Can a Wet/Dry Vac Dry Carpets?

Use

• A wet/dry vacuum can suck up a good deal of water from a carpet that has been saturated, but the process of running the attachment over the carpet can be lengthy, depending on the size of the wet spot and the amount of water that the carpet has absorbed. Because water is heavy, you'll need to run the hose head up and down the carpet slowly to allow the vacuum to suck up as much of the moisture as possible to hasten the drying process. It's unlikely that the carpet will be perfectly dry after you use the vacuum. Air drying will finish the process.

Efficiency

• The amount of suction the wet/dry vacuum has will affect how well it helps dry the carpet. Models can range from 1 to 6 or more horsepower. The more horsepower the unit has, the more efficient it will be at sucking up water from the carpet. The larger the tank on the vacuum, the less often it will need to be emptied.

Blower Option

• Some wet/dry vacuums come with a blower option that allows the user to force air out of the vacuum rather than suck it in. This feature can be used to blow air onto the carpet and remove the remaining dampness after as much water as possible has been removed with suction.

Additional Tools

• Add fans and dehumidifiers to the room after using the wet/dry vacuum to remove water. This will help quicken the drying and remove lingering dampness.