Carpet FAQ

19 Jun, 2015 Carpet 0 Comments 0

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Problems

How can I eliminate mold?

The first thing to take care about is the source of the water. Always remember that leaks should be repaired right away. We recommend you calling a professional who specializes in water damaged carpets to take care of the problem.

Are non-molding fibers available?

No. Mold grows on any type of fiber if there is a source of food or water for it to feed on. Carpets should always be kept clean and dry to avoid mold.

What options are available for carpet soaked due to flooding?

You should call a professional to help you extract the water within 12 to 24 hours after the incident. Professionals will help ensure the carpet and padding are completely dry.

Mold can set in if the carpet remains soaked for more than 24 hours. It is better to replace the damaged carpet and padding if the flooding involves sewage.

If my carpet has been soaked, does the pad need to be replaced?

In most cases the answer is yes. Contact a professional as soon as possible. The cushion is difficult to dry quickly and, if left too wet for too long, can grow mold.

If sewage soaks my carpet, how can I save it?

It doesn’t exist a method to effectively sanitize carpet. Contact a carpet restoration specialist to help you properly dispose of it.

Why are my carpet seams unraveling?

Loop-pile carpet unravels for numerous causes. When the installer put the carpet in, he may have cut a few of the loops. The carpet can begin to unravel if the seams are not sealed with a latex binder during installation. The toenails of your pets could easily get caught in the loops and make them unravel.

What is causing my carpet to buckle?

Carpet can buckle for numerous reasons. It is very likely to see buckling if the carpet was not stretched correctly during the installation. If too much water was used during cleaning, it may also lead to buckling.

What’s the difference between shading and fading?

Shading refers to color changes due to normal wear and tear and the carpet and fading refers to the carpet becoming lighter in color as a result of exposure to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Why is my new carpet shredding?

Shredding is frequent for new carpets. Pieces from the factory will fall onto the pile of the carpet and become lose after it is installed in case of the carpet is made with staple carpet fibers. The shredding will not last long if regularly vacuumed.

Cushion / Underpadding

Can I get a carpet padding that will not smell?

Many carpet manufacturers take part in an emissions test handled by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and the Carpet Cushion Counsel. Look for a green and white label on the sample to indicate that the cushion has the lowest possible emissions.

What carpet padding produces the least odor?

The CRI’s label on the sample means that the carpet has low level emissions. Remember that after the carpet is installed, you need to ventilate the room for up to 72 hours to eliminate odors.

What kind of carpet padding should I use for my installation?

If you are using a cut pile carpet, select a firm cushion that is not thicker than 7/16’’. The cushion should be very firm and no thicker than 3/8’’ in case of using Berber or commercial carpet.

Asthma & Allergies

What does IAQ mean? Why does it matter?

IAQ is a abbreviation for the Indoor Air Quality and has the purpose of estimating the indoor air quality of a home by also measuring the volatile organic chemical (VOC) emissions from carpeting.

Is formaldehyde used at making carpets?

No, formaldehyde is not used to manufacture any modern carpet.

Does the VOCs from carpets impact health?

The answer is generally no. Today’s carpet does not emit high levels of VOCs and is produced with strict IAQ requirements in mind, making it safe for all. Those with bad allergies or sensitivities to latex should consider keeping the installation area well ventilated for up to 72 hours after the installation is complete.

Is carpet a good choice for a person with allergies?

Dust and allergens are trapped in carpet fibers until the carpet is vacuumed. With other floor surfaces that must be swept, dust and allergens can easily be stirred up in the air and inhaled or ingested. In conclusion, carpets are usually better for someone with allergies. Looking at the other side of things though, if the carpet is left exposed to moisture or kept excessively dirty, the carpet can mold and mildew, which can aggravate allergies. Steam cleaning the carpet on a regular basis will also greatly reduce allergens.

What kind of carpet should I use in a home with an asthmatic?

Even there is no published scientific research linking carpet to asthma or allergies, you can minimize the risk by purchasing carpet and padding that comes with the Green label for low emissions. Don’t forget to keep the area well ventilated during and up to 72 hours after the installation.

How can I remove my old carpet without setting off allergies or an asthma attack?

Vacuum the carpet before removing it. After the carpet and pad have been removed, the floor should be vacuumed again before the new carpet and padding are installed. It may be a good idea for you to be out of the home for the first 24 hours.

How will carpet affect me if I have allergies to dust and pollen?

People with allergies should vacuum their carpet on a regular basis (once or twice a week). Every year you should have the carpet professionally cleaned. When the carpet is properly cleaned and maintained it can serve as an effective trap for allergens.

Is there an allergy free carpet available?

There is no allergy free carpet or other floor covering. Check the back of all the samples for the CRI Green Label, which signifies low emissions. Vacuum the carpet on a regular basis (once or twice a week). Professionally clean the carpet according to manufacturer’s recommendations every 12 to 18 months.

What if I’m allergic to latex?

Latex used in carpet manufacturing is a synthetic and it doesn’t contain the same protein enzymes that people with latex allergies are allergic to.

Does carpet produce emissions?

New carpets have low emissions. Selecting a carpet with low emissions, keeping it clean, and keeping the area ventilated for a while after installation is how you could make sure you will have excellent indoor air quality.

How long will my new carpet have gas emissions?

The O³ emission level of new carpet will fall drastically during the first 24 hours after installation. The emissions will reach an undetectable level within 72 hours if the location is ventilated.

Where is the new carpet odor coming from?

It is most likely the odor comes from the synthetic latex used to bind the carpet fibers to the backing. Don’t worry, the odor is not harmful and will go away in a couple of days.

Which has better indoor air quality: natural or synthetic fibers?

All categories of carpet release low emission. The emissions typically come from the binder, not the fibers themselves. Fibers may absorb environmental odor (for example smoke) and release them continuously.

If I get rid of my carpet, will my allergy symptoms disappear?

Chances are it will not. Hard floor surfaces requiring sweeping which will stir up dust and dirt into the air. If you remove carpet, the dust and dirt can no longer get trapped in the fiber and will be in the air.

Why does my doctor recommend getting rid of my carpet if it won’t help my symptoms?

Doctors generally practice avoidance measures. They recommend eliminating carpets since carpets can trap allergens. After the carpet is removed, the allergens will be found in the air.

If I remove the carpet in my home or the carpet is removed in my child’s school, will it create more allergy symptoms?

This may happen. For example schools which have eliminated carpets, have reported an increase in allergy symptoms. According to that, many school systems have gone back to using carpets in order to reduce allergy symptoms.

Adhesives

I’m allergic to odors produced by adhesives, and my carpet is being installed with the glue down method. What can I do?

We recommend you asking for the adhesive to be tested and comply with the CRI IAQ testing program. If the adhesive meets program requirements, it means it has low emissions that shouldn’t bother your allergies for long.

How can I found out if my carpet adhesive is eco-friendly?

Let your installer know you want to use an adhesive that complies with CRI’s IAQ. Check for a Green Label on the bucket of adhesive.

General Carpet Questions

Will the emission from my new carpet installation harm my exotic birds?

Keep the room well ventilated after the installation in order to remove the odor. Do not keep the birds in the newly carpeted room for the first 48 to 72 hours after installation.

Will the emission from my new carpet installation cause any long-term health issues?

Lingering emissions will not last long, and the emissions themselves will be low. The key is to keep the room well ventilated with good airflow for up to 72 hours after installation.

How can I select a durable carpet?

No single fiber is perfect for every environment. When choosing a durable carpet, it is important to remember that the carpet construction impacts the durability. If you’re looking for a carpet ideal for a heavy traffic area, look for a dense carpet with a short pile less than ½ of an inch for increased durability. If you opt for cut pile, use a tight twist carpet.

Two weeks after my carpet installation, I still smell emission odors. What do you suggest?

You should try having the carpet professionally steam cleaned.

Is a label other than green and white valid for low emissions certification?

Carpet manufacturers do not have to use the CRI’s green and white label and may choose to use their own but the label must specify low emissions.

After touching the carpet, my child broke out in hives. What should I do?

It is less likely that the reaction is related to the carpet itself. It is likely the the reaction is related to a cleaning or finishing product used on the carpet. We recommend you having the carpet professionally steam cleaned.

Tell me more about the styles of carpet and their benefits.

Carpet is can be found in cut pile, loop pile, and cut loop styles. While cut pile is versatile and elegant, loop pile is good for high traffic areas. Cut and loop present a variety of textures and designs, and hides dirt well.

What is corn based carpet fiber?

A new carpet manufacturing process is being utilized by some manufacturers in order to allow them to make carpet fibers from corn kernel sugars because this is an eco-friendly method.

What’s wrong with my new carpet in my new house? I’ve got a stuffy nose. What can I do?

Irritating nose could come from different sources. If you suspect it is the carpet, we recommend you keeping the area ventilated for up to 72 hours after the installation.

Does carpet really emit gas for two years?

New carpet will emit odors for up to 72 hours after installation. Keep the area well ventilated during this time and you should never have problems.

What does the CRI label on the back of the carpet mean?

If this label is on the back of carpet or padding, it means it has been tested and meets requirements for low emissions.

Installation

How long does the new carpet odor last and where does it come from?

The odors result of low levels of VOCs from the fibers of the carpet. If you keep the room well ventilated, the odor will go away within 72 hours after installation is complete.

Why can I see seams? My installer told me I wouldn’t be able to see them.

All seams will be visible to a certain degree but in order to reduce visibility, the seam should run along the length of the room to avoid natural light hitting them.

Why are the seams raveling in my new Berber carpet?

It is most likely that the seams weren’t sealed.

I’m installing carpet on my stairs. Which direction should the pile go in?

The carpet pile should go up the stairs in order to help prevent slips and falls.

Some carpet is measured in square feet, and other carpet is measured by square yard. What happened?

The change in measurement from square yard to square foot was recently made to help reduce confusion for homeowners, since most rooms are measured in square footage.

I have radiant heat. Can I install carpet?

Carpet can be installed over radiant heat systems but firstly you have to make sure to use a synthetic or rubber padding with a thickness no greater than 3/8’’.

I’m installing carpet over radiant heat. What padding should I use?

You could go either with a flat rubber or synthetic padding that is no thicker than 3/8’’.

Cleaning & Maintenance

What kind of vacuum should I purchase?

You should use a vacuum approved through the CRI’s IQA program. These vacuums have been tested for their ability to remove dirt and dust from the carpet fibers.

Is it safe to use a beater bar or brush on my wool carpet?

We don’t recommend you using a beater bar or brush on wool carpet.

When I purchase a vacuum, does it need to have a HEPA filter?

They do not have to. If the vacuum displays the CRI testing program label, it is certified to effectively remove and contain dust, dirt, and debris.

If I steam clean my carpet, will it mold?

It will not mold if your wet carpet is dried within 12 hours. When cleaned with steam, the carpet should not be wet enough to mold.

Why did my carpet retailer tell me not to have my carpet cleaned on a regular basis?

It is important to professionally clean your carpet according to the manufacturer’s directions at least once every 12 to 18 months.

How frequently should I vacuum my floor?

We recommend you vacuuming your carpet at least once or twice a week.

How should my carpet be cleaned?

Vacuum the carpet on a regular basis, at least once or twice a week. Schedule a professional steam cleaning once every 12 to 18 months. To remove stains, use water and blot rather than rub to avoid damaging the fibers.

What is steam cleaning?

This is the name for “hot water extraction.” It does not produce any steam, but removes dust, dirt, and debris from deep within the fibers.

Knowledge is Power