Being fit and healthy is important, but this requires you to regularly evaluate your progress by weighing but have you ever wondered why you weigh differently on different surfaces in your house and do scales work on carpets? Or do you need any special surface or weighing machine for accuracy?
Well, if your whole house, along with your bathroom and kitchen, is carpeted, then that’s where the problems begin. Let’s move on to understanding why it is a problem and how you can solve it.
Do Scales Work On Carpet?
The simple answer is Yes and No, because firstly, if your whole bathroom and house are carpeted, then the scales do not work on the carpet.
Secondly, there are scales available in the market that are made especially for bathroom carpets, but finding them is a challenging task in itself.
So, if you are looking to get accurate and consistent results, it is recommended to use the scale on hard surfaces.
Why Scales Don’t Work On Carpet?
The very first and most common reason that scales don’t work on carpets is that most scales are not designed to work on carpets; they are designed to work on hard surfaces like wood, cement, vinyl, etc.
Despite this, here are two main reasons why scales don’t work on carpets:
1. Stability Of Surface
One of the primary factors is that, most often, carpets are soft and mushy, and this results in uneven surfaces for the scales.
This unevenness causes inaccurate results due to the lack of stability. Every time you step on the bathroom scales, the weight of your body causes it to bend. However, the bending mechanism doesn’t take place when scales are on the carpet.
As a result, the carpet prevents the scale from sitting level and raises your weight reading to exceed what it actually is.
2. The Weighing Mechanism
When you step on the scales, your body weight is transferred to the spring-loaded metal plate, which is placed at the back of the scales via fulcrums inside the ranking.
Then, the metal rods transmit the plate’s movements to the dial that is placed on the weighing scales.
According to the experts, when the scale is placed on a hard surface, the base of the scale bows. This results in a lesser distance between the fulcrum and where the load hits the lever when this is done, making it more efficient.
However, if the scale is placed on a thick carpet, the base won’t bend, giving inaccurate results.
How To Find A Carpet-Friendly Scale?
If your whole house is carpeted, then choosing a carpet-friendly scale is the best option. The most common thing all the carpet-friendly scales share is the ‘carpet feet.’
Carpet feet are detachable feet that help you elevate the scale on the carpet and produce a more stable result.
Here’s what to look for when buying a carpet-friendly scale:
1. Check The Product Description For ‘Feet’
When buying a scale, look for the product description and make sure that they specifically mention the word ‘Feet.’
For instance, the product description of Salter Max specifically mentions that it is ‘essential for accurate weighing on the carpet and uneven floors’ in their product description.
You will also find some models that do not mention the word feet but have a structural bottom to the scale that allows it to give accurate results. But again, don’t assume things, and make sure that they mention it in their product description.
2. Additional Features
Other than just measuring your weight, the scale comes with a lot of features like measuring your BMI, hydration level, and protein level and tracking everything on your smart home.
However, this depends on your personal preference, whether you want a normal, elevated scale or a scale with a larger base and larger display screen.
3. Reviews And Ratings
The next step is to look for how well the scale performs and how well it performs on the carpet. Then, this can be considered with the price of the scale and how much you are willing to pay.
Make sure to check the feedback and ratings of the scale you are going to buy. Also, keep in mind that you are looking for specially designed scales, so the options to choose from will be limited, and you might have to sacrifice some of the features of the scale.
How To Use Bathroom Scales On The Carpet?
There are three options using which you can use the bathroom scales on the carpet.
1. Choosing The Right Spot
To get the best results, look for the spot with lesser padding or less plush, or simply choose a low pile carpet area. You can also change the location, like weighing in the kitchen or in the gym.
This will provide more stability to the scale.
2. Using A Hard Surface
You can use a flat, hard surface adaptor to improve the accuracy results of the scale. One method is to cut the plywood in the dimension of the standard scale or buy large tiles. You can follow the below-mentioned alternative weighing solutions to make your hard surface adaptor.
3. Aligning The Scale
Before measuring your weight, it’s important to align the scale on the carpet. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to align the scale.
This mainly includes resetting the scale and stepping on it for a few seconds.
What Are The Best Alternative Weighing Solutions?
If you are tight on budget or don’t plan to buy a scale, then you can also carry out some alternative methods that will make your standard scale into a carpet-friendly one.
1. A Plywood Base
For this, cut a spare plywood base in the exact size of the scale and place the scale on top of the plywood. This will create an even surface for the scale, giving accurate results. These can also be used as a yoga platform on the carpet.
2. A Large Tile
You can also use a large tile underneath the scale. Buy a large ceramic tile that matches your scale. Then, lay them over the carpet where you want to measure your weight.
3. Make A DIY Base With Carpet Feet
The third solution is to create your own base and set of carpet feet to attract it to the scale and give it a stylish look while also saving some money.
These are indeed cost-effective techniques, but those shorter on time can buy a scale that is carpet-friendly.
Conclusion
In general, do scales work on carpets? Yes, they do only if they are designed to be used on the carpet. However, these can be challenging to find in the market.
You can also use your regular scale on any hard surface, which will give you accurate results and save some money. Although, if your whole house is carpeted, then you can go for alternative weighing solutions.
FAQs
What type of floor should I put my scale one?
Any hard-leveled surface in your house will do the job of accurately measuring your weight. However, remember not to measure your weight by putting the scale on the carpet.
Why do I weigh different on different surfaces?
When a scale is placed on an uneven surface, the force measured is no longer parallel with gravity, and most cells are not designed to measure the sideway force, resulting in inaccurate weight.
What is the easiest DIY to use scale on a carpetetd floor?
You can place a board underneath the scale when weighing. This will act as a barrier between the soft and uneven surface of the carpet and the scale.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!