Every wet-carpet call starts with the same question: can this be saved? Sometimes. It depends on where the water came from, how long it has been wet, and which layer is wet — and in a valley full of 1990s slab-on-grade homes, the answer is usually decided before anyone notices the warm spot.
Almost nobody replaces carpet on a schedule. They replace it when the installer is already coming, when the house is listing, or when a leak makes the decision for them, and the carpet was usually done years earlier. Weston Molitor lays out how long carpet actually lasts by fiber and grade, a ten-minute check with a flashlight and a pair of pliers, what cleaning and restretching can and can't fix, and the pad, pet, and water problems that end a floor early.
This guide breaks down those options so you can figure out which one fits your situation. Whether you’re clearing out a single room or tackling a whole-house renovation, the right choice can depend on a handful of factors.