Well, it’s that time of year again. The heat of late summer in San Diego is now turning into mid 60s long sleeve and shorts weather.
Fall is upon us!
For many San Diegans this is an invitation for pumpkin spiced lattes, sweaters, and darker craft beers. However, what many of us don’t think of is the changes this new weather brings. Although subtle, these changes can affect the micro-climate within your own home, and can have an affect on your floors as well.
Most types of flooring are unaffected by changes in the weather, such as tile or cement. However, wood and carpet can grow and shrink based on the level of humidity and temperature in your home. For this reason, when installing a new type of flooring in your home, it is a good idea to let the material acclimate to the climate inside your home. This would mean letting a roll of carpet sit in your home uninstalled for at least a 24 hour period. This allows the carpet fibers to relax and adjust to the room temperature before being laid out.
Allowing a carpet to acclimate can help prevent bubbles from forming underneath the carpet after being stretched and installed. In particularly humid environments, carpets can stretch and expand, so it is important to let your carpet do so prior to installation. Failure to do so can cause bubbles and wrinkles in the carpet, which can lead to separation of the backing, and eventually damage and destruction of the carpet.
An important thing to remember is that it is best to keep a relatively stable environment in your home throughout the year. Changing temperatures and humidity levels can stress the materials of your floors, causing them to warp and change over time.
If you are building or renovating your home, you’ll want to make a note to leave the floors for last. Activities that involve levels of moisture, such as painting, hanging drywall, etc., can affect the humidity levels of the room. Once the room is dry and has an operating ventilation system, it is safer to assume your floors will install properly.
When keeping your home’s climate constant, keep in mind your own personal comfort level. The best environment for your home is between 65 and 85 degrees, with humidity levels between 30% and 60%. When it comes to newly installed floors, you’ll want to be especially aware of these levels.
When it comes to our San Diego weather changing to a Fall climate, it is good to be aware of how your home feels, and know how to equalize any discrepancies. If temperatures are a bit low in your home, run the heater for a few hours. Too warm, open some windows to allow cool airflow. If the air feels too dry, run a humidifier until levels of comfort have been reached. If you find yourself going out of town for an extended period of time, make sure you have a type of ventilation system to move air through your home. Smart technologies allow you to monitor temperatures and more, and give you the power to control your home’s climate miles away from your cell phone or computer.
Keeping carpets happy and clean during changes in the weather is vital to the health of your floors and your home. You’ll want to make sure your carpets are cleaned regularly to keep any bacteria from growing, spreading, or becoming airborne. Here at Clean Earth Restorations, we care about the well-being of your home, and we want to keep your focus off your floors and on your pumpkin spiced lattes as much as possible. To schedule a cleaning, or for any questions regarding your carpets and floors and the changing weather, give us a call at 888-471-6653, or visit our website at cleanearthrestorations.com.
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