Monthly Archives: April 2014

Appreciating the DIY Husband… Let Me Count the Ways

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Toilet Repair... with assistance!

My husband: teaching the next generation to DIY

This month, my employer FiltersFast.com is honoring all of those DIY people out there.  As the proud wife of a DIY man, I would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank you, DIY people” for making life a little easier for the rest of us!  Upon further reflection, I realize both of my parents are also DIY, so all of my life I have seen what a little ingenuity, some creativity and a little (or lot) of hard work can accomplish.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have seen some massive DIY failures along the way; but I won’t go into those.

But this is about my husband and how his DIY prowess never fails to amaze me.  See he grew up on a dairy farm, which he claims is where he learned his skills. But, as an observer of people, I have decided that you either “are” or “are not” a DIY person by nature. Though with some effort, you can be somewhere in between, like myself.

Here is a brief rundown on some of the DIY projects/ skills my beloved has accomplished:

  • Changing the oil in cars/ trucks (TRACTORS)
  • General automotive maintenance; changing wipers, headlights, batteries etc.
  • Built a huge deck on our house
  • Painting
  • Install hardwood flooring
  • Remodeled bathroom (tore out old walls, replaced with nice new ones)
  • Cuts down trees (BIG ONES)
  • Basic plumbing; replace garbage disposal, repair toilets etc.
  • Install ceiling fans
  • Assembled trampoline (This is not as easy as it sounds. I know people who paid someone to do this, so I feel this counts.)

You get the picture.  After 14 years of marriage, I feel good in saying there are very few things that my husband cannot fix around the house, in the yard or on the car.  It may take a little time, but I know without question that job will be done correctly.

Now getting back to FiltersFast.com honoring the DIY, here are a few benefits of being one or in my case, living with one:

  1. Saving money:  why pay a professional when you can “do it yourself”
  2. From concept to reality = satisfaction!  Let’s face it, it feels good when you are able to “do it yourself.”
  3. Gaining and applying valuable knowledge into practical (often transferable) skills.
  4. Self-sufficiency.  Not having to rely on others may come in handy during the zombie apocalypse.  Just kidding. But really, it is nice if something breaks in the middle of the night.

FiltersFast.com and myself would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of the DIY people out there.  Why FiltersFast.com?  Because as a leading source in the air and water filtration industry, we know a little something about repairing, replacing and maintaining household items; specifically air and water filters!

Thank you DIY people and keep up the good work!

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How To Improve Indoor Air Quality: The Facts about Indoor Air Pollution

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Image Credit: home.howstuffworks.com

Alright, so maybe your family isn’t wearing gas/breathing masks at home. However, if you knew the problems with indoor air quality, you may be moved to take steps to protect yourself from it too. You may think you don’t need to be that worried about the air in your home, but consider this:

1. Indoor air pollution is 2 to 5 times worse than the air outdoors (an estimated 87% of American homeowners are not aware of this)

2. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution among the top 5 environmental dangers

3. An increase in the number of children with asthma and severe allergies has been linked to increasingly poor indoor air quality

4. A recent study referenced on indoorairqualityhvac.com states that 86% of homes have high levels of particles and bioaerosols like pollen, dust, and viruses

Indoor air pollution is clearly a problem.

Fortunately it is a problem that can be managed. To do so, you have to first identify the common sources of indoor air pollution such as:

  • Cleaning and personal care products, pastes, glues
  • Building materials such as carpet, insulation, cabinetry, and more
  • Combustion products such as tobacco smoke, gas, oil, kerosene and wood stoves or fireplaces
  • Pet dander, mold, dust mites, viruses

 

To improve the air quality in your home, there are three important things you need to consider:

1. Change your HVAC filter on a regular basis. In addition to improving the efficiency of your HVAC unit (thus saving you a lot of money) it also acts as a line of defense between you and many of the air pollutants outlined above.

Tip: Your HVAC filter should be replaced every 3 months.

2. Increase ventilation. Consider opening the windows more often during warmer temperature days to increase a steady air flow through the home. Homes with poor air circulation tend to have poor air quality.

Tip: Avoid home ventilation on days with a high pollen count, as it can cause flareups for allergy sufferers.

3. Consider outside sources to improve your indoor air quality such as investing in an air purifier to help reduce dust mites, mold, pet dander and more.

Tip: Certain house plants such as the Peace Lily can help purify the air, but should never be considered as the sole source for better air quality.

With the right tools you don’t have to worry about wearing masks in your home as long as you pay attention to your air quality. Changing your air filters more regularly, buying an Indoor Air Quality Test Kit, or any other method can make your home the safe and healthy sanctuary it should be for you and your family.

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How to Avoid Pollen Health Effects

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dandelion-pollen

It’s that time of year when you walk outside and your car is covered by yellow dust. Also that time of year when you’re outside for 30 seconds and you start sneezing (not fun, is it?)

Pollen negatively affects human health in a variety of ways. When the pollen count is high, many experience:

  • Runny and/or stuffy nose
  • Itchy eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Respiratory problems such as asthma.

These symptoms could be contributed to a pollen allergy, typically referred to as hay fever.

Weeds, grasses, trees, and some shrubs are the common culprits for pollen. Weeds have commonly been determined to be the most productive of pollen producers and are identified as the plant that causes the most allergies.

How does pollen cause my symptoms?

When pollen is inhaled through the nose and throat, the body experiences an immune response that results in hay fever, because it attaches to the cells and creates histamine. It is this releasing of histamine that causes the symptoms of pollen allergy.

How can I avoid pollen?

The most overlooked way to avoid pollen is a simple change of your home air filter. Air filters are proven to reduce many of the common airborne contaminants, such as pollen, from the air you breathe. In addition to changing your air filter on a regular basis, here are some other things you can do to avoid pollen this spring:

  1. Stay indoors, being sure to keep windows closed during high pollen counts
  2. Wash hair before going to bed at night to avoid sleeping in pollen that accumulated in the air during the day
  3. Make sure outdoor pets are bathed before coming inside. This can prohibit the distribution of pollen on furniture and carpets
  4. Consider the use of an air purifier in your home for more protection from pollen and other contaminants such as dust mites and viruses

*Tips taken from ehow.com*

This spring, you don’t have to let pollen get the best of you. By regularly replacing the air filters around the home and being more mindful of local pollen counts, you can find yourself winning the battle against pollen.

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