Urine Under UV
This report was done for a fiber producer.
PROBLEM REPORTED: Appearance
DIAGRAM: Yes
PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimant
THE CARPET
FIBER: Nylon
FIBER COLOR: Tan
CONSTRUCTION: Conventional Tuft
YARN STYLE: Multi-Level Loop
SQUARE YARDAGE: 40
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tuft
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
INSTALLATION STATISTICS
TYPE LOCATION: Residential
METHOD: Stretch-In
CUSHION: Unknown
SUBFLOOR: Concrete Slab
AREA INSTALLED: Den
USE & MAINTENANCE STATISTICS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes
ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 3 - PET(S): 2 Cats
DO THEY SMOKE? No
SPOTTING AGENTS: Spin Pad
TEMPERATURE: 70.8°F - 21.5° C RH 48%
VACUUM TYPE: Royal Upright
VACUUM FREQUENCY: Weekly & More
ENTRY-MATS: Yes
SOIL: Slightly Soiled
HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric
CLEANING: Professionally Cleaned By
METHOD: Spin Pad
TYPE OF CHEMICAL: Not Reported
DATE LAST CLEANED: 11/16/00
TREATMENTS APPLIED: Chemdry
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS REPORT
Locate and diagram the affected area; acquire tufts from that area; acquire 3
inch by 5-inch sample from a remnant; and attempt to clean the spots.
SITE CONDITIONS & GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
This is an older, large owner-occupied, two-story house, located in a residential
neighborhood of similar homes. This neighborhood sits at the base of Mount Wilson in the
San Gabriel Valley, which is due north of downtown Los Angeles. The condition of this
house appeared to be very good. Furnishings were very neat and orderly.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
The carpet in question is a replacement of the dealer's first installation.
Reportedly, this first carpet was replaced due to seam problems.
The claimant's wife reports that she believed that "stain proof" meant that
there would not be a spot on the carpet. Since then, she has come to understand that spots
or stains should be easy to remove from this type of carpet.
The claimant reports that there is no eating on the sofas where most of the spotting is
taking place. However, there is eating on diningroom table. Children are required to wear
socks, no shoes in the house.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
Two or three pronounced spots were immediately noticeable in front of one of the
sofas. The size of these spots was less than an inch in diameter and they were somewhat
round. They had no odor nor unusual feel to them. Approximately 20 other fainter spots of
the same size were realized after a few seconds of studying the carpet.
An ultra-violet light was used to draw a reflection from substances with fluorescent dyes. Yellow reflections will come from most urine stains while blue or lavender reflections will come from inappropriate detergents. The results of this test revealed that all of the spots had yellow reflections. In addition, there was one reflection that was not seen as a spot until the black light was shone on it. It was brighter than all the other spots (reference picture number two).
pH tests using a digital type pH meter and a special low moisture probe that made direct contact with the face yarns found readings of the carpet at 6.9. The strong yellow reflection that was seen under the ultraviolet light had a reading of 5.6.
A detergent test was done with the claimant's product furnished by the carpet dealer called STAIN REMOVER by 3M. This product described itself as a food pet stain remover. The spot tested was the most pronounced spot and would rate as a '4' on the stain release scale. It was then reduced to a '7'.
A test using Scotchgard Carpet Protector Test Kit, model SPS-3001was used to determine if fluorochemical soil protectant was present. This test consists of placing oil that comes with the test kit on the yarns using an eyedropper to see if the oil will soak-in or bead. The results of this test revealed that the oil soaked into the yarn when placed in the field and on the extreme edge of the carpet.
THE ISSUE
The issue of this inspection is to determine whether the fiber producer has responsibilities to this consumer for correcting the problem.
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
The fiber producer warranty and the S-001 CLEANING STANDARDS are the applicable standards for this issue.
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
Urine Stain is defined in the Flooring Covering Dictionary as "It is a complete mixture of urea, uric acids, organic salts, pigments, etc. Smell becomes harder with age.
Urine - written in the same dictionary is defined as "In poor light some soiled carpet won't show old, half cleaned urine spot. You clean the area, the deep residue comes to the top of the clean area, and "you" have yellowed the carpet. The best defense is to show the owner the spot glowing under a black (UV) Light.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
A yellow reflection by itself could be urine, but pH reading on the acid side is strong confirmation that urine is the cause of the problem. The likely scenario creating these spots could be small drops from one or both of the two cats. If this is the case, then the claimant is unlikely aware of the problem, due to the small amount of urine being released, and the lack of odor.
Whereas urine is likely not covered under the warranty, there seems to be a deficiency in the fluorochemical protection. In addition, ChemDry's own protection is also a fluorochemical protection and performance should have been much better than what was found. Possibly, the manufacturer and/or Chemdry failed to apply their products properly.
CONCLUSION
From a professional opinion, based upon background information, observations, and field-testing done at the time of the inspection, the spots were created by urine and are the claimant's responsibility. Additional services can be rendered at the commissioner's discretion.