If a technician suspects a problem due to new carpeting, what should be their primary concern?

When a technician suspects that new carpeting may be causing problems, the primary concern should indeed be the possibility of shorting cables due to pressure from the tack strip. This is particularly relevant in installation scenarios where network cables run near or under the edge of the carpet, which may be secured with tack strips.

When heavy pressure is applied—such as from the tack strip gripping onto cables—there is a risk that the cables may become damaged. This can lead to a loss of signal integrity or complete signal failure, resulting in connectivity issues. It’s vital to ensure that cabling infrastructure is not subjected to unnecessary pressure or pinching, as this can compromise the performance of the network.

Other potential issues, such as loose connections at the jacks or water damage, while they can occur, are less directly related to the immediate impact of new carpeting. Malfunctioning network interface devices also do not directly connect to the immediate effects of installing new carpet. Therefore, the appropriate focus in this scenario is on the risk of shorting cables from the installation of the carpet and its associated components.