Why Does my Carpet Have Waves?

05 Mar Why Does my Carpet Have Waves?

What’s Causing Those Carpet Ripples?

If you look across your carpet and see amber waves of fiber, you know something’s wrong. What’s causing all those ripples and waves in your wall-to-wall carpet, and what can you do to fix it? Read on to learn more.

It Wasn’t Installed Properly

If your carpet was recently installed, it may not have been installed properly. The installers might not have used a knee kicker or a power stretcher. If that’s the case, contact the installation company and ask if they can come back and re-stretch the carpet using one of these tools.

If it was recently installed, it might still be under an installation warranty. Contact the company that installed it and ask to schedule a carpet stretch. Make sure to confirm that they will use a knee kicker or a power stretcher.

If it’s out of warranty or there was no installation warranty, you’ll have to pay to have it done. This might sting on top of the money that you just shelled out for the carpet, but it costs less than getting new carpet installed.

It Was Improperly Cleaned

Cleaning products and machines that leave behind too much water frequently cause rippling. If you used a rented machine to clean your carpet, you may have left too much moisture behind. This moisture lifts the carpet and loosens the glue that helps to hold it down.

You’ll get better results with a professional cleaning company that uses steam cleaning to lift out dirt, odors, and allergens.

It’s Older Carpet

After several years, carpets start to stretch out and come loose from their fixed position. Some carpets can last for years without rippling, while others start coming loose after just a couple of years.

If your carpet is more than 10 years old, many carpet repair companies won’t re-stretch it. They worry that the carpet is too thin and worn and will tear if it’s stretched. If that’s the case, ask a repair professional for suggestions.

It’s Inexpensive Carpet

Some inexpensive carpets don’t have fibers that are strong and flexible enough to withstand being stretched. If that’s the type of carpet you have, talk to a carpet repair professional about a possible fix. These experts generally know different techniques for repairing all kinds of carpet.

How to Get Carpet Stretched

The first thing to remember is that this is not a DIY job. Although a carpet stretch might seem simple and straightforward, it requires specialized experience. Doing an improper job will result in a torn carpet and just make the rippling problem worse. Make sure you hire an experienced, knowledgeable carpet repair professional.

How Carpet Re-Stretching is Done

Carpet stretching usually involves the following steps.

• The carpet expert pulls the carpet to the corners to see how much slack needs to be taken up.
• He or she then cut the excess fabric from the carpet.
• The carpet is rolled back out, stretched and re-attached to the floor.
• Even if only a small section of the floor has rippled, the whole carpet has to be stretched.

For Best Results, Get Your Carpets Cleaned

Most carpet experts recommend getting your carpet professionally cleaned after a stretch. This two-step process will make your carpet look fresh and new. A professional cleaning job that doesn’t dump excess moisture into the carpet is your best choice.

To get your carpet looking like new, contact Carpet Keepers. Our patented, nontoxic cleaning system leaves your carpet soft, fresh-smelling and spotless. If you want a carpet that keeps its good looks and its freshness for many years, give Carpet Keepers a call.