Your home is without doubt an integral aspect of your life, it represents years of hard work to get it to a stage where you are content with how it looks and it is also your family base.  But the work shouldn’t stop there, you need to ensure that you regularly maintain the key parts of your home, and one area which needs attention every so often is your home’s ventilation system.  Ventilation which functions to the best of its possible performance ensures that the indoor air quality is at a high standard, as you breathe it in on a daily basis it is essential to ensure that it is both safe and free of dust or mold particles which can potentially lead to long term health problems.  Ventilation performing at its optimum level also helps to reduce your monthly bills as its energy efficiency becomes a lot more economical.

In the fast moving world we now live in, it is often too easy to just neglect essential maintenance jobs, with many taking the view that the quality of products manufactured nowadays somehow negates the need for regular performance checks.  However, this is a great misconception.  The importance of furnace, chimney and duct maintenance should not be understated and should be carried out every 1-2 years.

Since 1993 Western Canadian Furnace have been providing these essential services to the people of Calgary, offering a combination of both affordable prices and excellent service they have become a trusted company in the area and boast a long list of satisfied clients.  Western Canadian Furnace offer a whole range of services from furnace and duct cleaning to full range of Indoor Air Quality products and services, which are discussed in more detail below.

The furnace cleaning packages offered by Western Canadian Furnace are extensive and dependent upon the package selected, can include full servicing of your furnace and ducts, this being a great way to spot potential problems before they arise, which allows for them to be isolated and fixed.  As part of their service they will also assess the lifespan and quality of your HVAC system and give you advice on any additional services which may be beneficial to you.  In addition to this a full furnace inspection is also available to arranged.  This includes diagnostics and modifications to your HVAC system and is key to ensuring that your system remains safe and efficient.  Whilst it is rare in Canada and most Western countries, a number of deaths per year are still caused by the inhalation of Carbon Monoxide which, unless you have an alarm or a specialist inspection will not be detected as the gas is odourless.  A Carbon Monoxide test comes as standard with a furnace inspection from Western Canadian Furnace and this is one of the key reasons as to why duct cleaning and an inspection is essential and recommended.

As the saying goes, prevention is much better than cure, so if you have not arranged a maintenance check in around a year or so for your furnace system then now is the perfect time to seriously consider it, and Western Canadian Furnace would be more than happy to assist.

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What is Mold?

Mold is a living organism and considered a fungus. Unlike yeast, another form of common fungus which grows in single cells, mold grows in the form of mulitcellular filaments called hypae. It reproduces through the spreading of spores which are airborne. Spores can remain airborne indefinitely, and cling to any organic material. These include fur, wood, and carpet. Once it clings to a surface you may see a black and spotty look that is extremely unattractive. Mold likes dark and damp areas, and thrives at room temperature. Some people think mold needs a hot and damp environment to grow in, but it actually prefers room temperature. Exposure to mold can cause many serious health problems including allergic reactions, colds and coughs, and it may aggravate asthma and allergic rhinitis. For these reasons it is important to address mold problems before they affect your family’s health. If you have a family member with asthma or allergies, it becomes even more urgent.

How do I get rid of Mold?

There are a number of ways how to get rid of mold in your home.

• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), also known as Muriatic Acid, is effective for removing mold on hard surfaces such as bathroom or kitchen tiles. Mix water and HCl in equal amounts and apply to the area that needs to be cleaned. Scrub the mold off with an old toothbrush or cleaning brush. Warnings for HCl include chemical burns on your hands, and irritation to your eyes and nose. Always use a mask and rubber gloves to protect your skin, eyes, and nose. HCl should be kept well out of reach of children and you should use it with great caution.
• Bleach water is a safer alternative to HCl. Mix bleach and water in equal amounts and follow the above steps. Use gloves and a mask for bleach since it can also cause irritation to your skin, eyes and nose. Personally I find HCl is more effective and less tedious, but bleach carries less risk of irritation.

• Baking soda and vinegar is one of the safest method. Mix baking soda and vinegar in equal amounts, and apply with an old toothbrush to scrub off the mold. This method is best for use on wooden areas since the paste clings to the surface.

How can I Prevent Mold Growing in My Home?

The most important thing to remember about mold is that it spreads through spores in the air. It likes damp and wet areas, so always dry off surfaces in your bath and kitchen and clean them regularly. Use a cleaner specifically for tile and hard surfaces to ensure you get all of the dirt, grime and mold spores off of them. You may want to invest in an air cleaner with a mold filter, or install special mold filtering furnace and air conditioner filters. This will help keep the mold spores out of the air. Like the old saying, “cleanliness is next to Godliness”, and a clean house is synonymous to a mold free home.

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I’ve noticed that many people are actually hesitant to put plants into their homes. Reasons differ from “I’m allergic to pollen, and I’m afraid putting plants in my house could trigger my allergies” or “placing plants in the house could attract insects” to “the plant might die from lack of sunlight.” Though allergies and insects are important considerations, they are issues easily avoided. Improving indoor air quality becomes even more important for those that suffer allergies, so remedying these issues and finding a way to keep indoor plants may be even more advantageous. There are also some general psychological and emotional benefits to keeping plants. Rooms in your house will appear a bit fresher, energized, and a bit more like home. For me, indoor plants come to represent the familiarity of home, but even if you spent your entire life in the concrete jungle there are some incredible benefits. Even a mere plant can give you a sense of satisfaction in nurturing and caring for it. Enhanced environment reduces stress and relaxes as well, making your space overall healthier—in all aspects of the word.

So how does one go about eliminating these issues to find the freedom to have house plants? For those who are allergic to pollen or asthmatic, choose plants that don’t have flowers like palms or cacti. It is the flowering plants that usually exacerbate allergic or asthmatic conditions, due to the pollination process.  As for the dust that may come from the soil in the flower pots, you  may use an electrostatic filter that filters up to 90% of dust circulating inside your home, or air purifiers as well. For those who are afraid that plants might attract insects remember this: in my experience, having crumbs of food on the floor has a much greater chance of attracting insects than having plants in the house. If you are worried that indoor plants will die inside the house due to lack of sunlight, there are a few different solutions. Regularly cleaning your home—including both high traffic and spill areas like the kitchen, as well as more discreet areas like air ducts and basements will stave off insects, reduce the buildup of allergens, and reduce the likelihood of mold growth.

Making sure to position plants in direct sunlight through windows, or placing them outside once or twice a week will keep them healthy. Plants don’t die right away if not seen by the sun for a few days, but do take note of the signs when you need to take them out. Yellowing of the leaves and wilting are sure signs that your plants are dying and need to be repositioned. There are also many varieties of plants that require less sun than others. Look for those that require minimal sunlight if the layout of your home is not conducive to your plants. Be sure to educate yourself on how often the plants you choose need watered, as it will vary by variety. With the right approach, anyone can keep household plants effectively, and without causing significant allergic reactions.

With the smallest changes, you can go to dramatically improve your indoor air quality within your space, providing a better atmosphere for the health of you and your family. With a combination of proper home maintenance, servicing of your HVAC system, regular cleaning, and a great assortment of houseplants, you will be on your way to breathing right—and a little bit closer to the lush green that we so often miss in our day to day life.

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There is an old saying that goes, ”One old friend is better then two new ones.”

As an owner of a furnace company and as a general consumer, I came to realize that this saying also applies to some quality old products that have proven themselves time and time again. Usually, these products may not have the same bells and whistles as the newer models, but they are simple, reliable, affordable, they require minimum maintenance, and most importantly – they do the job well.

That, in my opinion, goes for the GeneralAire 1042 humidifier, is a furnace mounted humidifier which has been on the market for many years but is still a personal favourite.

Here’s why:

Few years ago a new Honeywell flow-through humidifier popped up on the market and by all standards, blew the “old” humidifiers out of the water. Its sophisticated design, new technology, slick appearance and the fact that it was considerably more efficient in its water usage impressed both suppliers and consumers, regardless of a much higher price tag.

I was one of the first to check out the new product and its performance in use…perks of my business, I guess! However, almost immediately after installation the humidifier presented a number of issues:  strange noises, shutting itself on and off and was getting blocked with calcium build up.

I soon found out that I was not the only one who was growing increasingly frustrated with the flow-through. Over 90% of our customers who had purchased the same one were experiencing similar issues.  After taking a closer  look, we discovered that the problem was that Calgary water was too hard on the delicate new humidifier technology. We replaced each and every single flow-through humidifiers we’d sold with a GeneralAire 1042 humidifier, and took the flow-through off the shelves.

Needless to say, I switched back to the ol’ trusty GeneralAire 1042 humidifier and have been very happy with it for the last 7 years. So far, it is the only humidifier we have found to be able to properly handle Calgary’s water conditions.

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As we all know, Santa gets to your home through the fireplace chimney to stuff your stockings and deliver the gifts that you asked for. He takes a quick milk’ n-cookies break before climbing back up and instructing his reindeer to the next house. He’s got a busy night!

For this reason, the Fireplace seems to be an integral part of the Christmas Tradition. We hang stockings on the chimney and often decorate the mantel as a key feature. On the cold, winter nights, we take comfort in lighting a fire and gathering around it.

Whenever you add a fire to a scene, however, you need to add an extra level of caution. House fires are more common during the holiday season than any other time of year because of improper care for fireplaces…

8 Quick Tips for Fireplace Safety this Holiday Season

• Never burn gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, or other types of packing in the fireplace. They burn too rapidly and generate far too much heat. Consider recycling those instead
• Don’t hang Christmas stockings from the mantel when the fireplace is in use. Take care to keep combustible materials such as garlands or ribbons away from any possible spark or flame
• Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks
• Never use gasoline or any other flammable liquids to start a fire. Use only seasoned and dried wood – never use Christmas trees for firewood
• Never leave the fire unattended or let it smoulder, and clean the ashes regularly. Place the ashes in a metal container and store outside away from flammable materials
• Your tree should be positioned at least four feet away from the fireplace, radiators, or other sources of heat
• Make sure your fireplace damper shuts tightly
• Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely and produce less smoke for fireplace safety.

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Our carpets are often acts as a sponge for all the smells that are introduced throughout your home by a number of different sources — like cooking, pets, traffic, etc. So what can you do to safely and inexpensively remove the unwanted smells from your carpet?

Here are some simple steps on how to make your own all-natural carpet deodorizer that will leave your carpet smelling nice and fresh:

1. Pour one small box of baking soda into the container of your choice. As we all know, baking soda is a proven natural deodorizer, which is why so many of us keep a box in the fridge
2. Add a couple of handfuls of aromatic flowers or leaves like mint, chamomile flowers, or whole cinnamon sticks. Once you combine them, the aromatics give the baking soda a light scent
3. If you want more fragrance, add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil. If you just want a light, clean scent, or if you don’t have essential oils on hand, feel free to skip this step
4. Mix it all together and then sprinkle the mixture onto your carpets and leave it for few hours. Let the mixture perform it’s magic — unpleasant odors will be replaced with light, natural fragrance
5. Vacuum it all up and voilà! You are now ready for holidays!

Article and Image taken from :

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-An-All-Natural-Carpet-Deodorizer

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The old adage “sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite” is taking on new meaning this summer as bedbug infestations are on the rise.

In fact, infestations are becoming so common that exterminators can barely keep up: Calls about bedbugs are up 71 percent, from one or two calls a year to 10 to 50 per week since 2001, says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association. Health officials in Manchester, N.H., even started a Bedbug Action Committee tasked with bringing the issue under control.

Infestations are on the rise, experts say, because bedbugs hitch a ride on our clothes and hang out in our beds. And they are not only found in homes; more and more bedbugs are showing up in hotels, dormitories and places where people frequently travel.

Bedbugs are many things, but one thing they are not, is a threat to your health. They are not disease vectors and are not considered a public health risk, according to entomologists at Purdue University’s Public Health and Medical Entomology department. But their bites do tend to leave itchy welts on human skin, and some people experience an allergic reaction. What’s more, bedbug sufferers say these persistent creatures wreak havoc on the psyche.

“Besides the ‘icky’ feeling of knowing bugs have crawled over you in your sleep, even after the infestation has been dealt with, people may still have a fear of falling asleep and feel anxiety about the whole experience,” says Henriksen. “In some cases, furniture [and] clothes have had to be thrown away, increasing the costly toll of the problem.”

Bedbugs are typically most active at night and tend to bite exposed skin while people are sleeping. The face, neck, hands and arms are the most common sites. Typically, the bites produce redness, swelling and itching, but if scratched, they can become infected, which is the most bodily damage they can cause. A particularity of bedbug bites is that they show up as multiples in a row.

Entomologists say the bugs’ presence has nothing to do with cleanliness, but the insects do produce small brown or red dots on sheets. And getting rid of them is not easy or cheap.

How do you spot a bedbug? Adult bedbugs are about 1/4-inch long, oval, reddish brown and wingless. Their bodies are very flat, and they possess long, slender legs and antennae, according to the Purdue scientists.

Bedbugs can travel easily — from beds to sofa cushions, from room to room and even home via suitcases from travel. Once an infestation develops, whether in a home, a hotel or even a movie theater, bedbugs are extremely difficult to remove and require the experience of a pest professional. Bedbugs can live for a year or more without eating and can withstand a wide range of temperatures, from nearly freezing to almost 113 degrees Fahrenheit, says Henriksen.

And since it is the height of travel season (the resurgence of bedbugs is tied largely to international travel), it is important for travelers to know what to look for in hotels. The NPMA offers these tips:

* Pull back the hotel bed sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly the corners, for telltale brownish or reddish spots.
* Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking. Do not put your luggage on the bed.
* If you change rooms but choose to stay in the same establishment, be sure your new room is not adjacent to the potentially infested room.
* Use a large plastic bag to store your luggage.

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There are many ways to increase home air quality, save energy, and reduce costs at the same time. Making these changes will not only save money, but will increase your home’s value as it becomes more energy efficient. It is no secret that a home’s efficiency is a major selling point for today’s home buyer. If you are thinking about selling your home, it is possible to dramatically increase your selling price by making your home inexpensive to heat and maintain.

Here are some tips on how to make your home more energy efficient:

Start by having your home furnace inspected and serviced annually. Replacing furnace filters each month helps your furnace run better as well as helps to ensure that the air circulating in your home is cleaner. Your furnace won’t have to work as hard, which can reduce your power bill. Replacing an older furnace with a newer energy efficient furnace adds home value as well, but is not necessary in most cases.

Adding extra insulation to your attic will help block heat loss through the roof and add home value as well. Dropping your thermostat a few degrees means less energy costs – for both you and your potential buyer. Slightly cooler temperatures at night can result in better sleep. Temperature settings can be reduced when family members are gone. A programmable thermostat does this automatically.

Investing in a programmable thermostat provides utility savings and increases home value. Installation is easy enough for a do it yourselfer. But, this is also an inexpensive project for a paid handyman if the job needs to be hired out. These thermostats can be programmed for specific temperatures by the hour or day with automatic settings perfect for each family’s needs. This is an attractive feature for future home buyers.

Over time, windows and doors may develop drafts. Cold air seeps in and and warmed air escapes. Calking around glass and sills, and adding weather stripping provides instant benefits. Weather stripping can be purchased in colors to match woodwork and comes in self adhesive strips that are easy to cut to fit and easy to install. Attractive air tight windows and doors that properly seal in air and prevent energy losses also increase home values.

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Fortunately, you can often combat mold in your home through DIY home improvement techniques that are not terribly difficult or expensive. First, invest in a quality dehumidifier. This will help prevent the growth of mold by removing moisture from the air.  Dehumidifiers can help reduce the risk of indoor air pollution, and save on home improvement and repair later. They also create a more comfortable home. Dehumidifiers rid your house of the stagnant, clammy feeling created by the humid days. Mold thrives on moisture, so pay careful attention to any part of your house where condensation or leakage may occur. Mold can lurk in cracks between tile, or bubbles under kitchen linoleum, or anywhere else that the humidity is high. Bleach is a great mold killer.

After cleaning a mold-covered area, either by DIY or by a professional, protect yourself from future attacks to your indoor air quality; paint over the areas with a mold-sealing paint, and use dehumidifiers to prevent future problems. Because indoor air pollution can occur in hard-to-see places, use creative DIY home improvement techniques to further investigate. For example, remove any wall covers that you may have for electricity, phone or television cables. This will allow you to be able to look within your walls to detect the presence of mold. If found, you can take simple measures such as removing and replacing just the section of drywall that is infected, to promote healthier indoor air quality in your home. Keep in mind that if mold damage is severe, then home insurance companies are likely to cap claim money to about 5000 dollars in funds. This makes DIY prevention even more important, to eliminate the health risks from indoor air pollution by spores. Not only will these steps keep indoor air pollution to a minimum, but they will keep your money in your wallet, and not your doctor’s or contractor’s.

Source: Purified Living

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Although there is no strong evidence that reducing dust and dust mites in your home will reduce symptoms of asthma or allergic reactions, the following steps may be helpful.

Air

• Do not use window or attic fans, which bring air containing pollen, mold spores, and other allergens into your home.
• Use air conditioning so you do not have to open windows. This will help reduce the amount of pollen and mold spores that enter your home.
• Use an air cleaner with a special high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This can help remove some allergens (such as pollen or animal dander) and tobacco smoke from the air in your home.

Furniture, carpets, drapes, and bedding

• Avoid carpet, upholstered furniture, and heavy drapes that collect dust. Avoid furniture covered with fabrics. Use pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and mites.
• Use furniture made of wood, plastic, leather, or vinyl (including vinyl mattress covers) that you can wipe clean. Note: Vinyl mattress covers can be uncomfortable to sleep on.
• Remove rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. Talk with your family about this and about how this will affect family life. If you cannot or do not want to remove carpeting throughout the home, consider removing it only in the bedroom.
• Use smaller rugs (throw rugs, area rugs) that you can wash.
• Replace drapes and blinds with roll-down shades or washable curtains.
• Remove “dust collectors” from bedrooms, such as stuffed toys, wall hangings, books, knickknacks, and artificial flowers.
• Avoid wool blankets and down quilts.

Cleaning

• Damp-mop hard floors (tile or hardwood, for example) once a day.
• Dust and vacuum once or twice a week to remove the buildup of allergens. Use a dry cloth to wipe hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, and other furniture.
• Vacuum the carpets and cloth-covered furniture to get rid of as much dust as you can.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a special double-thickness bag, which collects dust-mite particles and pollen. Standard paper bag filters may allow the stirred-up allergens to escape back into the room.
• Dusting and vacuuming stir up dust, making the air worse until the dust settles. Wear a mask if you do the cleaning yourself. If possible, try to have someone without allergies do the cleaning.
• Consider wet-vacuum cleaning when possible. This can help remove allergens from carpeting because it actually washes the carpet. Also, consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites.

Controlling dust mites

Dust mites are visible only through a microscope. People are allergic to dust mites’ droppings, not the dust mites themselves. Allergy to dust mites is a year-round problem.

• Keep the house aired out and dry. Dust mites do well where humidity is greater than 50% but do not do well in dry conditions. Try to keep the moisture level (humidity) below 50%. This may be difficult in some seasons and some climates. Plants and fish tanks contribute to humidity, so keep these out of the bedroom.
• Dry vacuuming doesn’t pick up dust mites. Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites.
• You can buy chemicals (ascaricides) that kill dust mites to use on carpeting and furniture. However, many experts do not consider them effective enough to be worth the trouble and expense of using them.
• Wash bedding, including pillowcases and mattress covers, in hot water [130 ° F (54.4 ° C)] every 2 weeks. You can also dry bedding at high temperatures.
• You can limit your contact with dust mites by using allergen-proof covers on your mattress, box spring, and pillows, and washing them regularly. This works well as part of an overall plan to reduce allergens in your home. It is not enough to use mattress and pillow covers without some of the other methods mentioned above.

Because adults spend one-third of their time and children spend half of their time in their bedrooms, it is important that you take steps to prevent allergens in this room.

Source: Health.com

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