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All your most frequently Googled questions about carpet are answered by Joe Zago, owner of The Carpet Guys.
#1 – Is carpet a conductor or insulator?
Joe Zago: When you shuffle across the carpeted flooring in your socks, it could be quite shocking if you touch your friend. I think carpet is an insulator because it keeps my feet warm.
The Research: Today, an uninsulated home can lose up to 60% of its energy through walls and the attic. We found that carpet is considered a form of insulation. It will help retain heat in your carpeted rooms during the cold months and keep it cool in the warm months. Check out this blog for more information on How to Keep Your House Warm in the Winter.
#2 – Is carpet flammable?
Joe Zago: Anything is flammable if you get it hot enough. For the most part, it’s a little harder for your carpet to catch fire then a lot of other objects in your house. I guess if your house is burning down, the carpet is probably also going to melt with it.
The Research: All carpet and rugs manufactured, imported, or sold in the U.S. must comply with the flammability standards of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. These standards reduce the risks of death, personal injury, and property damage associated with fires that result from the ignition of carpets and rugs. The best naturally fire-resistant fibers are wool and nylon. Call The Carpet Guys for some great wool or nylon options.
#3 – Is CARPET a compound word?
Stick: Some words sound like a compound word like carpet. But the two words “car” and “pet”, though they can stand alone, “carpet’ is not the pet of a car.
The Research: We agree with Stick.
#4 – Is carpet bad for allergies?
Joe Zago: At one point I think there was some concern about it. Over the year’s manufacturers have made some really great strides to eliminate a lot of the VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that were coming out of carpet. So, for people who have very sensitive allergies now-a-days it’s not as much of a concern as it was fifteen or twenty years ago.
Stick: It is always important to use the right vacuum too. Make sure you are using the right vacuum because it may apply to your [carpet] warranty.
Joe Zago: The Carpet and Rug Institute has an article (www.Carpet-Rug.org) with about 812 different vacuums that are approved. You’ll be surprised that the manufacturers will actually void people’s warranties if they are not using a cleaner that’s on that list. And the most common store-bought vacuums are not on that list. List of Certified Vacuums
The Research: There are conflicting reviews, but some studies state that carpet can be beneficial to people with allergies or asthma in some ways because it traps and holds the allergens that may be in the air causing a reaction. This is why it is necessary to use a vacuum that has a small-particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter once a week. You should also have your flooring professionally shampooed once a year (refer to the previous question with a list of approved vacuums and check your carpet warranty for information on how often to professionally clean). The American College of Allergy recommends using a low-pile carpet made of high density, low surface area fibers and coated in fluorocarbon. The Carpet Guys recommend Mohawks hypoallergenic soft flooring Air.o. Give us a call and we can give you a free in-home estimate.
#5 – Is padding recyclable?
Joe Zago: Yes, we recycle padding here all the time at The Carpet Guys! If you have extra pad, bring it to our warehouse and we will recycle it for you. A lot of other places don’t. They just put it in a landfill and it’s kind of counterproductive.
The Research: Padding is recyclable. Padding is also made from recycled materials from the automotive and furniture industries. We cannot recycle seriously soiled or moldy padding. The Carpet Guys will rip up and haul away all your old carpet and padding for FREE! For more information on our padding recycling program check this blog out: The Carpet Guys Save the Earth One Pad at a Time
#6 – Is carpet making a comeback?
Joe Zago: I won’t call it a comeback; it’s been here for years! Carpet been here forever, fuzzy side up, especially here in Michigan [because] it keeps your feet warm.
Stick: How about shag carpet?
Joe Zago: The longer stringier friezes are very popular. We’re seeing a lot of stuff from 20 or 30 years ago that became out of style are now stylish again.
The Research: Just like trends in the fashion industry, what’s popular in the flooring industry ebbs and flows. Shag carpet made popular in the 1960s came in many different colors and pile heights. Now that technology has improved on this frieze style of carpet (where the strands are tightly twisted), it has lots of benefits including its speck and fleck design to hide dirt. It also hides seams if your room is not square and it is soft and plush for families with children that play on the floor. What’s trending right now in flooring is adding texture…frieze style carpets are bulkier and textured beautifully! The Carpet Guys carry many different colors and styles of frieze if you’re looking to be a part of the trend.
