Instant gratification has become pivotal in modern society. Why take time doing something when it can just be automated?
Which brings us to self-adjusting vacuums. Why buy one that you have to adjust when you can just buy a vacuum that does it automatically? For a big reason, it turns out. We’ll discuss it here.
Unwanted Damage and Discontinued Warranties
This is probably the biggest problem facing self-adjusting vacuums. The vacuum you use could actually void your carpet’s warranty. That’s because most carpet flooring products come with specific guidelines for how it should be cleaned. Unfortunately, very few people actually read the documentation.
It’s just not as clear-cut as it use to be. There are more carpet flooring options than ever. They come in different sizes, pile heights, materials, and more. So, vacuums are no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. Some vacuums, even common models, will damage specific types of carpet.
What if I’ve Already Used the Wrong Vacuum?
This news may come as a bit of a shock to most homeowners. Your installer may not have even told you that your carpet comes with warranty documents! So, what if you’ve already used the wrong vacuum?
Fortunately, that won’t always automatically violate your warranty. If your carpet is relatively new and hasn’t been damaged yet, you may still be in the clear. However, damage resulting from the wrong vacuum is easy for manufacturers to spot – and could be difficult for you to notice.
The Confusion with Approved Vacuums
So, how do you determine which vacuums are safe for your carpet? Carpet manufacturers will often include a list of approved vacuums in their documentation. Some mistake that as a list of the only vacuum cleaners that can be used on their carpet.
However, this isn’t always the case. Your vacuum may still be covered by the warranty even if it isn’t listed in the manufacturer’s documentation. Why? Because it’s the vacuum’s features that really matter, not the brand. They may have just listed a few that are guaranteed to work with your carpet. Or, they may have been paid to include a limited sponsored list.
The most important thing is to ensure that your vacuum’s features match those required by your carpet’s warranty. These requirements often set limits for features like the pile setting, but may also include others, like the canister.
Pile Setting
The pile setting on a vacuum determines the space between its bottom surface and the floor. Some vacuums can be manually adjusted for the idea pile setting. However, auto-adjusting vacuums won’t always do this correctly.
The wrong pile setting could damage your carpet over time. We highly recommend avoiding the lower settings on your vacuum unless they are recommended by your carpet’s documentation. This is true even if the vacuum doesn’t seem to be cleaning the floor properly. That could be an issue with the vacuum itself, or you may need a different one with better suction.
Upright vs. Canister Vacuums
The build of a vacuum will impact its suction. Canister vacuums tend to have more suction than upright. That may sound like a good thing, but some floors (especially satin) set limits on the amount of suction that can be used.
Carpet Warranty Help When you Need It
We get it: this probably made things a lot more complicated than you wanted. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! We have warranty information available for every flooring product we carry. If you need that information, or if you’re considering new flooring for your home, contact us today!
