Mold in Carpet & Padding
Carpet that has been wet for more than 48 hours should be assumed to have microbial growth in the padding underneath, even if the surface looks and feels dry. Padding holds water far longer than the carpet face, which is why professionally dried carpet can still smell weeks later.
Signs to look for
- A musty smell that is strongest at floor level
- Discolouration or dark patches in the carpet
- Padding that feels damp under pressure
- Allergy symptoms that worsen on the floor
- Staining on the subfloor when a corner is lifted
What usually causes it
- Appliance or plumbing leaks that soaked in
- Basement seepage under finished flooring
- Pet accidents left untreated
- High humidity on slab or basement floors
- Carpet installed over a slab with no vapour barrier
Removing the growth without eliminating the water source simply resets the clock. Every report we write identifies the moisture source, because that is the finding that determines what it actually costs you to fix.
How we investigate it
Locate the moisture
Thermal imaging and moisture meters map the full extent of wet material, including behind finishes.
Establish the source
Groundwater, plumbing, condensation and ventilation failures all look similar at the surface and need completely different fixes.
Sample if it changes the plan
Air sampling with an outdoor control where growth is hidden; surface sampling where it is visible.
Document and hand off
A written report you can hand to a contractor, an insurer or a landlord — and independent clearance testing afterwards.
Related
Common questions
What causes mold in carpet & padding?
Appliance or plumbing leaks that soaked in; Basement seepage under finished flooring; Pet accidents left untreated.
How do I know if I have mold in carpet & padding?
A musty smell that is strongest at floor level; Discolouration or dark patches in the carpet; Padding that feels damp under pressure.
Can I clean it myself?
Under roughly ten square feet with a known, corrected water source, most homeowners can clean it safely with gloves, an N95 and good ventilation. Above that, or where HVAC is involved, where the water was contaminated, or where someone in the household is immunocompromised, containment matters because disturbing growth spreads it through the building.
Will it come back after cleaning?
Yes, if the water source is still there. This is the single most common reason people call us twice. Cleaning removes what has grown; only correcting the moisture stops it regrowing.
Do I need a lab test for this?
Not always. If growth is visible and the cause is obvious, a laboratory result rarely changes what you should do. Testing earns its cost when the source is hidden, when documentation is needed, or when you want to verify a remediation job.
Get a straight answer about your building
We test, document and verify. We never sell remediation, so we have no reason to find a problem you do not have.