How To Not Get Swindled By Your Carpet Warranty

We’ve all been guilty of buying into some false sense of security when we know we have a warranty on a purchase. So you should buy into the theory that a better-sounding carpet warranty means you’re getting a better carpet. Instead, you should educate yourself with as much information as possible to best understand your warranty.

Understand Your Carpet Warranty Options

It turns out your carpet warranty is less about what the manufacturer can do for you, and more about what you must do for your carpet. Because warranties have conditions, and include fine print, these are the types of warranties to be aware of.

Wear Warranty or General Lifetime Warranty

This is considered pretty basic. It’s supposed to protect you in the event your carpet literally falls apart at the seams. And it’s not even about normal wear and tear, just like they’ll never replace your entire carpet either. Most often, 10% of the fiber or face weight must be “lost” for there to even be a replacement of any kind. And usually, the replacement will only be of a patch of the worn-out area of the carpet anyway. And be weary of alleged lifetime warranties. These are more hype than anything else.

Texture Retention or Appearance Retention Warranty

This is an important warranty, but not all carpets carry it. You should make sure your warranty includes it in the first place. This is in the event the carpet fibers start to untwist and loosen, even under ordinary foot traffic. Also, there are conditions around how much of the fibers are damaged versus how long you’ve actually owned the carpet. But most of the time, carpet owners don’t even get to take advantage of the warranty.

For example, most warranties will state that you are required to have your carpet professionally cleaned at regular intervals. And you must present receipts for said cleanings if you ever make a claim.

You should be sure to read your warranty thoroughly.

Stain & Spot & Soil Warranty

The Three S’s of this carpet warranty: “stain” and “spot” and “soil” have different meanings.  A stain specifically changes the coloring of the carpet. A spot or a soil is merely “residue” collected on the carpet fibers, which eventually attract dirt. You must make sure you’ve read the fine print here because there will be conditions and exclusions for coverage.

For example, foods like mustard or herbal tea, are usually not covered. And non-food substances such as bleach and urine are also usually not covered. This warranty might be nice to have but not always there for you when you truly need it.

Fade Resistance Warranty

Just like there’s normal wear and tear to carpeting, there’s also a bit of fading that happens. It’s inevitable. Exposure to direct sunlight and everyday pollutants in the air are the cause. Under normal circumstances, there should be no extreme changes to your carpet’s color. You should remember to check your warranty for a clause specific to fade resistance.

Other Warranties

You will want to take a look to see if there’s anything specific about carpeting installed on your stairs or in your bathroom or kitchen. Because of the heavy foot traffic on stairways, and the moisture levels in bathrooms and kitchens, the conditions could be deemed “abnormal.” Therefore, these claims will not be covered by your warranty. The bottom-line is, you shouldn’t trust your carpet warranty blindly. Read, read, and read again until you have a good understanding of your protection.