Fresh, clean carpet can make your home feel cozy and inviting. Unfortunately, after years of foot traffic, stains, and general wear-and-tear, the quality of your carpet can worsen. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your carpet? Is it really that bad, or does it simply need professional deep cleaning?
Signs You May Need to Replace Your Carpet
Below are a few signs that it’s time to consider replacing the carpet in your home.
It’s More than Ten Years Old
Carpet life expectancy can run anywhere between 5 and 15 years, depending on the type and quality of the carpet and the amount of traffic it gets in your home. Keeping track of your carpet’s age is the best way to determine whether a replacement is necessary. For example, once your carpet reaches about 10 to 15 years, it’s a good idea to start considering a carpet replacement.
The Padding Is Worn Down
Carpet padding is what’s installed underneath the carpet. It’s meant to provide texture to the carpet, protect your carpet from impact, and absorb sound. Carpet padding can last up to 5 years, but that may vary depending (again) on the type and quality of the carpet, as well as the traffic the area sees. One way to test the padding is to see if the carpet is lumpy or if you hear popping sounds when you walk over a certain area. If you have any of these issues, it may be time to replace your carpet.
It Has Rips, Tears, or Water Damage
Physical damage like small holes or tears in carpet can often be covered with rugs or furniture, but more noticeable rips or tears in high-traffic areas, such as stairs or hallways, are a sign that it might be time for a replacement—especially if those rips or tears get worse. Also, more serious issues like water damage could require replacing the entire carpet. This is because organic materials and/or water can get absorbed inside the carpet padding and cannot be removed with normal cleanings.
There Are Excessive Matted or Worn Areas
What your carpet is made of can play a huge factor in its life span. Unfortunately, once carpet is matted down, there isn’t much you can do to fix it. Older carpets that are made of polyester are typically more prone to matting and damage from general wear-and-tear. In which case, if you are planning to replace carpet, consider investing in nylon carpeting. It’s more durable and can last much longer.
Extreme Smells or Stains Won’t Go Away
Stained, smelly carpet is a fact of life, and acting quickly to remove both smells and stains when they first appear can help preserve the look and quality of your carpet. But if you have serious smells or stains that just won’t go away no matter how many times professional carpet cleaners have cleaned them, it may be time to think about carpet replacement. In some cases, smells can be indicative of mold or mildew in the padding, which results from organic stains like pet urine, vomit, or food causing bacteria to grow in the padding. This needs to be removed from your home as soon as possible.
You’re Trying to Sell Your Home
One of the most common reasons for replacing carpet beyond age and worsening quality is selling a home. If you’re ready to put your home on the market, replacing old carpet can boost your asking price and make your home look great. Of course, a good cleaning can also do the trick if your carpet is still relatively young and doesn’t have bad wear-and-tear!
Do You Really Need to Replace Carpet?
Replacing your carpet may seem like a good way to upgrade your home or address issues like allergies, smells, and stains, but the downside is that it can be costly.
Carpet replacement costs can run anywhere from $995 to thousands of dollars, not including the labor cost of installment and other details like molding replacement. That’s a significant investment. But there is a more affordable solution to consider: professional carpet cleaning.
If your carpet doesn’t have major damage and is still under 10 years old, you probably don’t need a full carpet replacement—just a deep cleaning from carpet professionals!
Professional carpet cleaning can:
- help you save money
- address issues like allergens, stains, and smells
- extend the life of your carpet
Carpet cleaning professionals utilize advanced cleaning methods like steam cleaning that go beyond what you can do with just a vacuum. These methods get deep into your carpet to remove everything from pesky pet stains to mold development. The pros also use carpet treatments that can protect your carpet between cleanings, helping it stay cleaner, fresher, and looking good for longer.
Tips for Extending the Life of Your Carpet
To keep your home looking its best and avoid a costly carpet replacement, there are a few things you can do to prevent damage to your carpet and extend its life.
- Act Quickly When Stains Happen: Not only will this keep your carpet in good shape, but it will also protect the carpet padding from absorbing the substance and developing mold.
- Rearrange Furniture Frequently: Moving the furniture in your home around creates new paths for foot traffic, shifting the wear-and-tear your carpet normally experiences.
- Invest in Carpet Protectant Treatment: This treatment helps repel oil-based and water stains, provides soil and stain protection, and keeps your carpets looking fresh.
- Schedule Carpet Cleanings with a Professional Company: Most carpet cleaning services recommend having cleanings done every 12 to 18 months. Regular cleanings can reduce the number of allergens and bacteria in the carpet and remove those difficult stains and smells that spot treatments and vacuums can’t get.
Are you looking for professional carpet cleaning services to improve the look of your home? Contact Sharp Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning in Omaha, your local carpet cleaning experts. From furniture cleanings to carpet protectant services, Sharp is the cleaning partner you can trust in Omaha!