Common Carpet Problems You should Know About
Static
Do you "snap, crackle and pop" when you walk across your carpet? Do you feel a slight shock when you touch a metal object like a door knob? This is static, generated by the friction from your shoe soles against the fibers in the carpet. In the spring or summer months, there is usually enough humidity or moisture in the air to carry off the static charge as it forms. When the weather turns dry and the humidiy is low, however, static electrification due to walking across carpet is much more likely to occur and to cause an annoying or unpleasant shock.
The tendency to generate an unpleasant static charge at lower humidity varies from fiber to fiber and carpet to carpet. It's possible to build up on your body surface an electrostatic potential of 2,000 to 5,000 or even 10,0000 volts or more. By touching a metal object and conductor such as a door knob, the static charge is transferred frm you to it in the form of noticeable or unpleasant shock, although at extremely low current so no danger exists.
Untreated nylon and wool carpets are more prone to noticeable static problems, but polyester and olefin carpeting may also be affected. This is especially true in the drier winter months with their low humidity. To avoid this static problem, some carpets have conductive filaments or antistatic agents built into the carpet pile fibers. Other specialty carpets add anti-static backing fabrics and/or conductive latex adhesive to the carpet to further reduce or eliminate static buildup. But certain carpeting may not have these features and is thus prone to static buildup.
If your carpet "bites back" in dry weather, it may still be possible to obtain some relief by increasing the humidity in the affected area. Adding a room humidifier or a central heating humidification system can accomplish the goal of raising the humidity to 30, 35 or even 40%. As the humidity goes up, both the static charge and resultant shocks are lessened.
The use by the consumer of an over-the-counter anti-static spray treatment on the carpet fibers may slightly increase soiling. Never over-use or over-apply the product. These topical anti-static spray treatments are not permanent and will become less effective after a period of time.
Let us know you have a static electricity problem when you call for an appointment for carpet cleaning. We can apply an anti-static treatment. Although this treatment is not guaranteed to be permanent, it is usually more effective and lasts longer than over-the-counter anti-static sprays because it is applied with professional skill and special equipment and techniques.
