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How to keep your pet cool during the summer heat!
Sunshine Gals • April 30, 2020
Keeping your Furry Friend cool this summer
Just because summer is starting to wind down doesn’t mean we’re done with warm temperatures. Granted, there are days when we feel as though we could be outside all day. Your pets, however, will become dehydrated and overheated much quicker.
The last thing you want to do is watch your furry friend become sluggish and ill from being out in the hot sun too long. Here are some tips for keeping Fido cool and safe at home this summer:
One more thing related to this point: Hot pavement or asphalt can easily burn pets’ paws. So make an extra effort to keep your pooch on the grass and bring some extra water.
Avoid high humidity levels
Ever wonder why your pets pant so much when it’s hot? Well, since they don’t have sweat glands like humans, they sweat through their paws and pant through their mouths to control their body temperature.
What most pet owners fail to realize, though, is that high humidity levels can be problematic for animals.It’s just another reason to keep your pets hydrated and cool throughout the day.
Keep them out of direct sunlight
Think for a moment how draining it is to be out in the heat of the day. Obviously, it’s even more challenging for your pets. If you must keep your furry friends outdoors, be sure to set them up in an area with ample shade.
Planning a long weekend or another sort of mini vacation but don’t know what to do with your pets? Whatever you do, don’t leave them outside. It doesn’t take long for pets to become overheated, even with shade.
So bring them inside where it’s cool and safe.
Help them beat the heat with their own pool
Who doesn’t like cooling off in a pool on a hot day? Just like you appreciate the refreshing dip, so too (hopefully) will your pup. Simply fill up a shallow, plastic kiddie pool with water and let Fido do his thing.
Remember to supervise your dog as they splash around or lie down in the water.
Keep your house cool!
thank you for the many years of customer loyalty. I will miss you all. Taking the dog, hubby and of course Miss Piggy to warmer weather. Best wishes to all... - Kathy
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We’ve got spring fever. But springtime will be here before we know it. Maybe you’ve already gotten a head start on spring cleaning. Is preparing your A/C on the to-do list? Our team recommends doing some basic maintenance at the beginning of every heating and cooling season. There’s no question that the harsh winters in Illinois can wreak havoc on outdoor equipment. For example, the extended amount of time below freezing can factor into how well your system starts up during the spring. Inspect the outdoor unit panels – Curious about the purpose of these panels? Simply put, they enclose the electrical connections and must be in place to protect you and the system itself. Should you find a missing or misaligned panel, it’s a good idea to contact your local air conditioning repair experts before starting the system. Remove condenser covers, coil blankets, and lids – You were proactive during the fall and covered your system’s outdoor coil with blankets to ensure insulation during the winter. However, many homeowners forget to remove their covers every spring. Unfortunately, doing so typically results in major repairs or replacement of the system. Don’t risk severely damaging your system! Here’s a reminder to remove those covers, blankets, and lids. Remove debris from the outdoor coil – We’ve touched on this in previous posts. It doesn’t take much for leaves, dirt, and other debris to be blown into or against the coil. A system that functions at peak performance is free of such debris. Change the air filters – We advise homeowners to get into the habit of changing air filters once a month. During particularly harsh winters, indoor air filters tend to gather a significant amount of debris and dust. When you go to swap it out, remember to look closely at the airflow direction arrows on the system and filter itself. Turn it on – You probably won’t have to use your A/C regularly until June. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until Memorial Day weekend to ensure the system works properly. On a warm spring day, check the air coming out of the indoor vents. You should be all set if you feel cool air coming out of the registers after the first few minutes. If no air is coming out, then be sure to turn the system off at the thermostat and call a professional for air conditioning repair service.
Coral Springs and neighboring communities in south Florida have a rich variety of allergens that can trigger flare-ups all year. If you are one of the 50 million Americans who suffers from allergies, you need relief at home. Follow these tips to allergy-proof your living areas and minimize symptoms. Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers Wear a dust mask while you’re cleaning. Vacuum once or twice weekly using a machine with HEPA filters. Use a damp cloth or mop to trap allergens. Cut down on clutter to reduce dust. Have a family member help you clean so that you can limit your exposure to allergens. After you clean, leave the house for a few hours while the dust settles. Use covers to protect mattresses and pillows from dust mites. Wash bedding in hot water every week. Clean curtains regularly. If you have blinds, switch to roller shades. Use fragrance-free cleaning products because some perfumes trigger allergy symptoms. Remove your shoes at the door so that the pollen doesn’t come in with you. Sweep porches and patios to reduce the amount of pollen that might come indoors. Scrub surfaces in the bathroom. Wash the shower curtain regularly. Promptly remove food waste from the kitchen. Keep surfaces clean. Check for water leaks. Instead of opening the windows, use the air conditioner to prevent pollen from entering. Air Purifiers and Allergy Solutions Install a whole-house air purifier. These units can remove the smallest germs and allergens in your home. Installing a Trane CleanEffects™ Air Cleaner in-line with your HVAC system will supply your home with cleaner and healthier air. This revolutionary air purifier removes 99.98% of airborne particles from your indoor air ensuring that you won’t be breathing in harmful bacteria, viruses, or allergens. Now more than ever, having the cleanest indoor air possible for you and your family will help everyone stay well.
HAM AND POTATO SOUP Deliciously creamy Ham and Potato Soup is easy to make and perfect to use up any leftovers! Filled with soft, tender potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic and the option of making your own ham broth from a leftover ham bone! The best part? No heavy cream! Picky eaters will ask for seconds! PREP: 15 MINS COOK: 25 MINS TOTAL: 40 MINS SERVES: 8 PEOPLE INGREDIENTS 1/3 cup unsalted butter (2 oz | 60 g) 1 onion finely chopped 1 cup large carrot peeled and diced 1/2 cup diced celery 3 cups peeled and diced potatoes 4 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (add more if desired) 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (plain flour) 2 cups low sodium chicken stock (or broth) 2 teaspoons chicken Bouillon 3 cups milk (whole milk or 2%) 1 pinch of salt, if needed (adjust to you taste) fresh cracked black pepper INSTRUCTIONS Heat the butter in a pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, celery until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes). Add the ham and potatoes, cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Mix the flour through and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in stock and bouillon, mixing all ingredients together. Increase heat and bring to a boil until potatoes are 'just' fork tender, about 10-12 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the milk and stir over the heat until thickened (about 5 minutes). Taste test and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm. NOTES HAM BROTH You can make your own ham broth for ham soup using leftover ham bone: Simmer the ham bone in a stock pot filled with enough water to cover the bone halfway (about 2 quarts/litres, depending on size of bone). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid and let simmer until very fragrant (about 1 hour). Discard hambone Replace the chicken stock with your ham broth. TIPS If your soup is too thick once it's finished, simply add more milk in 1/4 cup increments until reaching your desired consistency. Alternatively, if your soup is not thick enough to your liking, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch together with 2 tablespoons of extra milk. Pour the mixture into the soup and allow to boil for a few minutes to thicken, while stirring. Repeat for an even thicker soup! NUTRITION Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 604mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3085IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 3.1mg
Springtime is here—it’s the time of year that we encourage homeowners to schedule their annual maintenance for their air conditioners. We do so this time of the year because it’s a season when HVAC technicians aren’t as busy with emergency calls—while we never get a huge reprieve from the heat, temperatures are on the relatively mild side for now. This means it’s easier to schedule a convenient appointment for technicians to come to your home to ensure that your AC system is ready for the summer heat. But, what if you utilize a heat pump? Perhaps you had maintenance done a while back, does it really need another maintenance appointment? Yes! Read on to learn why. AN HVAC SYSTEM WITH TWO JOBS Try not to think of maintenance more of general “HVAC maintenance” rather than “air conditioning” or “heating” maintenance. You might think since you barely use your heat pump as a heater, and already had maintenance done 6 or so months ago, it doesn’t need another tune-up. But, you need to prepare any HVAC system to handle the rigors of extreme weather. So if you’re using a heat pump, you’re using a system that both heats and cools from a single unit. Heat pumps are not two separate systems packages together. A heat pump uses the same component to operate, whether it is in heating or cooling mode. The compressor runs no matter what, and circulates refrigerant through two sets of coils, indoor and outdoor, and the blower fan sends the cooled air into the ventilation system. The only different between heating and cooling mode is the direction in which the refrigerant moves, which changes the direction the heat pump transfers heat. A SYSTEM FOR ALL SEASONS Heat pumps in Florida don’t get a whole lot of work in the winter. But they do get used, and even though the stress on the system may be relatively less than other parts of the country, it’s putting strain on the heart of the system—the compressor. That compressor requires special attention to ensure that your HVAC system will run as effectively and efficiently as possible—and when you have a heat pump that means all year long! If your compressor fails, it means your entire heat pump is at risk. Typically if you have to replace a compressor, you have to replace the whole heat pump. Why do this prematurely when you can schedule maintenance on a routine basis? WHAT HAPPENS DURING HEAT PUMP MAINTENANCE? During your maintenance session, our technicians thoroughly inspect your heat pump, checking for signs of wear and tear, as well as any repair needs that might be present. We’ll make appropriate adjustments to your heat pump, and clean the interior of the system. Lots of dirt, dust, and other debris can build up on the interior components, and this cleaning helps the heat pump perform as efficiently as possible, plus extends the lifespan of your HVAC system.
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