I just got back from a vacation to Costa Rica with my daughter. This time, we got lucky and were able to get a business class tickets for almost the same price as the economy…and let me tell you – we were spoiled!

It was like walking a red carpet. Our flight was comfortable and luxurious, with big leather seats (I mean really BIG,) personal TVs, incredibly hospitable staff welcoming everyone on the plane, funny and joking around; yummy food and drinks…We were also granted access to the Elite Lounge Club during our 5 hour layover in Houston, which proved to be enjoyable in itself, with its relaxed, non-airport atmosphere, complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks, free magazines among other things.

Now here’s the thing. I’ve flown coach most of my life, and I know that it gets you from Point A to Point B at a decent price – where as the Elite class tickets are substantially more expensive. But I couldn’t help notice that the first class section on both planes, as well as the Elite Lounge Club, were very busy, almost to capacity… I also noticed that most of the people that were travelling First Class weren’t newbies to this style of travel.

OK, I thought, I got my tickets at a great deal, but what about everyone else? Why do these people choose to pay extra? For big leather chairs and free drinks? Friendly, attentive staff?

The truth of the matter is, they’re getting an entirely different travel experience that is much more unique, pleasurable, and customized.

I felt like I was on to something. Why wouldn’t we offer a first-class service experience to Western Canadian Furnaces’ clients?

Most local HVAC businesses usually don’t offer a lot of flexibility; there are standard packages that almost all businesses replicate. So, I decided to step out of the “same old” industry routine and move away from the “one package fits all” philosophy that really doesn’t ‘fit’ the majority of homeowners in this day and age.

I found a new definition for the services I wanted us to offer through this discovery:

• it has to cater to different clients’ criteria
• it has to have incredible, unbeatable value
• it has to provide an enjoyable, hassle free experience

Now, with Western Canadian Furnace’s new Gold and Platinum packages we are able to deliver more value, better quality and a tailored approach to the clients’ needs through a fully customizable experience.

This also has allowed us to upgrade our basic Silver package to load it with more value that that ‘one size fits all’ industry standard I was talking about. Currently, ALL our packages include some of the most essential services like carbon monixide (CO) testing of heating appliances as a part of the standard cleaning.

By: Oksana Irwin

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Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effectsare usually short term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment issimply eliminating the persons exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified.

Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor airpollutants. The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences. In other cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity,which varies tremendously from person to person.

Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeatede xposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.

Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a person is away from the home and return when the person returns, an effort should be made to identify indoor air sources that maybe possible causes.

Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air or from the heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent in the home. Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal.

It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.

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There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home.

These include:

- combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products;

- products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies;

- central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices;

- outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollutions.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove or gas furnace can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.

Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently.

These include:

- smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping.

High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities. 

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate levels that can pose health and comfort problems.

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Here is a list of the most common air pollutants in your home:

1. Moisture

2. Pressed Wood Furniture

3. Humidifier

4. Moth Repellents

5. Dry-Cleaned Goods

6. House Dust Mites

7. Personal Care Products

8. Air Freshener

9. Stored Fuels

10. Car Exhaust

11. Paint Supplies

12. Paneling

13. Wood Stove

14. Tobacco Smoke

15. Carpets

16. Pressed Wood Sub flooring

17. Drapes

18. Fireplace

19. Household Chemicals

20. Asbestos Floor Tiles

21. Pressed Wood Cabinets

22. Unvented Gas Stove

23. Asbestos Pipe Wrap

24. Radon

25. Unvented Clothes Dryer

26. Pesticides

27. Stored Hobby Products

28. Lead-Based Paint

While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. There can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these sources.

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The Environmental Protection Agency, suggests that Indoor Air Quality is up to 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors, and in some cases, this figure is considerably higher. As the majority of people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, you might like to stop and wonder what impact this is having on your health and well-being.

If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms, and have not been able to determine the cause, it may be worth looking at your Indoor Air Quality.

• Flu like symptoms
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sinus problems
• Eye irritations
• Chronic respiratory problems, Asthma
• Eczema and skin irritations
• Feeling ‘under the weather’

There are a number of factors that can compromise your Indoor Air Quality. They may include:

• Inadequate ventilation
• Insufficiently maintained heating/cooling systems
• Chemical substances. For example, household cleaning solutions
• Synthetic building materials, finishes and paints (releasing toxic compounds)
• Animal dander
• Dust and dust mites
• Pollen
• Smoking

Rest assured there are measures that you can take to improve your Indoor Air Quality.

1. Improve Ventilation. Opening your windows and switching ceiling fans on can greatly improve the quality of the air indoors. Adequate ventilation is particularly important in wet areas, such as bathrooms.

2. Service Heating/Cooling Systems Regularly. The manufacturer’s instructions will guide you in caring for, and maintaining your system. Also, make sure that you have your system serviced regularly. Ensure that all systems, as well as fire places are sufficiently flued.

3. Eliminate Chemical Substances. There are plenty of environmentally friendly, green cleaning products available on the market. Alternatively, go back to the basics of your grandparents’ generation for keeping the house clean. You will be amazed at what you can do with some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar! That way, you not only save money, you avoid polluting the environment, and you can protect you and your family from the negative effects of toxic chemicals in your home.

4. Natural Building Materials. Avoiding synthetic and chemically treated products will help to reduce the risk of compromising your Indoor Air Quality. For example, use low V.O.C paints on walls. ‘Natural’ is a word that is sometimes overly abused, so the key here, is to do your research. Many companies include the word ‘natural’ into their marketing, although it does not necessarily mean that the product is completely natural.

5. Clean Your Home Regularly. This can go a long way towards reducing the problems associated with poor Indoor Air Quality, caused by dust, dust mites, animal dander, pollen and mold, etc. It may be worth considering the benefits of investing in a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner.

6. Air Purifiers. Air Purification Systems assist in removing contaminants from the air. Other ways to purify the air in your home include:

• House plants such as Areca Palms and Peace Lilies assist in removing harmful toxins from the air.
• Natural beeswax candles clean the air naturally and emit healthy ions (similar to the air you breathe by the ocean, or on a mountain).
• Himalayan Salt lamps. As the salt is heated, it produces healthy ions.

7. Smoke Detectors. Install combination smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can be produced by faulty household appliances such as gas heaters.

8. Avoid Smoking In The Home.

Taking the above steps can go a long way towards improving your Indoor Air Quality.

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If your ducts are not cleaned regularly, you may be increasing your risk of suffering from the many symptoms and illnesses associated with indoor air pollution. Many types of pollutants and small particles can collect within the ducts that include mold, fungus, dust, bacteria and viruses as well as other outdoor pollutants, such as exhaust fumes, pollen and animal hair. The more these particles collect within the ducts, the higher chance you have of developing illnesses and symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality.

If you have allergies, you are even more susceptible to the high concentration of contaminants that may be circulating within your home. Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of symptoms that include nausea, headaches, respiratory illness, congestion, eye and nose irritation, runny nose, trouble concentrating, malaise (generally not feeling well) and lethargy. It also increases the risk of contracting illnesses such as colds, flu and fungal or other infections. Indoor air pollution greatly contributes to the amount of severity of symptoms suffered by those with allergies and can even contribute to the development of new allergies.

Many times we do not think about the quality of air we air we breathe while inside our homes. However, the American Lung Association estimates that we spend anywhere from 60-90% of our time indoors. Usually, the pollutants and fine particles found within the air we breathe indoors are at substantially higher levels of concentration compared to the air outdoors. This makes those with allergies at especially high risk for the health problems associated with poor indoor air quality that may in part be attributed to the debris collected within our ducts.

Dust buildup is the most common cause of asthma and is also the biggest allergen within the home. The more dust buildup there is, the more dust mites there will be, which are true causes of dust allergies. The large quantities of dust mites that are found with collections of dust within your ducts and airborne dust particles are a major contributor to the allergy symptoms experienced by the vast majority people. It is hard to rid your house of dust and avoid the health risks of the allergic reactions attributed to dust mites if there is a large amount of dust buildup within your ducts. This dust is then circulated in high concentrations within your home and is breathed in causing a much higher risk of allergy symptoms and allergic reactions within the body.

Regular duct cleaning is essential for clean indoor air quality and the reduction of the potential health hazards associated with indoor air pollution. It is even more essential for those that suffer from allergies to avoid the severe symptoms associated with them. Dust is the most common allergy, but many other allergens can be found in high concentrations within the ducts and in the indoor air you breathe including pollen, animal hair and fungus. It is important that you clean your ducts regularly. If you do, you will find this will greatly reduce and even relieve the many allergy symptoms you are experiencing and will also reduce your chance for other indoor air pollution health risks. The most important component of your duct cleaning system is the compressor.

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Yου mау nοt realize іt bυt thе air quality іn home οr business mау bе worse thаn уου thіnk, especially during thе winter months. In thе winter, windows аrе rarely opened аnd thе same stale warm air іѕ usually reticulated throughout thе building. Air quality іѕ ѕο poor іn fact thаt ѕοmе studies hаνе shown thаt indoor air quality during thе winter months іѕ 10 times worse thаn during οthеr seasons. If уου’d lіkе tο improve уουr health, уου ѕhουld ѕtаrt wіth thе air уου breath. Here аrе 10 things thаt саn improve уουr indoor air quality. 

1. Decorate wіth Live Indoor Plants: Plants аrе nature’s way οf cleaning air. Thеrе аrе many chemicals саn contribute tο poor indoor air quality аnd many οf thе chemicals thаt mаkе υѕ sick аrе thе ones thаt plants thrive upon аnd convert tο fresh air. 

2. Don’t Smoke Indoors: Thіѕ tip seems tο bе a pretty obvious one, bυt саn provide challenges fοr regular smokers. Bυt thеrе аrе hundreds οf dаngеrουѕ chemicals іn smoke thаt саn bе harmful tο уουr health. Tο protect thе quality аnd freshness οf уουr indoor air уου ѕhουld tеll anyone thаt smokes, tο dο ѕο outside. Sοmе business’s especially bars аnd restaurants now hаνе areas wіth ventilation fans thаt pull contaminants out οf thе air. whісh іѕ thе rule wе implemented, whісh іѕ another option during thе winter months. 

3. Don’t υѕе Aerosols: Aerosols саn case respiratory dіѕtrеѕѕ іn those people wіth lung disease οr asthma. Instead, substitute aerosols wіth οthеr products thаt dο nοt disperse themselves іntο thе air οr thаt υѕе a spray bottle instead οf using compressed air іn a саn. 

4. Cleaning Yουr Shower Curtain аnd Humidifiers: Moist environments encourage thе growth οf mold. Yου ѕhουld replace уουr shower curtain іf іt hаѕ a large amount οf mold οn іt. If thе mold іѕ minimal, уου саn remove thе shower curtain аnd scrub іt wіth a household cleaner аnd rinse before re-hanging. 

5. Check Plant’s Soil fοr Mold: If thе potting soil уου’re plant іѕ growing іn hаѕ mold уου ѕhουld repot іt. Such mold usually appears аѕ white fuzz. Thіѕ wіll hеlр tο improve уουr indoor air quality. Tο prevent іt іn thе future, bе sure nοt tο over water уουr plants. 

6. Change Air Filters: Tο improve indoor air quality, air filters wеrе аll ѕhουld bе changed οn a regular basis. It doesn’t take long fοr thе filters tο fill wіth dust аnd οthеr particles. Bυt еνеrу particle caught bу уουr filter іѕ one less уου’ll hаνе tο breath іn. 

7. Uѕе Ventilating Fans: Ventilation fans exist fοr a reason аnd thаt іѕ tο ventilate thе areas whеrе thеу exist. Thеу аrе usually found іn kitchens аnd bathrooms. It couldn’t hυrt tο install thеm іn аnу area wіth smoke οr fumes such аѕ a garage. In fact lots οf billiard halls υѕе thеm. Thеу ѕhουld pull unclean air out οf уουr house οr building. 

8. Vacuum And Dust: It’s obvious tο vacuum carpets уου ѕhουld аlѕο vacuum οthеr areas such аѕ уουr furniture аnd drapes. Fοr thеѕе things іt mіght bе best tο gеt a smaller hand held vacuum. Yου ѕhουld аlѕο dust weekly tο keep thе “dust mites” аt bay. Yου mіght want tο wear a dust mask whіlе vacuuming bесаυѕе іt саn actually kick dust up temporarily. 

9. Groom аnd Clеаn аftеr Pets: Shedding hair саn a problem tο уουr air quality, bυt wіth thе better vacuuming regular grooming уου саn solve a lot οf thе problems. Yου ѕhουld аlѕο regularly bath уουr pets аnd сlеаn thеіr areas οr cages. Fοr cats, іt mіght hеlр tο mονе уουr litter box іntο аn area wіth less human traffic, lіkе thе garage. 

10. Lеt ѕοmе fresh Air In: It mіght nοt bе thе mοѕt pleasant thing tο dο іn thе winter, whеn іt’s сοld outside, bυt maybe уου сουld open thе window whіlе уου take a qυісk trip tο thе store. Yου’d bе surprised out hοw bіg οf a dіffеrеnсе іt mаkеѕ.

 If уου follow thеѕе steps thе air quality οf уουr indoor air wіll improve dramatically, whісh wіll result уου enjoying thе indoor environment οf уουr home οr business more аnd thе improved health thаt comes wіth better air.

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These are strategically bundled to meet the expectations of all budgets. They also all include complementary Carbon Monoxide testing as one of the main components in achieving a safe home environment.

Silver – Basic Budget Bundle
This package provides the complete cleaning of your furnace and vents, and it includes the complimentary Carbon Monoxide test.

• Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• The perfect fit for any budget
• Includes a complimentary Carbon Monoxide test

View Silver Package

Gold – Always Clean Package
Our Gold, Always Clean Package is a value-filled option that has become a client favourite, with more than $130 worth of savings and a personalized approach to the complete Indoor Air Quality management of your home.

• Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• Our most popular package based on value, yet still affordable
• Includes complimentary Carbon Monoxide test and Volts & Amps test, system sanitization, and our special home care package

View Gold Package

Platinum - Executive Premium Package
Our Platinum, Executive Premium Package is the mother-load of our offers, overflowing with savings and value that simply can’t be matched. It also includes a complimentary furnace performance check-up in six months.

•  Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• Incredible value, including everything in our Silver and Gold packages and more – like a free furnace chimney stack cleaning…
• additional offers available ONLY through the purchase of this package

View Platinum Package

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In addition to regularly inspecting your furnace’s filter, brush and vacuum the heat exchanger surfaces every year, if recommended by your owner’s manual. Before the heating season, clean the blower blades and seal any air leaks in ducts with several wraps of duct tape.

Here’s how to change a replaceable filter:

1) Turn off the power to the unit.

2) Look for the door or panel that conceals the blower; sometimes this is marked “Filter.” Lift this door or panel off its holding hooks, or unscrew its retaining screws to remove it.

3) Standard filters are mounted next to or under the blower motor. Slide the filter out along its tracks. Check to see whether it is a disposable filter or intended to be cleaned and replaced—this information should be marked on the filter’s edge, along with directions for cleaning, if applicable. If it’s a disposable filter, its size will likely be printed on the frame’s edge. Make a note of it.

4) Buy a replacement, and slide it into place, noting that arrows stamped on the side indicate the proper direction of airflow; be sure you face these in the proper direction.

5) While you have the furnace open, vacuum out the area around the blower. If possible, slide out the fan unit, clean each fan blade with a toothbrush, and then vacuum with a brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner.

6) Look for oil ports on the motor, normally located near the motor shaft. If the motor has these, apply two to three drops of non-detergent motor oil into each port (you may have to remove a cover plate to do this). Most contemporary motors don’t require lubrication, but motors with oil ports should be lubricated once a year.

7) Look for worn belts between the motor and pulleys. If you see any , see Furnace or Air Handler Squeal.

Source: HomeTips.com

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In the study, David Layton and Paloma Beamer found that over 60 percent of house dust originates outdoors. They note that household dust consists of a mixture that includes dead skin shed by people, fibers from carpets and upholstered furniture, and tracked-in soil and airborne particles blown in from outdoors. It can include lead, arsenic and other potentially harmful substances that migrate indoors from outside air and soil. This can be of special concern for children, who can ingest these substances by spending time on a dusty floor, or by putting dusty toys and other objects into their mouths.

They estimated that nearly 60 percent of the arsenic in floor dust could come from arsenic in the surrounding air, with the remainder derived from tracked-in soil.

So then, I wasn’t too far off base when I wrote Please Remove Shoes Before Entering, extolling five reasons for removing shoes before entering the home: number two being toxins-toxins-toxins! Even so, many people are wildly opposed to removing their shoes when visiting others’ homes. To each his own and all, but still.

Aside from keeping dust out of the home in the first place, I like microfiber cloths to tackle surface dust once it has invaded. They are eco-friendly because they reduce the use of cleaning products and paper towels or other disposables, and they thoroughly remove dust, allergens and bacteria.

To clean dust from the floor, the right vacuum is essential. Suction alone often isn’t enough to get much dust out of carpet; for best results, use an upright vacuum with an agitator, although some canister vacuums with agitators work well for carpet too. For wood, tile or vinyl flooring, use a canister vacuum without an agitator–or with an agitator that can be turned off–using an agitator on hard flooring actually kicks up more dust than it sucks up.

By Melissa Breyer via Care2

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