I service an apartment complex and usally HWE, some of the apartments need carpet stretched and owner doesn't want to pay for that. During HWE of course the problem is more pronounced. My thoght was to try low moisture encap cleaning. The pile is a little longer than short pile but not old style shag, my question is would you recommend brushs or pads?

I use my Sprint CRB if I am going to do cut pile.  In absence of a CRB, I can tell you that most guys that use their Cimex to clean delicate oriental style rugs use the soft brushes.  So I would say if they do not damage a fine rug, they should be OK on (most likely nylon) cut pile.

I have used my Cimex with FP Pads on cut pile.  I would say you just need to really ensure that you have good solution flow (lubrication for the pads) and stay in motion to prevent tip blooming.  I am very cautious about it as most apartments also put in the cheapest carpet possible.

Make you own luck,

Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care

Am I correct that insufficent flow will cause balling on the pads? And yes to cheap carpet in apartments, this particular landlord is replacing with better quality as needed.

Yes low solution flow will cause pad balling. 

I learned the VERY hard way one time, when I ran the tank a little too low when cleaning a cut pile olefin rug.  Solution still at the bottom, almost done.  But it was not enough solution to go into the pick up tube.

Soooooo, I not only balled up the pads, I ripped them off the pad driver and accidentally cleaned the rug with the pad drivers.  THIS IS A VERY BAD PLAN- DO NOT let it happen to you.  I burned/melted about 2 Square Feet of the fibers in the rug.

Thankfully it was cut pile and nopt loop pile.  After about 4-5 hours of trimming time you could barely tell.  However adding solution would have only taken oh...2 minutes or so.

Make you own luck,

Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care