According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 out of 5 Americans suffer from allergies. There are 3 elements in your home:
Element #1: Allergens and Particulates: dirt, dust, pollen, mold, fungi, tobacco and/or wood smoke, dust mites, pet allergens, insect debris, etc.
Health Effects: Nose and throat irritation, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, cough and wheezing, and asthma flares.
Element #2: Infectious Agents: germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Health Effects: sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, throat and ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia.
Element #3: Toxic Compounds: toxic gases, odors, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, methylene chloride, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides, toluene and benzene, toxic mold.
Health Effects: memory lapse, mild depression, lung dysfunction, blurred vision, headaches, lethargy.
What can I do in my home to help with my allergies? Did you know that clean air in your home is determined by the efficiency of a filter or an air cleaner? Filters have an efficiency rating called MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). MERV ratings are used to rate the ability of a filter to remove particles from the air as they pass through the filter. The higher the MERV rating the cleaner the air.
Store bought filters are typically MERV 1-4 removing airborne particles at less than 1%. You can get up to 4% airborne particles removed with a MERV 5-12 filter system. However, if you install a MicroPower Guard (MERV 13-16), it will capture 97% of the airborne pollutants.
If you want your whole house to have clean air from the Elements 1-3, add the MicroPower Guard to your system as well as a OxyQuantum LED. These two items will not only remove the airborne particles at 97%, but will also remove the toxic gases, odors, and will reduce airborne germs, bacteria, and viruses for healthier air.
If you add a PureSept HEPA to scrub the air, your home will have hospital-like quality air. These 3 items: MicroPower Guard, OxyQuantum LED, and PureSept HEPA will remove 99.97% of airborne particles plus remove toxins and scrub the air.
How many airborne elements do you want to get out of your home? For more information, check out One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning’s website.
Did you know that when the weather gets warm and the temperatures reach approx. 90-100F (varying in humidity), fans begin circulating hot air that can increase heat stress? Heat Illness. Choosing an electrical fan is ofen boasted as the most economically sound form of cooling down because they cost less; but in fact, you could be in danger of heat illness.
In order for an electrical fan to cool the body, there must be moisture on the surface of the skin that evaporates to produce the cooling effect. This becomes problem (1) during heat stroke in which a person stops sweating and (2) in the case of elderly not sweating because of delayed heat regulation. For a fan to be effective, you must be sweating or manually add moisture to the skin (i.e. using a damp cloth). As temperatures rise towards 100F, the effectiveness of the fan decreases. As it reaches approximately 100F, the fan begins to cause harm by circulating overheated air to the skin at a rate that is faster than the body can rid of the heat through cooling by sweating. It would result in a consequent net increase in body temperature. Taking a cold shower or bath would be more beneficial than a fan. The best solution would be to turn on the air conditioner or look for public places that have air conditioning like libraries, cafes, or shopping malls.
So if you are considering getting another fan to help with the heat of the summer, consider getting some information on air conditioners or heat pumps for your home. Call us today and we would be glad to come out to your home and evaluate your needs and sugges
t the best system for your home.
Fan vs AC?
Do you get up in the morning and have a stuffy nose and then you make the mistake of itching your eyes? Then all day, you are miserable or you have taken medication to help each of your symptoms that then makes you feel groggy or fuzzy. So then you can’t wait to get into bed so you can shut your eyes because they are burning and itching. Then you start the process all over again the next day.
Steer clear of pollen by:
- Keeping pets out of the bedroom. Pets that go outdoors bring in the pollen on their fur.
- Keeping windows closed to keep the pollen from floating into your home.
- Keeping windows closed in a car, run AC but with the air re-circulating. Don’t pull the air from outside.
- Replacing your furnace and AC filters with MERV rated filters of 12 and change every 2-3 months or invest in a MicroPower Guard, OxyQuantum LED, and PureSept HEPA equipment to eliminate 99.97% airborne particles and toxic gases, as well as scrub the air.
- Checking pollen counts by visiting www.weather.com to see how high the levels are in your area and then plan your day accordingly.
- Wearing sunglasses to help protect your eyes from allergens.
- Showering before going to sleep to get the pollen off your hair and skin before contaminating your sheets and pillow with pollen.
- Wearing a mask if you have to mow the yard or hire somebody to do yard maintenance for you.
- Washing your hands throughout the day and using hand sanitizers.
- Allergy proofing your bed by placing your mattress, box springs, and pillows in airtight plastic fabric covers.
For more information on how to enjoy cleaner air in your home:
In the indoor air quality arena, there is a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) that is given to filters. The rating is used to rate the ability of a filter to remove particles from the air as they pass through the filter. The higher the MERV rating the cleaner the air! Did you know the number one killer of a furnace is DUST? Yep it’s true that we need to keep our furnaces cleaned and maintained to help with the air quality of our home.
The first level of defense is to change your filters in your heating system on a regular basis. Store bought filters catch dust particles. Typically store-bought filters have a MERV rating of 1-4 removing less than 1% of airborne particles. A brand name pleated Fantastic Filter MERV 8 rating filter removes less than 2% of airborne particles. And a pleated Fantastic Filter MERV 12 rating filter removes less than 4% of airborne particles. For the best defense, the MERV 12 rated filter would be recommended.
The second level of defense is to install a MicroPower Guard. The internal part of the MicroPower Guard has a filter that has a carbon center collecting the bigger particles flowing through your system. It actually captures 97% of airborne particles and cleans the air of contaminates that can aggravate asthma and allergies. MicroPower Guard has a MERV rating of 13-16.
The third level of defense is to install an OxyQuantum LED to help purify your home’s air. This is normally installed before the filter for best results. The OxyQuantum LED UV light system removes toxic gases, reduces and control odors, airborne toxic compounds, and infectious agents; capturing 97% of particulates. Ozone is blown through the ductwork helping sanitize the ducts and air at the same time. These two items together: MicroPower Guard and OxyQuantum LED can protect your air quality as well as help protect your heating and air conditioning equipment.
The fourth level of defense is to install a variable speed motor in your system. The motor reduces cold spots in the home and is always running to filter your air. This help keep the air clean by having a constant flow of air through your MicroPower Guard and then through your OxyQuantum LED system without shutting down. So it is constantly cleaning and purifying your air.
The fifth level of defense is to have your ductwork cleaned. Duct Cleaning removes all the dirt and debris for better ventilation.
Clean air is determined by the efficiency of a filter and/or an air cleaner. Protect your family’s air quality and heating and air conditioning equipment with incorporating some or all of these levels of defense into your home’s environment.
The reason why the indoor air quality of homes has deteriorated over the last 30 to 40 years is because of the new construction practices changing. The new standard is to have energy efficient “tight homes” that are tightly sealed, heavily insulated, and very energy efficient. With these changes, it results in locking in allergenic particles, infectious agents and toxic compounds which are bad for your health and well being of your family.
Download Fact Sheet about Indoor Air Quality
The top 3 items trapped in your home:
1. Mold - can contaminate indoor air and cause “Sick Homes” which can lead to allergies, asthma, or other health problems.
2. Fungi Spores - suspended airborne spores can cause numerous allergic reactions and ailments.
3. Dust Mites - are the most common cause of allergic and asthma reactions.
Children are the most vulnerable to air pollutants because of their body weight. A slight irritant for an adult can result in being significant for a child causing swelling in the lining of their airways.
More adults and children suffer from allergies and asthma today than there were 30-40 years ago making the “tight home” practice more relevant.
With these tight homes, the bad news is these conditions exist no matter how clean your home is. The good news is there are ways to control the allergenic particles, infectious agents and toxic compounds. Let us educate you on your home’s indoor air quality. Give us a call if you would like One Hour to come out and do an air quality check on your home.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide. It is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect. Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion of organic matter due to insufficient oxygen supply. 1 Basically, inhaling carbon monoxide gets into your blood stream depleting the oxygen out of your blood. Different people and populations have different carbon monoxide tolerance levels.
Since everyone has a different tolerance level to carbon monoxide, it is recommended to have a CO detector installed in your home. It acts like a smoke alarm notifying you of too much carbon monoxide in your home. If you have a gas furnace or other gas appliances and they are not properly drafted, you could potentially have a carbon monoxide problem. Have your heating system, water heater and other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poising are headache, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, vomiting, and confusion. High levels ingested can cause loss of consciousness and death.
Treatment for carbon monoxide poising is 100% oxygen. Oxygen works as the antidote as it increases the removal of carbon monoxide from the blood, in turn provides the body with normal levels of oxygen.
For piece of mind, call today 888-389-5488 to have one of our technicians do a safety inspection on your home heating system to see if you have any carbon monoxide, indoor air quality, and/or electrical issues.
For more information, click here for the Center For Disease Control Fact Sheet.
Wikipedia.org - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning
Are you feeling sad? Experts say that 5-10% of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And many more suffer from milder winter blues.
Common symptoms of SAD are low energy, social withdrawal, sadness and despair, difficulty concentrating, and cravings for high carb foods such as pasta. These symptoms are most prevalent during December and January where light is in short supply. Here are a few items to help with feeling SAD.
Lighten up by opening the curtains or take a brisk walk outside for some rays. Or you can always switch out your light bulbs to the natural light bulbs.
Fuel well by eating a balanced diet and avoid the cravings for high carb, surgary foods. Sweet and starchy foods cause your blood levels to spike and then plummet, making your cravings even more fierce. It is recommended to eat 20-30 grams of protein per meal to help boost your mood.
Supplement by taking a multi-vitamin and adding extra Vitamin D helps your body absorb the calcium supporting a healthy heart and immune system. Most people report improved mood after taking Vitamin D3 supplements.
Move it by get out an exercise: walk, run, or bicycle outside if possible for extra light. Physical exercise increases the oxygen flow to the brain and diminishes the body's response to high stress.
Change it by making sure you replace your furnace filters on a regular basis to help with the air quality in your home.
Stress less by scheduling fun things to do that give you pleasure not stress. Like playing a sport, scrapbooking, reading a book, going to the movies, etc. Also, alone time helps energize the mind and body too.
Schedule sleep by keeping your body on track with your sleep patterns. Set your alarm to wake up after 8 or 9 hours. Open your curtains and wake up to the early-morning light. Good sleeping habits keep your biological rhythms steady.
Get help if you can't shake the SADness. Keep a journal so when you meet with a therapist, they can help guide you better so you can cope through these dreary long winters.
Be happy by enjoying the wintertime as much as the summertime. Don't hibernate until spring. Find fun stuff to do in the winter that will get you out of the house and on a different routine. Have fun experimenting with life.