Do they have good references? Johnson's Carpet Care is considered by many as one of the most reliable carpet cleaning companies in the area. We are often referred by some of the most seasoned professionals in the carpet industry. Our references are available upon request.

What kind of experience do they have? We have cared for the finest of carpets and rugs. We have handled many specialty items and seen many unusual situations. Whether the carpet is natural or synthetic, our experience makes us one of the most experienced cleaners in the area.

Are they well educated in their field? Sadly, most companies in our industry do not invest in educating themselves in their field. We regularly attend educational courses, certification school, conventions and study trade journals and books related to our work. We are abreast of cutting edge technology and changes that regularly occur in our industry.

What systems do they use? Many cleaners use outdated equipment with components that do not work properly. At Johnson's Carpt Care, you can be assured that we use state-of-the art equipment. The machines that we use are the most advanced systems available today. Our equipment does not overwet the carpet. You can expect maximum soil removal and the pile of the carpet will be "standing tall" again.

Do they use top quality products? Our vans are stocked with only the very best products from top manufactures. We refuse to use discount products that tend to leave sticky residues behind and discolor the carpet. You can be assured that our products are effective, efficient and safe for your carpet, the consumer, and the environment. If a spot can be removed, our products will remove it.

Do you get what you bargain for? Never select a carpet cleaning company based on price. Carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some would like for you to think. Their technique is to advertise a low price to get in the door, so that they can push their low quality, ineffective goods at higher prices than the real professionals charge. Quality carpet cleaning is not cheap, but it will extend the life of your investment and care for your carpeting in a way that will save you money in the long run.

Do they guarantee their work? After having an uninformed, uneducated or unscrupulous carept cleaner in your home, the hardest part is getting them back to fix the problem. At Johnson's Carpet Care, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. We do not want to have anyone in our community that feels that they paid us for something they did not get.

Do they offer a referral program? We want to reward you for sending customers to us. For each new customer that you send to us, we will send you a certificate good for 10% of their total invoice. This certificate may be used toward the payment of services. And remember that we guarantee our work, so help your friends, neighbors and co-workers enjoy high quality carpet cleaning.

We hear the term "HEPA" in reference to vacuum cleaners. However, not everyone seems to know what HEPA actually is or does or how it can benefit them.

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. The first HEPA filters were developed in the 1940's by the United States Atomic Energy Commission to fulfill a top-secret need for efficient, effective ways to filter radioactive particulate contaminants. After World War II, the technology was released to the general public for commerical and residential use.

A HEPA filter can remove 99.97 percent of particles 0.3 mictons in size or larger. To comphrend just how small that is, the period at the end of this sentence is about 500 microns in diameter.

"HEPA filters are now considered the best form of air-filtration system available," says James Hlavin, director of sales at Tornado Industries. "You'll see them used in the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) systems in hospitals, critical manufacturing facilities, clean rooms, and laboratories to help trap foreign metal particles, infectious agents, and a variety of other undesirable contaminants in the environment."

Since the 1970's, exposure to indoor air pollutants has increased dramatically due to a variety of factors, including the products used in the construction and renovation of buildings, the reduction of ventilation to save on energy, the use of more synthetic building materials and furnishings, the use of certain cleaning chemicals and pesticides, and even the personal care items and clothing worn today. Additionally, deferred maintenance on HVAC systems and less frequent building maintenance in general have caused indoor air polution problems to multiply.

Because of these factors, and the fact that most Americans spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoor, the Environmental Protection Agency now identifies indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. In fact, studies by the EPA reveal that human exposure to indoor air pollutants may be two to five times higher - and occasionally 100 times higher - than levels of exposure to outdoor air pollutants. This can be especially harmful in educational settings among school-age children as well as in healthcare facilities.

Responding to these health concerns, some vacuum cleaner manufactorers install HEPA air-filtration systems into their vacuum cleaners to better trap and filter indoor pollutants, including dust, mold spores, pet dander, and even odors.

"Another reason HEPA air-filtration systems are being installed in vacuum cleaners is because of the dramatic increase in asthma in the United States," says Hlabin. "We find this a growing problem in schools, offices, and in the hotel industry when rooms are not vacuumed, dusted, or cleaned properly. HEPA filters appear to be able to trap most known asthma triggers, from pollen grains to dust mite fecal pellets and, when used with anti-allergy vacuum bags, other troublesome allergens."

What to Look For

Though HEPA filters offer many health benefits, there are some practical issues that you should be aware of when purchasing a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner. HEPA filters can be more expensive than standard vacuum cleaner filters, and this may be reflected in the price of the vacuum cleaner. However, developments in HEPA filter production and the fact that they are being used in more machines and applications have resulted in some price reductions

Additionally, because the filter is a finer "mesh" than standard vacuum cleaner filters, there can be a greater resistance to airflow, reducing a vacuum cleaner's suction and performance. There are machines available, however, that do maintain their efficiency levels without sacrificing airflow and suction if used properly and in accordance with manufacturers' maintenance recommendations.

Consumers must do their homework and evalute the various HEPA vacuum cleaners available. They should ask distributors questions about the different machines and their performance and should find out if the manufacturers have performed independent studies or test reports to validate the efficiency of their vacuum cleaners and their air-filtration capabilities.

Another good source of information can be the Carpet and Rug Institute, an independent organization that rates vacuum cleaners based on how effectively they remove soil, keep dust in the vacuum cleaner (air filtration), and maintain the appearance of the carpet itself.

HEPA filters may also need more maintenance and attention than standard vacuum cleaner filters. The filter must be cleaned regularly and, in some cases, replaced more often than standard filters. The frequency depends on how much the machine is used, how well the vacuum cleaner is maintained, and the user's adherence to the manufacturer's recommendations.

It must be realized that for a vacuum cleaner to provide all of the health and indoor-air-quality benefits a HEPA air-filtration system can offer, the machine must be a true HEPA. This means the HEPA filter is housed in an airtight vacuum cleaner casing to prevent dust and particulates from escaping through gaps in the vacuum cleaner body or around the filter seal, according to Hlavin.