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Types of Carpet Warranties: Everything You Need to Know

See Types of Carpet Warranties: Everything You Need to Know on the official site of The best carpet cleaning company in the Triad or read the entire post below:

There are a variety of carpet warranty types.

This leads to a lot of confusion—which leads to angry carpet buyers.  Let’s help to remedy some of that now.

Our main goals here:

1. Help carpet shoppers make more informed buying decisions.
2. Help carpet owners keep their warranties active.

Shopper or owner, we’ll assume this is your introduction to the different types of carpet warranties.

Let’s start with:

Why Are There So Many Types of Carpet Warranties?

The truth:

Marketing.

The first warranties were used by nylon carpet companies to set their products apart.  At the time, most carpets were wool.  Bald spots could develop in wool after only a few years.  Nylon held up longer.  It was a smart way to set themselves apart.

Today, carpet manufacturers use warranties in much the same way.

Yet the waters have gotten murkier.

There are more warranty types than ever before.  What’s more, different companies may be responsible for different parts of your warranty.

Manufacturers are generally responsible for the carpet staying together.  Some may pass responsibility for the actual fibers onto their origin (probably a yarn company).  The same goes for stain resistance guarantees.  

Then installation and maintenance play a huge role in the claims process.

Cut through the marketing jargon.  Understand how your specific warranty works.  Then, make sure your carpets remain eligible.  Finish this post until the end and you’ll be a lot closer to making that happen.

7 Types of Warranties (& Counting)

Again, warranties are powerful marketing leverage.

So you’ll probably see these types packaged up under some snazzy name like the “5 Diamond Turbo IronClad Triple 10 Year Promise”.  Cut through the marketing adjectives and get to the specifics.

Read the information and match it up to what you learn here.

Let’s start with the original type of carpet warranty.

Wear Warranty

Carpet wear warranties (aka quality assurance warranties) cover carpet fiber deterioration.

They are still the most common type of warranty.  In fact, they are pretty much standard today.  However, a manufacturer’s definition of “wear” may come as a surprise.

Wear warranties do not cover carpet because it looks worn out.  They only cover fiber deterioration.  Most wear warranties designate 10% fiber loss as a threshold.  You might be surprised how much worse carpet can look without actually losing 10%.

Many wear warranties also specify that they will only cover worn areas.  Therefore, uneven carpets get uneven coverage.  Your “worn spot” becomes a “new spot”.  

Nowadays though, some warranties do extend protection based on appearance.

Stain and/or Soil Warranty

Stain and soil warranties can be separate or bundled.  Stains are defined as discoloration caused by an outside substance.  Soiling is the accumulation of matter that leads to discoloration.

Your warranty may separate stains and soiling or keep them together.

StainMaster, Scotchgard, or another company may be responsible for this.  Such chemical companies provide stain-resistant or soil-fighting solutions.  

Yet, stain resistant does not mean stain proof.  These types of warranties usually involve lots of exclusions.

Coffee, wine, bleach, urine, and other common stains may void warranties.  Acting quickly always helps.  And in some cases, it can keep the warranty active.

Still, there is more to how a carpet appears than how clean it looks.

Appearance Warranty

Appearance retention warranties (aka texture retention warranties) can be one of the best warranty types.  These warranties protect owners from appearance loss due to fibers coming apart.

This is completely different from deterioration.

Carpet fibers are woven together and twisted.  This creates the look and texture that most people are familiar with.  When fibers become undone, they look worn and more easily become matted.  Appearance warranties cover this scenario.  

Texture damage is determined by the “twist level” of the carpet fibers.  Light fraying is not enough damage to trigger coverage.

This type of warranty may be a good sign of quality carpet.  It likely means that the manufacturer is confident their carpet won’t fall apart.  Perhaps you can be too.

Still, there are other issues besides how fibers are woven together.

Matting and Crushing Warranty

Matting and crushing warranties protect against carpet fibers getting stuck together and carpet pile flattening.  These warranties are similar to appearance warranties, but focus on these two issues.

Matting and crushing can be caused by several things.  Unraveling fibers are one of them.  Such issues may be the manufacturer’s fault.

But most issues that cause matting and crushing are in your control.  Moisture is one.  Selecting the wrong carpet for your foot traffic is another one.  Such issues usually void warranties of all types.

In addition, claims can be rejected if initial pile height is restored to a certain percentage.  Steam cleaning followed by pile raking can often achieve this effect—only for the carpet to wilt again later.

Stairs and high moisture areas are usually excluded from carpet warranties.  But they are almost guaranteed on this type of warranty.  After all, carpet in these areas is at high risk for both.

Beyond texture-based warranties, there is still one more type that protects the appearance of your carpets.

Fade Resistance Warranty

Fade resistance warranties are one of the most straightforward types of carpet warranties.  Fading is somewhat independent from the other factors that affect carpet appearance.  As such, manufacturers often include less exclusions.

Protection from direct sunlight is the main requirement to keep these warranties active.  In many cases, this will be all you need to protect against fading anyway.

Like other warranties, fade resistance warranties instill confidence in buyers.  But they can also encourage them to take care of their carpets (which is probably even more important than how warranties work).

With that said, more warranty types emerge as carpet manufacturing continues to advance.  

Whatever the sales pitch:

Take care of your carpets and you’ll probably never need your manufacturer’s warranty.  

You might actually want to spend a little more time worrying about who you have install your carpets.

Carpet Installation Warranty

You need a warranty or satisfaction guarantee from your carpet installer.  If not, you run the risk of voiding all other warranties you may otherwise be eligible for.

Incorrectly installed carpets are prone to damage.  As such, they almost always void your warranty.

Incorrect installation can cause:

• Surface wrinkles or folds
• Frayed and loose edges at borders
• Buckling and divots
• Rough and uneven edges near walls

Each of these can lead to accelerated deterioration of carpet appearance and texture.

Assume carpets must be installed to CR-105 (carpet installation industry) standards.  Otherwise, you void all claims that involve seams, wrinkles, and tuft loss.

If you go with a private contractor for your installation, this is all on you.  But if you go through your carpet dealer, they may assume part of the responsibility.

Your local carpet retailer may even offer their own:

Carpet Dealer’s Warranty

A carpet dealer’s warranty acts as a supplement to manufacturer’s warranties.  They are backed by the carpet retailer, and may provide more or less coverage than the manufacturer.

A dealer’s warranty is only as credible as that dealer’s business.

Look for carpet retailers who have been in business for a long time.  Positive reviews are also a good sign.  You might find a well-respected dealer whose added coverage is a real asset.

Specialized carpet retailers work with carpet manufacturers everyday.  This gives them valuable insight.  They often understand exactly what it takes to win warranty claims.

On the other hand, be wary of making a buying decision based on a dealer’s warranty.  Not all retailers are created equal.  For some businesses, such a warranty is little more than a marketing ploy.  

Anyway, choose a reputable dealer, warranty or not.

The best advice might extend this statement to:

Choose high quality carpet, warranty or not.

Which leaves the question...

What Does It All Mean?

The most important thing you need to know:

Warranties are crafted by marketing teams.  Treat them as such.

They are designed to make your investment sound more attractive.  And they are good at it.  They can tell you what a manufacturer thinks about its own product.  But don’t be completely taken in by them.

There are plenty of things we didn’t talk about here.

For instance, nearly all carpet warranties require professional carpet cleaning from an IICRC certified cleaner every 18-24 months.  There are also a variety of exclusions we have only begun to touch on here.

Warranty documents tend to be 30-50 pages.  Essential language may be buried within.  At the very worst, it could be so ambiguous there is no telling what is actually covered.

Our best advice is this:

Buy high quality carpet, from a high quality retailer.  Then, take care of it.

This way, you give your carpets a chance to last beyond the terms of your warranty anyway.

At ProTech, we do everything we can to help our clients keep their carpet warranties active.  Education is always the first step.  But if you are serious about maintaining your warranty, professional cleaning is crucial.  If you live in the Triad and have questions about taking care of your carpets, don't hesitate to to give us a call today at (336) 202-2061. Not only can we help keep warranties active, we may even be able to add years to the life of your carpet as well.

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The Unseen Dangers Lurking within Your Dirty, Nasty, Disgusting Carpets

See The Unseen Dangers Lurking within Your Dirty, Nasty, Disgusting Carpets on the official site of Greensboro's best residential & commercial carpet cleaning company or read the entire post below:

Humans are easily fooled by appearances.

This is true when it comes to the state of our carpets.  We notice stains, sure.  But the surface only tells part of the story.

The fact is:

If you had the slightest idea the kind of nasty things are that living in your carpet, you would be probably start deep cleaning right now.

Warning: this article is not for the faint of heart!

4 Disgusting Facts About Your Carpet

Few outside the carpet cleaning industry are aware of how nasty carpets can be.

In truth, most carpets provide a breeding ground for all sorts of nefarious little creatures.  This is true regardless of location.  Both residential and commercial carpets are at risk.

Here’s a few facts that might surprise (and disturb) you.

(Continue reading at your own peril.  This information cannot be unlearned.)

Carpet Holds 4 Times Its Weight in Dirt.

Let that sink in.  Oh wait… it already did!

Dirt and whatever else gets tracked into your home often settles into the depths of your carpet.  Over time, this accumulation can outweigh your carpet itself.  Hidden well below the surface, few would ever expect this.

75% of People Walk on Carpet with Dirty Shoes.

This one shouldn’t surprise you at all.

Just don’t let that expectation make you numb to it.  Not only do you carpets end up holding what your family brings in, but they also capture what your guests bring in.  Your own dirt is one thing, but the dirt of others?  Intolerable!

Indoor Air Quality May Be 8-10 Times Worse Than Outdoor Air Quality.

This one always seems to surprise.

Textiles in your home absorb an array of contaminants.  This includes both the living (germs) and non-living (dirt and dust).  Every step you take on a dirty carpet sends invisible clouds of nasty into the air.  Dirtier carpets means dirtier air.

Carpet May Hold up to 200,000 Bacteria Per Square Inch.

That is about 4000 times more than your toilet.  No joke.

Every carpet is unique.  But maintenance schedule is more important than the material or length of the fibers.  The longer you allow your carpets to go uncleaned, the more unclean they become—putting your family in increasing harm.

What’s Living in Your Carpets

Your carpet essentially absorbs organic matter all day.

This includes:

• Food, Beverages, Moisture
• Dirt, Dust, Pollen, Smoke
• Hair, Skin Cells, Nastier Human Stuff
• Whatever Your Kids Dragged In
• The Presents Your Pet Leaves for You

Bit by bit it all adds up.  All the gross stuff breaks down, sinks to the bottom, and rots.  It gradually gives your carpets a darker overtone and a nice smell to go along with it.

The longer you neglect it, the worse it gets.  But that’s not the true problem.

The problem is all the things that feed on the rotting organic matter.  Those are the things that get you and your family sick.

Let’s talk about a few of them, starting with one you probably suspect.

Mold

Your carpets are one of the most high-risk areas for mold growth.

Airborne mold spores land on carpet fibers and find themselves comfortable and well-nourished.  Mold often finds everything it needs to grow and thrive in your carpets.

Moisture is the biggest factor for mold growth.  Mold loves humid climates, like we have in North Carolina.  Carpets near bathrooms, basements, or other damp parts of your home are at a high risk.  Moisture provided by air conditioning contributes as well.

Mold is hard to detect without an expert.  It is rarely visible, lurking in the far reaches of your home.  You don’t even know it is there, and yet it is spreading.  This is unfortunate because it can negatively impact your health.

Allergens produced by mold affect people in different ways.  Reactions and severity may be different.  But generally, allergic mold reactions are limited to symptoms like skin rashes, cold-like symptoms, or difficulty breathing.

Some mold also produces mycotoxins—toxic compounds that can have serious health effects.  In fact, one of those effects is that it makes you more sensitive to the next unsavory character on our list.

Bacteria

Carpet can be a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria.  

And this isn’t just any bacteria.  We’re talking about strains responsible for the some of the most illnesses, hospitalizations, and even deaths in the United States.

Some of these notorious bacteria include:

Salmonella

This bacteria is often spread to your carpet by tracking in feces, from people and our animals.  Contaminated food and other outside substances can contain it as well.  Salmonella infections can result in diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramping.  Young children and the elderly are especially at risk.

Campylobacter

Campylobacter is commonly found in moist or damp carpets.  This bacteria needs an especially moisture-rich environment.  But it needs little oxygen to thrive.  Campylobacter infections cause an illness called campylobacteriosis, which can lead to diarrhea or dysentery syndrome.

E Coli

Perhaps the most notorious bacteria out there, E. coli is not to be taken lightly.  It can come from raw food products in your home or tracked in by your family.  Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.  In more severe cases, it can lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration, or kidney failure.

You never want to underestimate the power in little things.  And these little things could make a big difference in the lives of your family.

Unfortunately, mold and bacteria aren’t the only threats.

Other Harmful Things

Unfortunately, plenty of creepy little things love consuming rotting organic matter.

For instance, many insects thrive on a concoction of food residue, pet feces, and other insects.  And they can continue to thrive on it as it rots away beneath the surface of your carpet.  

What’s more:

Tiny channels within your home can provide direct routes to your kitchen or bedroom.  Even worse, some of the organic matter will inevitably escape the carpet to land as dust around your home.

Obviously, such insects transmit disease.  This should be motivation enough.  But sometimes, dirty carpets can get you sick without any extra help.

Norovirus is a contagious stomach and intestinal virus.  It can survive in carpets for an extended period of time.  This is one of the things that make norovirus outbreaks difficult to control.

Steam cleaning is the safest way to fight norovirus in carpets.  However, it’s crucial that steam temperatures reach 170° for at least five minutes.  This can be hard to do without the help of a professional.

Norovirus can be life threatening for young children, the elderly, and those with other health conditions.  And it’s clearly not the only virus that could survive in to your carpets.  In fact, contaminated textiles throughout your home can help sickness spread.

We are actually exposed to such microorganisms on a regular basis.  The problem is that our homes too often foster their growth.  Then, our immune systems are eventually overtaken through repeated exposure.

Fortunately, the solution is simple.  And no, you don’t have to burn your house down.

What To Do About Carpet Contaminants

You have to keep them clean.

And while regular vacuuming is a great first step, professional deep cleaning is a must.  Household vacuums don’t have the power to pull debris from below the surface.  Even dry vacuuming from a professional probably won't be enough.

But don’t just take it from us.  We’re only agreeing with the Huffington Post.

In our opinion, regular professional carpet cleaning is one of the most powerful ways to keep your family well.

You might think about it like this:

Deep cleaning your carpet will remove thousands of times more germs from your home than cleaning your bathroom.  This includes some of the most likely to cause illness.

A professional cleaner has a variety of techniques to deal with embedded carpet contaminants.  In addition to fighting sickness, this also helps your carpets last.  In fact, most carpet warranties mandate professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months.  Pause and think why this might be.

You may have recently moved into your home.  Or, you may have been living in the same place for 20 years.  Either way, it’s a good time to start keeping a regular schedule of professional carpet cleaning.

Better yet, choose a certified Senior Carpet Inspector who can better identify what you need.

No matter who you choose, professional deep cleaning will benefit you and your family in the long run.

If you live in the Triad and are looking for someone to rid your home of it’s tiny invaders, look no Further than ProTech Carpet Care. Call us at (336) 202-2061. Leave questions or comments below.  And please, like and share this post so that others might consider what unseen dangers may lie beneath their feet.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Techniques: Everything You Need to Know

See Professional Carpet Cleaning Techniques: Everything You Need to Know on the official site of Greensboro's best commercial carpet cleaning company or read the entire post below:

As a certified Master Textile Cleaner, I get lots of questions about different carpet cleaning techniques.

Most people have heard of "steam cleaning".  But professional carpet cleaners actually have a variety of techniques.  Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

In this post, we will explore the top 5 professional carpet cleaning techniques.

You'll probably never need to use them yourself.  But this post will help you to understand your cleaner's recommendations.  You'll also find out exactly what to expect from each method.  After all, educated consumers are always happier consumers.  They save money and end up with the results they are looking for.

Keep reading to become one of them.

Why Are There So Many Carpet Cleaning Techniques?

Textiles come in all shapes and sizes.

Any decent professional carpet cleaning company can clean carpets, rugs, upholstery, other household textiles.  Some—like ProTech Carpet Care—can even go beyond this to clean tile, leather, or your air ducts!  Each material presents unique problems.  Therefore, each requires unique solutions.

The five most common professional carpet cleaning techniques are:

1. Hot Water Extraction ("Steam Cleaning")
2. Absorbent Compound ("Dry Cleaning")
3. Bonnet Cleaning
4. Carpet Shampooing
5. Encapsulation

The following are just a few of the most commonly used techniques in a true carpet cleaning expert's bag of tricks.

Hot Water Extraction

Otherwise known as steam cleaning, this is easily the most common professional carpet cleaning technique.

Steam cleaning uses hot water at high pressure to penetrate into carpet fibers, breaking down the dirt and bacteria stored deep within.  The hot water is then extracted via vacuum.  This is where the technical name "hot water extraction" comes from.

The cleaning process begins with the application of a cleaning agent onto the target area.  The cleaning agent is then spread via brush, break up dirt.  The actual hot water extraction only comes into play once the cleaning agent is given time to do its work.

Steam cleaning can take an hour to clean an average home, and twice that for carpet to dry.  Offices and other commercial properties can take much longer.  Performing commercial cleaning jobs later in the day is a common practice as the it can allow time for carpets to dry overnight.

In some cases though, a few hours of damp carpets simply isn't an option.

Absorbent Compound

Absorbent compound cleaning is more commonly known as "dry carpet cleaning".

Dry cleaning uses an absorbent compound that binds to dirt and other substances in your carpet.

Most of the time, a mechanical brush is used to distribute absorbent compounds and disrupt dirty fibers.  The compound is given time to separate dirt from the carpet fibers.  Then, it is vacuumed up with a professional-strength dry vacuum.

This technique is best for those who need a deep clean but want to avoid wet carpets altogether.

Bonnet Cleaning

Unlike the previous carpet cleaning methods, bonnet cleaning mainly focuses on the carpet’s surface.

"Bonnet machines” are equipped with a spinning pad soaked in cleaning solution.  They essentially polish the carpet's surface, removing dirt and grime.

Bonnet cleaning is common in hotels and other commercial businesses in need of a spruce-up.  It is one of the fastest professional carpet cleaning techniques.  But it can still make a noticeable difference in carpet appearance.

However, bonnet cleaning is more of a quick fix than a long lasting solution.  The soil in the lower layers of the carpet eventually rises back to the surface.  This means repeat treatment is usually necessary sooner than for deep cleaning methods. Bonnet cleaning can also leave a chemical residue.

Carpet Shampooing

Carpet shampooing is one of the oldest professional carpet cleaning techniques still used today.

It was the go-to method for heavy-duty carpet cleaning for quite a long time.  The process has evolved since its origins but only in terms of the technology used.

Today, carpet shampooing involves a foaming substance that is applied and worked into the carpet with a brush machine.  Wet vacuuming is then performed to remove the “shampoo” as well as the dirt attached to it.

The carpet requires some time to dry.  Then dry vacuuming removes any leftover residue.

Encapsulation

This technique sounds fancy, and in a sense it is.  

Encapsulation cleaning uses synthetic foam detergents that are worked into the carpet via brush machine.  The foam crystallizes into a powder.  As it does so, it encapsulates soil present in the carpet.  The powder is then vacuumed up, with the dirt along with it.

Encapsulation is often favored over carpet shampooing because it leaves behind no residue, takes less time to dry, and uses less water.

Still, encapsulation cleaning is not ideal for all circumstances.  Most carpet cleaning professionals do not use encapsulation on heavily soiled carpets.  It is simply not as effective.

In the end, recognizing the best solution requires both education and experience.

---

As service industry professionals, it is our job to help educate our clients.

But more importantly, it is our duty to have the practical knowledge required to get the job done.  Ironically enough, asking your carpet cleaner questions  is one of the best ways to decide which carpet cleaner to choose.  Technicians that know what they are doing can explain why any given method is best for your particular textile.

If your carpet cleaner can't explain their recommendations, you might want to take a look at some other options.

If you live in Triad, we'd like to encourage you to call ProTech Carpet Care - The Triads True Carpet Cleaning Experts at (336) 202-2061 for a free estimate.  In addition to client education, we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee—as any true service-industry professional should.  If you have a question of comment, leave it below.  And please, feel free like and share this post with a friend or two who may need our services.