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STG · Jun 19, 2009, 07:20 PM

Our toilet in the master bedroom overflowed (banana peel :mad: by one of the kids). Water soaked the carpet and ran into the walls, as the toilet area is not much larger than the toilet itself.

I pulled up the carpet and dried everything down as well as I could. I've now got a fan on the room blasting on high, as well as the recirc fan in the ceiling running.

Need I freak out about potential damage to the sole plates in the walls surrounding the toilet room?

The walls of the room are opposite the:

Exterior wall
Dining room
A small linen closet
The master shower
and an opening that serves as a "door" to the toilet area

Edit: I should add that the water did go "through" the wall into the linen closet and dining room (carpet was damp - not soaked - in both areas)

ballengerb1 · Jun 19, 2009, 08:04 PM

One overflow should not do too much damage since you caught it early. Remove any carpet padding it will never dry before mold/mildew starts growing. Try lifting the carpet around 2 or 3 walls and blow the fan under the carpet, kind of floating it. Dehumidifier would help too and let bot run for 48 hours.

STG · Jun 19, 2009, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

One overflow should not do too much damage since you caught it early. Remove any carpet padding it will never dry before mold/mildew starts growing. Try lifting the carpet around 2 or 3 walls and blow the fan under the carpet, kind of floating it. Dehumidifier would help too and let bot run for 48 hours.

Thank you! I tried to thank you by rating your answer, but I was told by the website that I need to "spread reputation around" more. That said, I appreciate the response.

I've actually pulled up and cut the pad and taken it outside to dry on the picnic table in the back yard. The carpet is pulled up and sort of hanging from the toilet seat, while a fan blasts on it on the high setting. My biggest fear was a rotted sole plate in any of the walls... but you've calmed that worry.

ballengerb1 · Jun 19, 2009, 08:12 PM

Thanks for trying. That padding usually will not dry fast enough to avoid mold unless it is a foam rubber pad. If it jute just pitch it.