Provider profile
My Carpet Cleaning & Restoration Service
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Silver Spring and Montgomery County homeowners dealing with water damage that has turned into a mold problem, handled by an owner-operated company that has been in business since 1992.
Best for
- Montgomery County homeowners (Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac) who need water damage cleanup that includes mold work under one company.
- Homeowners who want the business owner personally involved in their job rather than dealing with rotating crews from a franchise.
- Insurance claim situations where you need Xactimate-formatted estimates and documentation that matches what your adjuster expects.
- Pet owners with carpet stain and odor problems — this is the company's original specialty, and reviewers consistently confirm results on old, deep stains.
About this company
My Carpet Cleaning & Restoration Service is an owner-operated restoration company based in Silver Spring, Maryland that started as a carpet cleaning business in 1992. Owner Rich Gakavian runs it independently — no franchise, no corporate scripts. Mold remediation is one of several services alongside carpet cleaning, water damage restoration, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, and pet stain removal. The company handles both residential and commercial work.
The water damage side stands out for its equipment and documentation approach. They use thermal imaging cameras to locate hidden moisture behind walls and under floors, follow IICRC S500 standards for water damage restoration, and generate Xactimate estimates — the same pricing software insurance adjusters use. For mold work, they describe using containment barriers, negative air pressure systems, HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, and antimicrobial treatments. They build drying chambers and monitor moisture levels daily until the structure reaches pre-damage levels.
Rich has been running this business for over 30 years and is still personally involved in jobs — reviewers regularly mention him by name showing up, explaining processes, and checking moisture readings. The company is not part of any insurance preferred provider network, which they frame as independence from cost-cap restrictions. They state on their website that if a mold job is too large for them, they will refer the homeowner to a licensed abatement contractor.
A 5.0-star rating across 167 Google reviews is rare at this volume. Most reviews mention Rich by name, and repeat customers appear frequently. The rating reflects a company where the owner is the primary point of contact for most jobs.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland at 15704 Thompson Road. They name Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Columbia, Ellicott City, and Olney as service areas. The website claims a 75-mile radius, which would extend well beyond Montgomery County — confirm coverage for locations outside the named cities.
Review consensus
Rich is named in the vast majority of reviews. Reviewers praise his communication — he explains processes before starting, provides upfront pricing, and follows up. Multiple reviewers describe him as honest, noting he does not oversell or push unnecessary services. Stain removal results draw the strongest praise: reviewers with 10-20 year old carpets, dried paint, pet stains, and sharpie marks report carpets looking new afterward. Several reviewers are repeat customers spanning years. Ahmed (sometimes spelled Ahmet) is mentioned in multiple reviews as part of the crew, with Stan Hall specifically praising the quick response from Rich and two Ahmets after a burst pipe. Herbert Garcia is named by reviewers for carpet work in Ellicott City and hardwood floor cleaning. Jaiden and Damion are each named once for on-site service work.
0 found across 167 total reviews at 5.0★. No recent negative reviews to analyze. The company has maintained a 5.0-star rating across all 167 reviews with zero complaints at 3 stars or below in the last 18 months.
The absence of any negative reviews across 167 total is unusual. This likely reflects the owner-operated model — Rich is personally involved in most jobs, which creates consistent quality control. Multiple reviewers mention being repeat customers over 5-10 years, suggesting the rating reflects genuine long-term satisfaction rather than review management. Several reviewers found MCC through Angi, NextDoor, or Google searches and specifically note that the service matched or exceeded the positive reviews they read.
Rich Gakavian (owner — praised in the majority of reviews for communication, honesty, and hands-on work). Ahmed/Ahmet (crew member — praised by multiple reviewers including Stan Hall and Bob Bruffy for responsive service and carpet cleaning). Herbert Garcia (technician — praised by Mary Kiefner, Johnny Mendez, and Emme for carpet and hardwood floor work). Jaiden (technician — praised by RuthiRuthuutgi Friedman for careful carpet cleaning). Damion (technician — praised by Elaine Conway for carpet and tile work).
With 167 reviews and a 5.0-star rating, this company has an unusually clean track record. Ask for Rich by name when you call — he is the owner and the person most reviewers credit for their experience. If you need mold work, get a separate test from an independent hygienist before agreeing to their remediation scope, since they do both testing and remediation.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest — the company testing for mold has a financial incentive to find it. Consider getting an independent mold test from a separate inspector before committing to remediation work.
- Their primary identity is carpet cleaning; mold remediation is an added service line. If your mold problem is large-scale or involves structural demolition, they may not have the same depth as a company that does mold work exclusively.
- They claim a 75-mile service radius, which would cover a large portion of Maryland. Ask whether your specific location falls within their regular service area or would incur additional travel charges.
- The website mentions referring homeowners to a licensed abatement contractor for larger mold jobs. Ask upfront what size or complexity threshold triggers that referral so you know before work begins.