Carpet buckling for first time in 27 years

[DrummerTW]

I'm getting 4 hr dry times normally and I had a customer send pics that his carpet buckled in all 3 rooms.. no furniture moved around after cleaning.. and carpets were dry 100% in less than 6 hrs. It rained its ass off all day where we were. I've never had carpet buckle before in 33,000 jobs. I'm using much more powerful equipment. What causes this other than excessive humidity levels in the home.. I know overwetting can obviously be a factor.. but w a 6 hr dry time.. that cant be the issue.. any ideas how to explain this so customer doesnt complain

 

[keep it clean]

You sure they were 100% dry? Ide give it a day or so see if it goes back down. The backing expands when wet like wood does. Then shrinks when dry. Humidity can be causing some issues. Or it is just the carpeting was not stretched initially.

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

Even though it feels dry on top there’s still some trace moisture in the backing. Explain that some backings expand with moisture much like a dry sponge expands when wet. As the backing completely dries the buckles will go away.

By the way, it doesn’t take much moisture, I’ve literally watched carpets buckle up as I’ve presprayed before.

I’ve had this happen personally probably 15-20 times over the last 25 years and every single time the carpet went back down within 24 hours. Tell the customer 48 hours just to be safe.

 

[Joshua Johnson]

I'm getting 4 hr dry times normally and I had a customer send pics that his carpet buckled in all 3 rooms.. no furniture moved around after cleaning.. and carpets were dry 100% in less than 6 hrs. It rained its ass off all day where we were. I've never had carpet buckle before in 33,000 jobs. I'm using much more powerful equipment. What causes this other than excessive humidity levels in the home.. I know overwetting can obviously be a factor.. but w a 6 hr dry time.. that cant be the issue.. any ideas how to explain this so customer doesnt complain

There's a major carpet retailer/installer in my area that is notorious for not power stretching during installation.

If this is the 1st time you've seen this in 25 years, you must have good local installers.

Itll returns to normal once it's dry, in about 48 hours to be safe. Then they should have the carpet "restretched".

 

[brian3180]

When I power stretch an area I go to the center of the room and see if I can lift up on the carpet. It should be almost as "tight as a drum". I bet if you go back to that home and lift up on the carpet you will get a lot of slack that comes up.

 

[keep it clean]

When I power stretch an area I go to the center of the room and see if I can lift up on the carpet. It should be almost as "tight as a drum". I bet if you go back to that home and lift up on the carpet you will get a lot of slack that comes up.

Easy way to visualy check is look around feet of heavy furniture. There will be bumps there as the carpet can't migrate past them. Also the walls against base. The carpet will bulge up over the tack strip. If tight it will be flat on the strip. Loose it cant expand any more and lifts itself up off of the strip.

 

[Fedri]

It will settle back in 24-48 hours. I had couple in the last few months that the customer brought it to my attention but both time corrected itself.

 

[mrotto]

I actually carry copies of a Cleanfax article about why carpet buckles written by Tom Hill. I can tell them why it happens but when I can back it up by an industry expert it makes it more logical.

However I did clean for a repeat customer just a couple weeks ago. The carpet never buckled in the past but this time it did. Go figure.

It did lay flat afterwords.

 

[jtsunbrite]

its from not powerstretching , could happen to any of us, its happened to me a few times... give 2 days and if you have to go stretch it back but charge them something, you didn't cause it.

 

[Smtwn janitorial]

I thought most carpet cleaners experienced this within their first month or two of buisness. It will fix itself unless there is a strange install problem going on.

 

[DrummerTW]

 

[keep it clean]

View attachment 84779

Bet you 20 bucks all those wrinkles are in the width
Thats not at all your fault. Carpet needs to be stretched in.

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

I thought most carpet cleaners experienced this within their first month or two of buisness. It will fix itself unless there is a strange install problem going on.

Ha, I still remember the first time it happened to me. I had been cleaning for a year or so working for a big franchise. I called my boss and told him we would be replacing a house full of carpet. He asked what was going on and I told him, he laughed at me and said not to worry about it and it would go back down the next day.

It was funny to him but it freaked me out.

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

I actually carry copies of a Cleanfax article about why carpet buckles written by Tom Hill. I can tell them why it happens but when I can back it up by an industry expert it makes it more logical.

However I did clean for a repeat customer just a couple weeks ago. The carpet never buckled in the past but this time it did. Go figure.

It did lay flat afterwords.

That’s a great idea. Can you post a link to the article here so everyone can share it.

 

[Joe cool]

CGD can be caused by excessive heat.

 

[EVDOG]

It's never happened to me. Now you guys are starting to freak me the hell out.

 

[DakotaG]

Threads like this are great because I've never had it happen to me either but now I will know!

 

[Jim Davisson]

The places I see happen the most on the ground floor is over a crawl space and on the second floor over the garage. These areas are not, heated and cooled underneath and are typically the biggest culprits. I've never had it happen with a heated and cooled space under the room. On cement slabs in the winter with high heat I've had multiple long rows in the width of the carpet puff up. I always reassure the customer that this can happen, it will go away. Never had to stretch one out so far, but people do get worked up about it.

 

[Rick J]

I'm getting 4 hr dry times normally and I had a customer send pics that his carpet buckled in all 3 rooms.. no furniture moved around after cleaning.. and carpets were dry 100% in less than 6 hrs. It rained its ass off all day where we were. I've never had carpet buckle before in 33,000 jobs. I'm using much more powerful equipment. What causes this other than excessive humidity levels in the home.. I know overwetting can obviously be a factor.. but w a 6 hr dry time.. that cant be the issue.. any ideas how to explain this so customer doesnt complain

I ;have had some do that. Normally not an issue as stated when they dry. But, in some high end homes they may have a continuouis loop construction. Often very nice stuff. I think these may have a slghtly higher chance of this happening due to the tensions running through it, that are not present in tufted.

 

[The Cleaning Artist]

It happens, the cause can be from not enough stretch from installation or other unforseen factor, moisture(humidity)and or heat from cleaning(happens when not enough stretch). If it was not there previous to cleaning it should go away after a few days. But the carpets need to be stretched regardless. NOT your problem as it was an underlying problem b4 the cleaning. Always make sure to note any and all loose carpets before and/or during cleaning when it's noticed. Installers are just as bad or worse than some carpet cleaners.