High pile or ultra-plush carpets have a luxurious feel to them and are very popular now.
The problem is, some vacuums get stopped in their tracks by ultra-plush carpets.
The problem is that many vacuums create such a tight seal with the carpet that even a 200 pound plus man can’t maneuver the vacuum over the floor let alone a tiny woman.
Fundamentally, people have two choices, either to buy a new vacuum when they have their ultra-plush carpeting installed or to adjust their vacuum cleaner.
And buying a new vacuum cleaner is not such a bad idea. After all, you may spend between $1800 and $7500 to recarpet a home. With that type of investment, surely you can afford $400 to $600 for a brand new vacuum.
We’ll come back to that idea in a couple of minutes as well as discuss some of the best brands to consider. But what if you want to use your existing vacuum?
Adjusting your existing vacuum
If, after getting your new ultra-plush carpet installed you are very likely to discover that the effort to vacuum your new carpet would even challenge Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Mr. Olympia days, don’t immediately put up an ad on Craigslist seeking a bodybuilder/maid. Instead, try adjusting your vacuum.
Most vacuum cleaners have one of two different adjustments you can try.
Try first, looking on the front or the side of your vacuum for a pile adjustment lever or knob.
The vast majority of vacuums have these knobs or levers and you will need to adjust the knob or lever to the highest carpet setting. Quite often, this will do the trick and you will be able to vacuum your ultra-plush carpeting with your existing vacuum.
What if there is no carpet adjustment knob or lever? Then look for a suction control knob. The amount of suction created when your vacuum meets the higher piles of your new carpet may be too much. Try adjusting the suction control a little at a time.
You may not need to adjust the suction control to a minimal volume. Typically about half volume will be sufficient to allow you to use your old vacuum with your new carpet. You simply need the suction to be strong enough to suck in the dirt but not so strong that the vacuum and the carpet create a bond together.
What if neither of these solutions work?
Then for sure, it is time to invest in a new high pile carpet vacuuming unit.
One of the first sources for a new vacuum will be the carpet store where you bought the carpet from. Some carpet manufacturers recommend one to three models of vacuum. Or the carpet store itself may recommend one or two different models.
Another idea is to go to an actual vacuum store, not a big box department store that features half a dozen models. Most carpet stores will have various types of carpet and you can try them out for yourself on a plush-carpet.
Although you may pay a few dollars more to buy vacuum cleaners at a local retailer, being able to actually test the model in the store is greatly preferred over buying sight unseen over Amazon or some other online store.