Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley - January/February 2022

Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley - January/February 2022

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COMFORT CONNECTIONS

AN ARGUMENT FOR COMMON SENSE Four Principles Everyone Should Follow

On Jan. 10, 1776, American founding father Thomas Paine published “Common Sense.” Called a pamphlet in its time, this 47-page document was more like a short book about why the colonists should fight for their independence from the British. Many historians credit Paine’s pamphlet with swaying the colonists to create the Declaration of Independence and resist British rule. You could argue that it was “Common Sense” that helped create the country we know and love today.

required to do the right thing. We are confronted with this all the time at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley. There are moments when we are on the job and a homeowner isn’t watching us. Whether the homeowner is watching us work or not, our job is to do our work correctly, efficiently, and honestly. We strive to keep that promise every time.

Humility When you’re an expert in something, it’s easy to forget that others don’t share that knowledge. We teach our technicians that the work they do is about the clients, not their own level of expertise as a technician. Our job is to listen to our clients’ concerns, hear their stories, and offer advice and perspectives as best we can. Our team may have the skill set for complex work, but that doesn’t make the work we do for our average customer small or unimportant. To that client, the work we are doing could make a difference in their daily comfort. And that’s all that should matter.

In the spirit of “Common Sense” and its anniversary, I want to share a few ideas I believe are “common sense.” These are principles I believe everyone can follow and could make a positive impact on us all. Nurturing small habits can over time lead to big changes — sort of like how one “small” pamphlet could inspire an entire nation. Hard Work and Rest Growing up, I learned that working hard added tremendous value to your life. My parents always taught me to stay busy with work, but I was also taught the value of rest. I learned that when you were at work, you should be working on something — no matter how slow it can be. Your small or big actions can make a difference, so it’s important to put your whole effort into your tasks.

No Excuses If you do something wrong or don’t finish a task, apologize sincerely. The excuses and reasons you have for why you may not have done something do little to appease the person you have impacted. Instead, apologize and actively work to make it right. This may include fixing the situation or doing better to avoid this scenario in the future. We all have our own ethical code we live by, but there is tremendous value in practicing a few shared principles. I believe the four ideas I listed in this article are “common sense,” and I know there are ways we can all improve upon them. My hope is that we strive to be a better world in 2022, remembering that common sense can create big changes.

I also learned that when you’re at home, resting, or on vacation, you should leave work alone. Granted, this is a value I still have to work on. It’s not easy to stop working when you’re a business owner, but this principle has yet to fail me (when I can abide by the resting part). Hard work and good rest will take you far. Integrity It’s easy to do the right thing when someone is watching you, but what happens when you’re alone? It’s my belief that you’re still

I hope you have a great new year.

Jim Serra

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SKILLS THAT ENRICH US The Importance of Having a Hobby

January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren't just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why! Hobbies are stress relievers. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time.

deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and feel understimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures. Hobbies offer a social outlet. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you! Hobbies develop patience. When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved.

Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success.

Finding a hobby that suits you may take some exploration and trial and error, but it is all in good fun! Make it your goal to try something new or learn a new skill each month until you find something that sticks. Once you do, you’re sure to find that hobbies are both enjoyable and enriching!

Hobbies also provide eustress . Believe it or not, one type of stress is

Your HVAC System May Cause Dry Skin BUT IT CAN COMBAT IT, TOO!

Your HVAC can save the day. While heating and cooling systems on their own do little to add or remove moisture from your home, humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be added to your system to regulate your home’s moisture levels. These devices either pump more moisture into the air (in the case of humidifiers) to counteract dry air or suck up excess moisture (in the case of dehumidifiers). And while stand-alone versions can help, they only affect the area in which they are placed, whereas adding a humidifier or dehumidifier to your HVAC system ensures your entire home reaps the benefits of maintaining proper humidity levels. Stop fighting dry winter weather without a humidifier. Our team at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley can provide you with options to combat a dry home. Learn more by scheduling a consultation with our team today!

It never fails. As the weather dips below freezing, your skin might start to itch, your nasal passages might feel dry and uncomfortable, and you may notice more days with drier eyes. No matter how much snow falls on the ground, our bodies scream for moisture in the winter, and lotions, nutrition, and ointments are often go-to sources for comfort.

when you go outside each winter, the air eats up all the moisture on your skin. And when your skin is dry, it can’t effectively soak up moisture like it would under normal conditions. This causes your skin, eyes, and nose to dry out, and the cycle continues as the temperature stays cold. We already know that going outside sucks up all the moisture from our skin, but when the heat is on in your home, it’s not actively pumping moisture into the air. It's just warming the air that’s already dry from the cooler temperatures. So, even if you avoid going outdoors each winter, you will still feel the effects of dry winter air. (The same thing can happen in the summer if the area where you live has low humidity in the summer.)

However, to truly combat winter dryness, you have to go to the source.

Why are you dry? Let’s start with a little science lesson. The reason our skin, eyes, and nose feel dry in the winter is because the humidity level in the air drops as the temperature does. So,

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From Fire to Furnaces THE HISTORY OF HOME HEATING

Inventors and innovators have granted us the luxury of only having to think about our winter comfort and the source of that comfort — our home's heating system — during the regular maintenance season. But it wasn't always this way.

without the mess. Franklin’s stoves remain popular, and some homeowners prefer this method of heating.

Heating with Coal About a century after Franklin’s invention, the U.S. began its love affair with coal. It became so popular that it surpassed wood as a primary source for heating in 1885. However, improvements had to be made to original coal heating systems. Keeping your home warm with coal required continual labor, not to mention the mess that came with it. Stoves that allowed for automatic flame stoking became more popular as coal use increased, too. Thankful for Thermostats With the advent of oil-burning systems in the early 20th century, stoves were placed on the back burner of American heating trends. Sytems eventually developed from oil to gas and electric. (Although some homes still use oil.) Today, many efficient models can warm the air in your home with little effort — a far cry from the days of the hearth. If your home’s heating system is giving you modern-day headaches, give our team at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley a call.

Let’s travel back in time to see what life was like before modern-day heating systems.

Around the Hearth Historians believe humans have relied on fire for heat for more than a million years. Similar to a fireplace, hearths often housed these fires and were regularly stoked for heat and cooking. In the 14th century, Europeans moved their home hearth to the center of the home, which allowed for more even heating, and chimneys prevented smoke from filling the room. Fireplaces and hearths would remain as the main source of heat for centuries. Ben Franklin’s Mark on Heating History In the 17th century, woodstoves began replacing traditional wood fireplaces, but the devices were not efficient. Benjamin Franklin developed a stove — a version of which still exists — that produced more heat with less smoke. This was very desirable for homeowners who wanted greater comfort

HAVE A LAUGH

BLACK BEAN, MANGO, AND AVOCADO SALAD

Liven up your healthy eating this year with this Latin-inspired, flavor-packed recipe!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small mango, peeled and chopped • 1 avocado, chopped • 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 red chile, seeded and chopped

• 1 medium red onion, chopped • 1 15-oz. can black beans, drained • Cilantro, to taste, chopped • Zest and juice of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, gently mix the ingredients together until just combined.

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Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Four Ways to Improve 2022

Why Hobbies Are Important Dry Skin? Your HVAC System Can Help! The Evolution of Home Heating Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad

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Why Do Your Ears Pop on Flights?

AIRPLANE EARS When it comes to flying on an airplane, you can avoid cramped legs by upgrading to first class or catch a view by picking the window seat. However, there’s no getting around your ears popping during takeoff The Science Behind Your Ears Popping on Flights

In this case, you may need to make an effort to get your

eustachian tube to open by yawning, talking, or swallowing. Sucking on a piece of candy, swallowing some water, or chewing gum may also help! One of the best things you can do is make sure you are not sleeping as the airplane takes off or lands because your

and landing. Believe it or not, there is a scientific explanation behind this common annoyance.

As you read this, you’re likely not on an airplane, and the air pressure on either side of your eardrums is equal. Air is currently passing right on through your eustachian tube, a narrow passage that leads from your middle ear cavity to your pharynx and allows for pressure to be equalized on each side of your eardrums. When you’re in flight on an airplane, air pressure is not equal. During both ascent and descent, your eardrums stretch to try to adapt to the changes. In order to equalize the pressure, your eustachian tube needs to open and close. When it does, your ears pop! Usually, the ear popping is irritating but nothing more. However, in rare cases, the pressure can lead to ear pain and even loss in hearing, especially if your ears don’t pop.

eustachian tube isn’t able to open and close normally. If you commonly struggle with congestion or sore ears on flights, taking a nasal decongestant before you board may ensure that your eustachian tube is not blocked. If your hearing and ears do not return to normal shortly after the flight, be sure to schedule an appointment to see your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

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