3 days to dry the carpet and pad in various areas exposed by floodwater or cleaning agents. If you see any remaining spots, repeat this process until all of the water is gone.
Best Dehumidifiers for Wet Carpet
Here are some great dehumidifiers that you can use to dry your wet carpet:
1. Waykar 70 Pint Dehumidifier
For the larger areas, the Waykar 70 Pint Dehumidifier works very effectively to remove moisture from the carpet. It has a cooling mode that's useful in humid climates (if you live in any of the most humid areas in the United States).
The temperature can be controlled between 54 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels decreasing from 95 to 50 percent over six hours. Also, a pump is included for moisture collection.
2. COLZER 164 Pints Water Damage Restoration Dehumidifier
If you're looking for a more affordable option, the COLZER 164 Pints Water Damage Restoration Dehumidifier is effective in drying your carpet. It has an adjustable humidity level of 30-80 percent and can be used easily with minimal noise. The detachable tank holds up to 1/3 gallon moisture and features a handle for ease of carrying.
3. AlorAir Commercial Dehumidifier 113 Pint
The AlorAir Commercial Dehumidifier is a great dehumidifier option for home use. It uses a Peltier cooling system, which means it can remove moisture from your carpet faster than refrigerant systems.
Its cooling system also operates more quietly, making this one of the quietest dehumidifiers on the market. It can lower the temperature down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature.
A unique feature of this dehumidifier is its built-in pump. This makes it easy to empty the water outside, and even works with humid environments. It includes a control panel for various modes and uses a large 4.5-gallon water tank which is easy to empty when it's full of water.
4. AIRPLUS 70 Pints Dehumidifier with Quick Moisture Removal
The AIRPLUS 70 Pints Dehumidifier with Quick Moisture Removal is one of the best dehumidifiers for carpeting soaked in water like basement carpeting.
It features a smart temperature control which makes it easy to remove water moisture from your home while saving energy and ensuring that your house is comfortable in terms of cooling or heating.
5. RinKmo 296 PPD Commercial Dehumidifier with a Built-in Pump
The RinKmo 296 PPD Commercial Dehumidifier with a Built-in Pump is one of the best commercial dehumidifiers for carpeting. It has an advanced control panel for temperature, humidity, and airflow that allows you to change settings easily and quickly when needed.
This dehumidifier can remove up to 70 pints of moisture per day. It also has a built-in pump, making it easy for you to empty the water into an outside drain or other areas.
How to Dry Carpet with a Dehumidifier FAQ
How to Get Rid of a Damp Smell From a Wet Carpet? (Using a Dehumidifier)
If you notice that your carpet and pad tend to have a musty smell and dampness remains, then there may be mold or mildew growing on the carpeting which is causing the odor.
One of the best ways to clean it is with a dehumidifier, as well as using cleaning products to remove any mold that you can see caused by water damage.
Consider adding an air purifier as well to help remove odors. You can also try using baking soda or vinegar to absorb moisture, along with charcoal if you have mold in the house which is causing the damp smell. The use of heated drying fans may be helpful too, though it's not something you want to use without clean air being circulated.
How to Dry a Wet Carpet if the Carpet Can't be Removed From its Place?
When it comes to drying a wet carpet that you cannot move, you'll probably want to use a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers draw moisture out of the air by running in an automatic mode or manually.
You will be able to place a dehumidifier under your carpet for hours at a time while it sucks up water from the floor. This means you can begin drying out the pad below and preventing mold from growing in wet areas near your home.
How Long Does it Take a Carpet to Dry Using a Dehumidifier?
It's hard to predict how long it will take your carpet to dry completely. It depends on the reason for the water damage and where it is located in the home, as well as the size of the area that was affected.
It can take up to two weeks for smaller sections of your carpeting to completely air out after flooding or water damage, though you may notice that it doesn't smell as musty.
Summary
A dehumidifier can be an excellent solution in removing the excess moisture from a wet carpet, and thus helping to improve its drying time. You also may consider using fans or other drying apparatus along with your dehumidifier for improved results.
One important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t try to operate it without following the proper steps. This is for the machine to function properly and wouldn't damage a carpet pad as a dry carpet is also a necessary component of a healthy home.
