Why Your Carpet Is Wet in Places – And What To Do About It

There are a lot of homeowners who have carpet in their homes. It is nice to walk around on a warm, plush carpet, particularly after you have spent a long day at work. At the same time, it can also be concerning if you feel a bunch of wet spots on your carpet. Sure, it is entirely possible that someone may have spilled something; however, it is also possible you might have a leak in your home.

If you are noticing water coming up onto your carpet, there may be a foundation leak somewhere. Or, there may be a busted pipe somewhere in your home. It is also possible that your home may be having a difficult time dealing with the rain. Regardless, you need to locate the source of this issue as quickly as possible so you can put a stop to it.

We have done a lot of research to figure out the most common reasons why your carpet may have some wet spots. That way, you can figure out which problem is responsible for your carpet issue, and how you can deal with it accordingly. Are you ready to learn more about how to deal with a wet carpet? If so, let’s get started.

Turn Off the Water Supply to the Home

You may not know exactly why your carpet is feeling wet, but the first thing you need to do is turn off the water supply to your home. There is a chance there may be a leak somewhere in the home, and you need to stop the water problem from getting worse. Until you can figure out exactly why your carpet is wet, you need to turn off the water supply.

In some homes, a water supply valve is located in the pantry of the kitchen. You may also find it near the hot water heater. If you do not remember where the water main is located, you may want to take a look at the documents you got when you purchased the house. You may be able to find some information there. 

Address a Possible Foundation Leak

The first thing you need to do is rule out a possible foundation leak. A foundation leak takes place when the concrete underneath the home has a crack. It is also called a slab leak. Of note, not every house is built on a slab, but it is possible that even houses with crawl spaces might have a leak present.

A foundation leak usually takes place when the soil underneath your home begins to shift. This causes the concrete underneath the house to move. When the concrete moves, it can crack. When this happens, it can damage pipes in the area as well.

A lot of houses have copper water lines that are located near the foundation. These copper water lines may start to leak simply due to wear and tear. Or, there is a chance the copper pipes can burst, particularly when the weather gets cold outside. If you notice a crack in your concrete, it is possible for this water to seep into your foundation. This could cause wet spots to develop in your carpet.

Because a foundation leak can cause a significant amount of damage, you need to be able to stop them as quickly as possible. If you see wet spots on carpet on the first floor of your house, this is a possible sign of a foundation leak.

You may also notice mold scattered throughout the house. If you see mold on the floors, it could be a sign of a slab leak. You may also have a musky or damp smell in your house, alerting you to the leaky carpet.

You may also notice a significant spike in your water bill. If your water bill is a lot higher than normal, you may have a leak located somewhere. You may even notice that your water pressure is a bit low. If water is leaking underneath your house, there is less water coming out of the faucet. As a result, the water pressure will probably drop.

Responding to a Foundation Leak

It should come as no surprise that our foundation leak is an emergency. Hopefully, you have already turned off the water main to your house. This will stop the leak temporarily, but you need to fix the leak before you turn the water back on. 

Your next step should be to call a plumbing professional. They should visit your house as soon as possible to start working on the problem. The sooner they can fix the leak, the sooner you can turn the water on once again. As the plumber is working on your house, you need to take steps to dry your home. That way, you can minimize the damage that has already taken place.

You may want to rent a few fans or dehumidifiers that you can use to dry out the wet spots in your home. You will probably have to remove and replace the carpet. This is important for identifying any damage underneath the carpet that may have to be replaced as well. You could also use a few towels to quickly address the issue. 

It is true that this is a serious concern, but you can also deal with it in a systematic manner. If you need help identifying a foundation leak, remember to call a plumbing professional as quickly as possible. 

Your Carpets Are Wet After it Rains

It is also possible that you may notice your carpets getting wet after it rains. If that is the case, you probably do not have a foundation leak. It is more likely that water is falling off the side of your house and seeping through the walls.

The most common reason why this happens is that your house does not have a proper gutter system. If your roof does not have gutters on it, the water is going to run down the side of your house, pooling next to your walls. Eventually, this water is going to get inside your walls, coming up through the carpet.

The best way to deal with this problem is to reach out to a professional. Of course, you will need to get gutters installed on the side of your house. That way, you can stop the problem from happening in the future. At the same time, you still need to dry out the water that has already gotten inside your home.

Therefore, you may need to rent heavy fans that can help you dry out the house quickly. You may also need to do something about the sloping outside your house. All of this is going to be important for preventing water from pooling around your house in the future. 

Dealing with Wet Carpets on the Second Floor

Until this point, we have been talking about wet carpets on the first floor of your home. Now, it is time to take a look at what it might mean if you have a wet carpet on the second floor of your home. Of course, there is still the chance that someone may have spilled something on the second floor of your house. On the other hand, there are other reasons why you may have wet spots on the second story as well. 

For example, it is possible that you may have a problem with the roof. In general, the roof of your house is supposed to last approximately 25 years. This longevity can vary depending on the type of material you used to make your roof.

If your roof is coming to the end of its life span, there is a chance that it may be starting to leak. If that is the case, water could be pooling in certain spots on the carpet. Because a roof leak can cause significant damage to your home, it is important to address this issue as quickly as possible. Of course, you need to call a roofing contractor who can take a closer look at your roof. At the same time, you will also need to call a professional plumber who can help you figure out what to do about the water on your carpet.

Dry the Carpet

As the roofing contractor is taking a look at your roof, you need to get to work drying the carpet. You need to use a wet vacuum or towels to help you get up any standing water that might be present. Then, you need to deploy heavy fans throughout the second floor of your home to stop the water from accumulating.

If you procrastinate during this process, you could end up with a serious mold problem throughout your house. This can be a major health hazard, particularly for those who have allergies and asthma. That is why you need to dry the carpet as quickly as possible and prevent mold from growing. If you already have mold in your house, you may want to call a mold remediation professional who can help you. 

Fix a Carpet with Wet Spots

Ultimately, these are just a few of the most common reasons why your carpet may have wet spots scattered throughout your home. You need to figure out why your carpets are wet. That way, you can put a stop to the problem.

You need to rule out a foundation leak first. Then, you may want to see if there is an issue with the way your house deals with the rain. If your house is having a problem dealing with a simple rainstorm, you need to call a professional who can help you with this as well. Even though it can be frustrating to deal with a wet carpet, it is not something you should ignore. 

If you ignore the problem, it is only going to get worse. Therefore, make sure you call a professional as quickly as possible who can help you fix the issue.