Facility managers have a fair amount of options when it comes to getting the carpets professionally clean. There have been many time tested options, and they are pretty much sufficient to cater to almost every type of need. However, facility managers most likely look at the quote provided by the carpet cleaning company and completely miss the hidden costs associated with carpet cleaning. That’s what we are going to discuss in the blog post today. Carpet cleaning in India is a service which every corporate must use. But they should also be aware of the hidden costs involved.
Water Consumption
Different systems use varying amounts of water at different stages in the cleaning process. Low-moisture encapsulation typically involves mixing cleaning products with a small amount of water, pre-spraying the mixture onto the carpet with a handheld or machine-mounted sprayer, and then agitating the chemistry into the carpet fibers. The soils crystallize and are then vacuumed away. Hot water extraction, for comparison, propels hot water and cleaning products into the carpet and a powerful vacuum removes the water and soil.The point to be considered here is that the amount of water being consumed. Water is a priced commodity in India and we need to save it by every means possible. Not to mention it can also increase the hidden costs of the entire operation.
The HVAC Systems
In addition to using more water during cleaning, wet or damp carpet left by some methods can create heavier loads for air conditioners. The increased moisture levels make air conditioners work harder to dehumidify the space, resulting in higher energy bills. Don’t forget about fans or dryers that can help carpet dry faster; these can make high traffic areas safer by reducing slips on wet carpet, but they also consume more energy. This fact also poses a real problem in Indian conditions. India has so much regional climate disparity. Places near the coastline are bound to have more moisture laden air. This will double the electricity consumed for HVAC to dehumidify the area. As additional loads will be there. Not to mention that electricity is pretty expensive in India too. Something to be considered while calculating the overall costs of the carpet cleaning operation.
Working During Night Hours
For some businesses, it is essential to avoid disruption to operations during the day. Night cleaning achieves this, but it comes with its own set of additional costs. Contractors often charge a premium rate for night time employees, and the facility must provide access to cleaning teams and keep additional lights on during non-peak hours.This we believe is not so much prevalent in India right now. But in the near future Indian carpet cleaning agencies might also start charging premium amount for night time operations.
Electricity Consumed by Cleaning Machines
All of the points we have highlighted so far concern the facility and how it is affected by carpet cleaning systems. One key factor that can’t be overlooked is powering the carpet cleaning machines themselves. Consider how many machines will be in use and their productivity – how many square feet can they clean in an hour? Is your space obstructed, like an office with desks and chairs, or does it consist of open spaces like hallways and ballrooms? Machines with lower productivity can translate to more power usage because it takes them longer to clean an area. Perhaps this hidden cost can never be controlled. No one will change their office layout just for ease of carpet cleaning. Still a point worth considering.
Source: CLR, Whittaker Systems
