Archive for the ‘Arizona Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Air Quality and Air Purification

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Combining Air Purification Systems with your Arizona Heating and Cooling System Can Improve Your Health

The number one most often prescribed drugs today are respiratory drugs such as Claritin, and Allegra.  According to the American Lung Association, there are now almost 70 million people across North America with upper respiratory problems AND it’s on the rise! That’s one in 4 people with respiratory problems with the elderly and children being the most affected.  With statistics like these you have to be asking yourself how you can clean up the air in your home.  Most experts agree the most effective way to clean the air in your home is through the use of filtration within your Arizona heating and cooling system. Several different processes of varying effectiveness can be used to purify air. Different processes may remove different contaminants, so there is an advantage in using more than one process in a purifier.  We’ll discuss ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and ozone generators today and filters in tomorrow’s post.

* Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation- UVGI can be used to sterilize air as it passes UV lamps via forced air. Air purification UVGI systems can be freestanding units with shielded UV lamps that use a fan to force air past the UV light. Other systems are installed in forced air systems so that the circulation for the premises moves micro-organisms past the lamps. Key to this form of sterilization is placement of the UV lamps and a good filtration system to remove the dead micro-organisms. For example, forced air systems by design impede line-of-sight, thus creating areas of the environment that will be shaded from the UV light.  However, a UV lamp placed at the coils and drain pan of your Arizona heating and cooling system will keep micro-organisms from forming in these naturally damp places.

 * Ozone generators – These produce ozone, and are sometimes sold as whole house air cleaners. Unline ionizers ozone generators are designed to produce significant amounts of ozone, a strong oxidant gas which can oxidize many other chemicals. The only safe use of ozone generators is in unoccupied rooms, utilizing “shock treatment” commercial ozone generators that produce over 3000 mg of ozone per hour. Restoration contractors use these types of ozone generators to remove smoke odors after fire damage, musty smells after flooding, mold (including toxic molds), and the stench caused by decaying flesh which cannot be removed by bleach or anything else except for ozone. However, it is not healthy to breathe ozone gas, and one should use extreme caution when buying a room air purifier that also produces ozone.

These are two options for working air filtration into the heating and cooling system that is an essential part of an Arizona home.  In our next post we will discuss filter based purification.

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Heating systems in Phoenix Arizona

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Heating systems in Phoenix Arizona

 

 With forecasted highs of 98 degrees in the middle of October, most people don’t think about the heating portion of their HVAC system. It doesn’t seem as important as their air conditioning.  Until it gets cold that is. But as residents of the valley of the sun know, it still gets cold enough in winter for the need to heat your home. You don’t need to see snowdrifts outside to feel the chill of the dessert at near freezing temperatures. Plus, after months of triple digit heat, it doesn’t take much to feel uncomfortable.

 

 People generally believe that Phoenix heating systems don’t get the wear and tear from constant use in Arizona.  But the fact is, most heating systems in Arizona are heat pumps. What this means is that after running all summer as an air conditioner, when it runs in heat mode, it is an air conditioner running backwards. The same components that ran all summer long are now running again, backwards. The condenser fan motor, blower motor and the compressor are running year round. They are still running just as they did in the summertime, only moving the refrigerant in the opposite direction. they actually “air condition the outdoor air”. In summer they absorb heat from inside your home and move it to the outdoor air. In Winter they absorb heat from the outdoor air and move it into your home.

 

 If you do have a gas furnace, its true, the compressor and outdoor fan motor do not run in the winter, but, the indoor blower that ran all summer is running all winter. Gas furnaces also produce carbon monoxide. Improperly vented flue pipes can cause serious health problems. The fact that the furnace isn’t used all summer can increase the chance of birds or other critters nesting in your flue pipe. This can prevent proper venting causing unsafe conditions for you and your family.

 

 Routine maintenance in the fall may seem silly, but it is just as important as your summer tune up. Checking combustion on gas furnaces and defrost operation of heat pumps can save you energy, frustration when the cold does come, and assure your safety in the winter months.

 

 Most Heating and cooling companies offer maintenance programs that provide a summer tune up and a winter tune up. Other benefits include discounts on repairs, extended service hours, extended warranties on repairs made and other services to keep your system running as efficiently as possible.

 

Consumer Reports states in the June 1998 issue (page 3)

 

” Consider purchasing a service plan, perticulary if it combines cooling and heating functions. Most plans include 2 visits… a plan may allow the contractor to spot problems before they lead to a breakdown. You may also get discounts on repairs and recieve priority service, which could be a blessing should your cooling system break down during those blistering summer months or on a bitter cold day”

 

 Air conditioning by Jays Comfort Team offer 3 tiers on Comfort Club Memberships to meet your individual needs.

Each offer amazing benefits to keep you comfortable year round. To learn more visit www.dialcomfort.com or give us a call @ 480-922.4455. 

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Don’t Buy a new air conditioner or heating system from Retail Home Centers without knowing who is doing the work !!

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

WARNING!!!!!

Don’t buy a new air conditioning or heating system from any home center such as Home Depot or Sears without knowing who the installing contractor is.

Most people don’t realize when you purchase a new heating or cooling system from a home center or chain store, the work is performed by subcontractors who are charged 10% for the job. This means they could be cutting corners to make a profit. Don’t get caught with a subcontracting nightmare!! Investing in a new energy efficient heating and cooling system isn’t just buying the “box”. You are depending on the installing contractor to do the install correctly so you can enjoy the efficiency promised, and a long system life. The most important day in an air conditioner’s life is the day it is installed. Proper equipment size, proper duct design and quality installation practices are crucial to performance and the longevity of your investment.

At Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team we never subcontract any of our installation work. All installations and service are done by our highly trained, certified technicians.  100% of our technicians are NATE certified ( North American Trade Excellence) 100% are certified master technicians by the Arizona Heat Pump Council. We are recommended by APS, SRP and Southwest Gas. All of the training and certifications are to assure that our clients receive the very best service when purchasing a new system, have a breakdown or just having routine maintenance done on their system.   

The North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation a non-profit organization, examined Air Conditioning manufacturers’ efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that result after installation; they found the following:

90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy-wasting, comfort-robbing problem!                        
Other significant HVAC industry comfort energy related surveys reveal that:

*93% of equipment installed have Duct Leakage resulting in poor indoor air quality, health and safety concerns, drafts and uneven temperatures and may DOUBLE HVAC portion of the energy bill                                                                      
*54% of equipment installed have incorrect refrigerant charge resulting in increased failure rate, reduced moisture removal, equipment typically noisier, uneven temperatures and could add as much as 17% to operation costs.  Reduce life of system and major components (Compressors) causing elimination of ROI.                                                 
*47% of equipment installed are over sized resulting in equipment not running enough to wring out moisture, air in sunlit & shade rooms does not mix, equipment typically noisier and shorter equipment life                                                
*70% of equipment installed have incorrect air flow resulting in uneven temperatures, poor moisture control, noisy grilles and registers and could add as much as 10% to operating costs 

When you measure every aspect of any business for results,
you are no longer are guessing!
   

                       
Benefits YOU receive and are guaranteed when choosing
AIR CONDITIONING BY JAY to perform your system UPGRADE!

*Only HVAC contractor with Quality Control Division in the business!
*Guarantee that YOUR installation falls in the top 10%!
*Most Certified, Professional staff in the Valley
*100% Satisfaction Guarantee, IN WRITING!
*Best Performance on YOUR investment!
*Longest Life Expectancy on YOUR Investment!
*Fewest Break Downs over the life of YOUR system!
*Quietest Operation Possible!
*Highest Utility Rebates Available!
*24/7 Support and Assistance!
*Free Deluxe Comfort Club Membership!
*Lifetime Thermostat Warranty!
*Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty!

 

 

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Arizona Public Service is offering cash rebates of up to $250.00 to test and seal your ductwork.

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

APS will pay you up to $250.00 per system to have your ducts tested and sealed to help reduce leakage.

Air Condotioning by Jays Comfort Team is one of the few contractors who hold the required BPI certification to qualify you for the APS duct testing and sealing program. If you are like most home owners in Arizona, as long as your heating and cooling system is keeping you comfortable, you dont give it much thought. But what you dont see could be costing you hundreds of dollars every year. Most duct sytems in Arizona are installed in attics or building cavities where they are hidden from view and rarely inspected.

The results of a recent APS study found:

As much of 33% of a heating/cooling systems capacity could be leaking through ducts causing loss of comfort, decreased capacity and longer run cycles.

In Arizona’s climate, on average, 50% of your annual energy bill is spent running your heating and cooling system.

On average in Arizona, 15% of heating and cooling capacity is lost due to duct leakage.

The impact of duct leakage is most severe in duct sytems installed in attics where tempatures can reach 140 degrees or more in the summer months. Most homes in Arizona have attic ductwork.

Fixing duct leaks can save you more than $200.00 in your annual energy cost while improving the comfort and air quality in your home.

Most repairs to ducts are relatively easy to perform and not very expensive, especially when APS is offering rebates up to $250.00 per system. All homes are different and Air Conditioning by Jays Comfort Team is qualified and well trained to evaluate your home and offer realistic repairs that are beneficial to your energy consumption, your equipment lifespan and the air quality in your home. For more information on this program visit www.dialcomfort.com or http://www.aps.com/main/green/choice/choice_18.html?source=acjump

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Is Your Arizona Air Conditioner Giving You Problem Warning Signs?

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

A guide to common warning signs that mean it is time to replace your Arizona air conditioner.

As anyone who has ever needed their Arizona air conditioner repaired during the hot summer months will tell you, a broken air conditioner will make you completely miserable. Many people actually have to leave their homes and stay with a friend or at a hotel just to avoid the heat while their air conditioner in Arizona is repaired or replaced.

While there is no 100% forecast for when your old air conditioner will sputter out and die, there are some warning signs. By paying attention to these signs, you can take action before you are forced out of your home and into a hotel room.

Warning Sign #1: Your Unit is Over 10 Years Old. If your Arizona air conditioner is over ten years old, it stands a far greater risk of malfunctioning then a newer unit. By switching to a newer system, you will save over 20% on your energy bill, reduce greenhouse gas, and ensure that you stay cool this summer.

Warning Sign #2: Increased Need for Arizona Air Conditioner Repairs. Even if fixing minor problems is not costing you very much, if your unit needs “semi-frequent” repairs it could be reaching the end of its lifespan.

Warning Sign #3: Energy Costs Shoot Up. Higher energy costs could mean that the system has started to operate less efficiently and might need to be replaced soon to avoid astronomical cooling bills.

Warning Sign #4: Rooms Stay too Hot or Get too Cold. This might be a sign that the system is starting to malfunction. It could also mean you have ductwork/airflow problems or inadequate insulation.

Warning Sign #5: Your Home Gets Dusty. Excessive dust is often caused by leaky ducts that pull particles from attics, basements, and even outside!

Warning Sign #6: Your Arizona Air Conditioner Gets Noisy. Increased noisiness could be caused by an inadequately sized duct system or a malfunctioning indoor coil. Also, newer systems are almost all much quieter then their older counterparts.

If you have started to notice any of these warning signs, it might be time to replace your Arizona air conditioner before it breaks when you need it most.

Air Conditioning by Jay can help you select and install the right air conditioner for you, quickly and affordably. Contact us today using our privacy assured online form or call 602-266-3678.

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Protect Your Family from the Flu with Trane CleanEffects System

Friday, July 18th, 2008

A profile of the new Trane CleanEffects filter system and how it can protect your family from the flu and other airborne health problems.

According to new research by the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with scientists at Environmental Health and Engineering Inc., a Trane CleanEffects system removes over 99% of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from a standard home’s filtered air. This reduced concentration of the virus means that you and your family are much less likely to catch the virus within your home then if you were not using the system.

Additionally, the system asserts to remove 99.98% of airborne particles and allergens from your home’s filtered air, a figure higher than any other system on the market.

Whole house air filtration systems have become increasingly popular thanks to the additional health benefits of breathing cleaner air. Asthma and allergy sufferers report considerable relief from using air filters such as the Trane CleanEffects system. Because the unit keeps such a high percentage of allergens from ever entering the air you breath, allergy suffers can gain much needed relief anywhere in their home.

The use of a whole house air filter like the CleanEffects system means that air circulating throughout the house is kept clean from most airborne particles. This is a huge improvement over single room air purifiers that only operate within a small radius and are far less effective at catching most particles. Further, the system attaches directly to your Arizona air conditioner so there is no extra appliances laying around to trip you up or get damaged.

If you are interested in attaching a Trane CleanEffects system to your Arizona air conditioner, Trane master certified dealer Air Conditioning by Jay can help. Contact us today by using our privacy assured online form or by calling 602-266-3678.

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Protect Your Home Against Moisture Damage

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Why moisture damage might cost you thousands of dollars in repairs and how to prevent it.

Contrary to the popular saying “it’s a dry heat”, Arizona residents are about to see humidity levels rise and rain fall by the bucket load as monsoon season kicks into full gear. Unfortunately, those high levels of humidity bring something that Arizona air conditioners don’t handle very well, moisture removal that can sometimes result in damage to your home.

With rising humidity levels, condensation systems (drains) begin to fail and leaks begin to develop. What starts as a slow drip from your ceiling or wet carpeting in your hallway quickly expands into an expensive problem. Moisture damage can ruin your flooring, destroy your drywall, and cause you to replace the insulation throughout your home. Damages caused by moisture in Arizona have been known to cost thousands of dollars and countless hassles to fix; so much for a dry heat.

Fortunately, there are ways to safeguard your home against moisture damage. The most effective method that is recommended by most HVAC professionals is installing a condensate EZ trap with an electronic drain safety switch onto your existing Arizona air conditioning system.

An EZ Trap Drain Safety Switch will monitor the condition of your existing drain system to ensure water is not backing up or going where it isn’t supposed to be. This means you can rest easy without having to worry about moisture damage costing you thousands in home repairs.

For more information about moisture traps or for questions about any other Arizona air conditioning repair or installation service, contact us online or call us at 602-266-3678.

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Duct Cleaning 101

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

A key element of your comfort system effectiveness is clean duct work.

In general, many people only call an expert when their system is in need of repair. However, costly repairs can be reduced by regular maintenance. Duct Cleaning is one of those maintenance tasks.

In addition to ensuring your system remains in working order, the efficiency of your system and your home’s air quality is also improved by cleaning your ducts.

How are ducts cleaned?
Cleaning air ducts requires a professional contractor to place the system under negative pressure with a special high-powered vacuum. While the vacuum runs, special devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any material that might be stuck. The debris is pulled into the vacuum and removed from the home.

Depending on the size and access to the home, the vacuum system may reside on a truck or van, with hoses brought into the house, or on a portable unit.

How often should my duct work be cleaned?
A number of factors can impact how often your systems duct work should be cleaned:

  • Smokers in the home.
  • If any of the people living in the home have allergies.
  • Home renovations and repairs which can generate additional dust and debris.

Additionally, you might consider having your duct work cleaned at the time you move into the home. There are many people who have never cleaned their ductwork, so prior to moving in serves as a good time to do this.

How much does it cost?
Duct cleaning can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand for very large homes and systems, depending up the size of the duct system.

If you have never had your duct system cleaned, if you are concerned about your system’s performance, or if you have one of the above mentioned factors that impact duct system cleanliness, consider calling a member of our Comfort Team [link to contact us]. We help you determine whether your duct system may need cleaning and maintenance and the cost to do so.

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What A Humidifier Really Does

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

A humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air in your home. This is especially useful during times of extended furnace use. During those times, the constant heated dries the air. This results in uncomfortable air quality and static electricity.

A humidifier will combat these affects.

How does a humidifier work?
All humidifiers are the same in that they add moisture to the air entering your home. However, there are many different types of humidifiers.

The most common humidifier is called a “wick” or “evaporative” humidifier. It has a reservoir of water, a wick that draws water from the reservoir, and a fan that blows air onto the wick causing evaporation which results in water entering the heating system.

In wick humidifiers, they meter the amount of moisture because the wick absorbs less water when there is more humidity and more water when there is less humidity.

Other types of humidifiers include vaporizers or steam humidifiers, impeller or cool mist humidifiers, and ultrasonic humidifiers.

Some humidifiers require frequent cleaning to guard against bacteria and other microorganisms. With wick humidifiers you should change the wick frequently.

Properly uses, humidifiers provide relief when the air becomes too dry creating a more comfortable environment and reducing those nasty shocks.

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10 Tips for Better Health in 2008

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Scottsdale resident and Paradise Valley Community College fitness professor Jacky Burke is a recognized fitness and anti-aging expert. Here are Jacky’s top 10 tips for better health and fitness in 2008:

10 Tips for Better Health in 2008
By Jacky Burke, MS, ATC, CSCS, CPT (personal trainer, athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist)

After the holidays are over, and you have finished buying gifts for friends, family, and loved ones, it is time for you to focus on yourself. It is a great time for you to look at your health, and examine whether you can live a healthier or more active lifestyle that will help you live a longer, more productive life. While many people set New Year’s Resolutions that fall to the wayside within a month, there are many small changes that you can make to your lifestyle that can make your health so much better in the long-run, without committing to depriving sacrifices. Here are ten suggestions that you can start today, and will make a big impact on your health.

1. Read food labels
Every day the media reports another harmful effect of a certain food. Sometimes it seems as if there is nothing left that we are allowed to eat! How can people without a dietician’s degree figure out what is healthy, and what is not? The best thing for you to do is to start reading food labels. Actually read the ingredients in the foods you are selecting. Ingredients are listed in the order of amounts; that is, the first ingredient listed is the largest component of the product, then the second-most is listed second, etc. If sugar is listed first, then that product has a lot of sugar in it. Try to keep sugar the fifth-listed ingredient, or lower, in the foods you buy.

2. Eliminate trans-fats
Trans-fats are getting a lot of press lately, and most people in the U.S. are not sure what the big deal is. If people don’t understand the issue, how can they make a decision? Should you worry about trans-fats in your diet? According to the USDA and most nutritionists, you should. Trans-fats in most foods are healthy fats that have been chemically changed to unhealthy fats. While that might come as a surprise, it makes sense why food manufacturers would do this. Healthy fats tend to be liquid at room temperature. Most foods we buy are solids. So, the healthy fats would separate out, thus making the food less “stable” and probably less appealing to a consumer. Consider the convenience of buying peanut butter, like Jif, where the peanut butter is consistent throughout. The other choice is “natural” peanut butter, where the healthy fats separate out and form a layer on top of the inside of the jar. Not knowing the health difference, people have been choosing the more convenient, consistent peanut butter. The food manufacturers are thrilled since the trans-fats will also last longer (not break down) so it increases their profit margin. However, according to Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, who released a report in March of 2007 about research he had done on trans-fats in the diet, stated that:
“This research shows that trans fats are a very strong risk factor for coronary heart disease, and it serves to justify current efforts to get trans fats out of the American diet.”
To know whether a food has trans-fats in it, you will need to read the label. In the list of ingredients, if “shortening” or “partially hydrogenated” are listed, then there are trans-fats in that food product, even if labeling elsewhere on the container says otherwise.

3. Make an appointment with the doctor
People are living longer and longer lives thanks to advances in modern medicine. However, some effects of aging are being focused on more and more since in earlier times, they weren’t an issue since people died before these effects could cause much damage. Now we are seeing how they can be detrimental to good quality of life. The most dangerous aspect of these “natural” effects of aging is that they tend to not have warning signs until they are quite serious. For example, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” since it has very few symptoms, and people might not know they have it until it is so serious it causes a heart attack or stroke. Osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones, is similar in that people wouldn’t know they have it until even a simple fall causes a major bone break. Simple tests at the doctor’s office can screen for these diseases, and make a major impact on reversing their progress (yes, you can reverse either of these, and many other “natural” effects of aging with a healthy lifestyle!) before you suffer a major health crisis. Make an appointment for a check-up with your doctor, and ask to have tests done that are appropriate for your age.

4. Start walking
Physical activity is so important to health! So many people remain sedentary, though, with various reasons why they can’t do any today. No more excuses! Any body can go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be strenuous, it doesn’t have to be fancy with designer shoes and outfit, and the weather doesn’t even need to be perfect. Walk around your neighborhood, on a treadmill at home or at the gym, or even just walk around inside your home at a brisk pace. No time limit, just do what you can and then try to do more another day. Do this often. The health benefits are innumerable.

5. Simple resistance training
Most people know that aerobic exercise (like the walking just mentioned) is so important. Most people don’t know that resistance training can be just as important. Like walking, resistance training doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive, cumbersome, or intimidating. Even ten minutes a few days a week can make the quality of your life and your health so much greater. Resistance training prevents osteoporosis (and walking doesn’t, contrary to popular belief). It prevents muscle wasting, which is an effect, not of aging itself but inactivity, which in turn causes decreases in hormones that keep us looking and feeling young, including those that are responsible for healthy, tight skin, a higher metabolism, and even sex drive. Doing regular resistance training increases natural levels of these hormones safely. Like walking, some simple exercises can be done right a home in just a few minutes a day, and there are options for any fitness level. Please visit my website for suggestions at www.BodyDefinitions.com.

6. Control Stress
Stress is detrimental to health. It causes weight gain, poor sleep, it’s linked to heart disease, and isn’t good for mental health, either. Managing stress can seem like an impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be, and a little change today can make a big difference. First, try to organize one area of you life that is not. This can be anything from scheduling appointments, to paying bills, or an actual messy area of your home or office. Try to start a new routine or system that is more organized and less likely to cause missed appointments or mistakes or time lost looking for things. Start small, and you will save time lost in the future. Then, next time you have a chance, try organizing a second small area. In time, you will have made yourself more efficient, and this will pay off in terms of controlling stress.

7. Reconnect with friends
Did you connect with any friends or loved ones over the holidays this year that you wish you would have? Friends and loved ones are invaluable to our mental health. Mental health improves our overall health. Ever heard the old phrase, “laughter is the best medicine”? The positive effects of feeling good resonate throughout our bodies. Your friends can truly be the best medicine for your well-being. Don’t let work and responsibilities take over your life, and forget that there is another side to life out there, especially as business gear up for the New Year, and want to go full-steam ahead. Don’t get caught up in numbers and money, remember that friends and family are what really count. At the very least, remind yourself, especially in times of stress, of a favorite joke or a funny event that will always bring a smile to your face.

8. Examine vices
“Everybody has to have one vice.” Why? Instead of using this as an excuse for something detrimental to your health, like smoking, eating junk food, or drinking excessively, examine if you have a vice in your life and then take a step to try to get past it. Quitting smoking can be one of the hardest things a person can do, but you don’t need to do it all in one day, and there is help. Take one step today toward getting your vice out of your life. Make a call to a doctor to get a nicotine patch or prescription, or tell a friend or family member of your plan to try to make a change, and ask for their support. Or, do some research into how detrimental your vice might be to your health to increase your motivation to change.

9. Make one nutritional substitution
While nobody eats a perfect diet, most people do make bad choices throughout the week, and these few bad choices can add up to a couple extra pounds per year. After ten years, after 20 years, those added pounds well, add up! Just making one small change today, and kept for those same ten or twenty years, could make the result totally different! For example, if you drink soda, try switching to something less harmful to your waistline. A typical 12-oz soda has 140 calories. One of these per day, 7 days a week, is 980 calories. If you are overeating by only this much, in one year you’d gain 14 ½ pounds!! Imagine that in ten years! Switch to water or unsweetened green tea instead for a thinner waistline and a healthier body. And, by the way, nutritionists aren’t convinced that diet sodas don’t cause weight gain, too, even if they don’t have calories. If you don’t drink soda, is there another small change you could make? If you have a late-night snack, switch to something healthy like a piece of fruit instead of chips or ice-cream. By the way, have a healthy, decent-sized breakfast to prevent these late-night cravings. Any of these small changes can make you feel so much better, and look better too!

10. Get enough sleep
Getting good quality and quantity of sleep can seem like an unrealistic pipe dream. It doesn’t have to be the case. If you have trouble falling asleep, all of the previous tips can help you sleep better, getting exercise helps burn off hormones from stress that cause anxiety and makes us tired, feeling happy from good experiences with friends helps us sleep better, and eating properly, along with drinking enough water, also increases the quality of sleep. Sleep experts recommend some simple tips to help you fall asleep at night, including not watching TV in bed, keeping bright lights to a minimum around the time you want to fall asleep, and being comfortable from a temperature and bedding standpoint. Try one or all of these tips to help you get to sleep tonight. Feeling rested the next day makes you have so much more energy, and then you have the ability to do more of what is asked of you each day. This in turn helps lower your stress level, helps you have more time to spend with friends, helps you have the energy to make better nutritional choices you can see how they are so linked together, but in turn, make us have such higher quality of life, and you sure might as well make the best of the one life we have.

Jacky is offering a free fitness assessment and consultation for Air Conditioning by Jay customers. Contact her at 602-391-6210 by January 18th to arrange one for you.

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Meeting Customers’ Air Conditioning Needs

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

Installing an air conditioner in a customer’s home requires three groups of people. First, it requires a customer needing an air conditioner. Second, it needs a company such as Trane to build an air conditioner. Finally, it needs a comfort specialist, such as the technicians at AC By Jay, to install and help maintain that air conditioner.

With that in mind, Trane recently announced its Trane Dealer Connection software. This software is provided to comfort specialists to help ensure that all three parts of the puzzled customer, manufacturer, and technician can be connected in the most effective way. The software includes contact management software to help technicians keep track of their customers and is backed by a call center to help connect customers and technicians.

The Trane Dealer Connection is just one of the many ways that air conditioner manufacturers and comfort specialists are helping you meet your air conditioning needs. To find out how you can have a quality air conditioner installed in your home, contact the Comfort Team.

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Keeping Tabs on Our Air Quality

Wednesday, May 16th, 2007

We have talked in the past about outdoor and indoor air quality and how it affects comfort living.  In fact, there are many government agencies that are actively involved with monitoring air quality to help keep people safe and healthy.  Many of these organizations have come together to provide a website where people across the country can look up just how dirty the air in their city is.

The site, AIRNow, is run by a coalition of environmental and air quality departments at the federal, state, and local levels.  It gives a report of the day’s air quality using a familiar green/yellow/red system and reports on both the ozone and particle density in all of the participating areas.  If you click on a particular city, Phoenix for example, it also includes a forecast of air quality for the following two days and has a detailed message about air quality from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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