© Hudson, Ink
Inside This Issue:
• Secrets to a Longer Life
• Get Ready for Winter
• The Value of Your Home
HomeSense
Fall 2008
MyWord
Renewing the
Renewable
By Jim Lugge
Hello Friends,
Interesting
times indeed.
Gas
prices
have soared through the globally-warmed roof. Again. “Green”
products are everywhere. Heck,
if you’re not touting something
green, you’re almost socially irresponsible. (Yes, we have many
green products available and have
for years.) The “link” between gas
prices and going green seems to be
Ethanol, that corn-based “renewable” fuel. Think of that…
Our planet does many things
well. (That’s a good thing, because
where would we go if it didn’t?)
One of my favorites is the change
of seasons, and fall is mighty special. Some elder definitions of “Autumn” include “a period of maturation or decline.”
I don’t completely agree. We
get the new school year, fashion
season, car models, and television
programming. There’s much “renewed” in fall. The cool snap in
the air sure renews my desire to get
indoors! Whether you agree or not,
there’s no debate:
Autumn signals the approaching
year-end. The calendar is getting
continued on page 4
$3.00
ConsumerWatch
What Exactly is Your Family Breathing?
S
ticky, black, alive – not the
description of anything you
want growing in your home.
Just the thought is enough to make me
cringe. But it’s even worse when you
realize the culprit isn’t just in your
house…it’s in your air. Every breath
is an invitation for infection, allergies,
and inflammation. And since you have
to breathe, there’s only one course of
action – total annihilation.
Ok, so maybe that sounds
overdramatic. The fact remains that
mold and dust mites that thrive in
high humidity can be the cause of
many breathing symptoms, especially
for those suffering from allergies and
asthma. Basements are notorious for
mold and dust mite problems, but
they can strike anywhere – bathrooms,
bedrooms, inside walls. All it takes are
the right conditions. So…
How do you fix high humidity?
• First, know what your humidity levels
should be. It’s is best to keep the
humidity level in your home between
35 - 40%. Over 40% encourages dust
mite and mold growth.
• According to the American Lung
Association, the most effective ways
to control humidity and remove excess
moisture and pollution levels from
HomeSense
is published
for friends of
your home, apart from source control,
are the ventilation and filtration of
circulating air. (That’s just a fancy
way of saying the air should be clean
and able to move around freely.)
Gadgets and Gizmos
New technologies such as air
exchangers that include HEPA filtration
are the most recent innovations. These
systems offer the best of both worlds:
fresh air through ventilation and high
quality air by trapping up to 99.97% of
airborne allergens.
Plus, it reduces excess humidity by –
basically – dumping moisture-filled air
outdoors several times a day. Getting
rid of the extra moisture doesn’t just
help eliminate mold and bacteriafriendly environments – unpleasant
odors disappear (like your teenager’s
Everest-high mountain of laundry.
Actual clothes remain, sorry).
This is especially helpful to asthma
sufferers and those with seasonal
allergies since families can control the
air quality in every room of the house,
not just certain ones. So don’t let the
creepy crawlies invade your home
(well, except for the ones who actually
live there) – or your air. Give us a call
and we’ll be happy to help you breathe
a little easier.
Your Quick Call Comfort Hotline:
618-235-6626
SeasonalShift
Secrets to a Longer Life
“L
ive life to the fullest,”
so the saying goes…but
do you? Or more importantly, do you know how? If all you
do is work, eat, and
sleep, you could
be living without
ever really having
a life. Really, we
all feel that way
sometimes. But
by making minor
changes to your
daily routine you
can live longer, be
healthier, and most
importantly, feel
happier:
You Are
What You Eat
●
●
Food, both portion and value, weighs heavily
(sorry, couldn’t resist) on your
life clock. Obesity is a major
health concern in the U.S. Being
severely overweight can lead to
heart disease, diabetes, and some
forms of cancer. One of the most
efficient ways to shed pounds is
by monitoring your calorie intake; 2,000 calories is considered
the average amount of calories
a person should consume in a
single day.
Foods that should be dismissed
altogether are sweets made with
refined sugar – which means
the Twinkies should probably
go out the window instead of
into your lunch. Refined sugar
has zero nutrients…absolutely
none! In addition, dependencies on refined sugar can develop, and deprivation of it can
lead to severe headaches. There
are dozens of reasons not to
consume refined sugar; a few
being hypoglycemia, osteopo-
●
rosis, blood clots, and unhealthy
gums.
Cereals with low fiber, and high
fat and sugar content should also
be avoided;
you’re wasting calories
on food with
zero nutritional value.
On the other
hand, beef,
dark chocolate,
antioxidants and
foods with fiber give you
more energy
and better
health.
● Additional
studies show
that if you
drink red wine moderately (i.e. 1
to 2 glasses per day), you could
lessen chances of coronary heart
disease. Drinking four cups of
coffee everyday, or eight cups of
mint tea, can also lead to a lon-
ger life. Coffee when overused
can cause adverse effects.
Worrying Can Wait
If you are consumed with the idea
of passing away, you could worry
yourself to death…literally. Death
can, to a degree, be viewed as a state
of mind scientists say. Exercise is
one efficient means of eliminating
stress, as well as a few inches. Optimism, laughing, and strong relationships all help manage stress and
the ability to overcome adversity,
increasing life expectancy by 50%.
Nighty Night
One popular way to reduce the risk
of early death is to sleep between
six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half
hours every night. Sleeping more
than eight hours can, in fact, reduce the number of years a person
lives. Thirty-minute naps everyday
can also increase life expectancy by
37%, as it lessens the chance of heart
disease. Finally, a legitimate reason
to indulge in cat naps!
DidYouKnow?
¥ The words “bump” and “assassination” were invented by William
Shakespeare.
¥ The only mammals that cannot jump are elephants.
¥ The “quack” sound made by ducks does not echo.
¥ The cartoon character Donald Duck was banned from Finland
because he did not wear pants.
¥ The dot in the letter “i” is called a “tittle.”
¥ Calling a contractor other than us results in nightmare. (Just
making sure you’re still paying attention!)
¥ In a deck of cards: hearts represent the Church; spades represent
military; clubs represent agriculture; and diamonds represent the
middle class.
HomeWise
5 Things You Can Do to Get Ready for Winter
B
y the time the cold winds start to blow, it is too
typical home’s duct system are much more significant.
late to worry about whether or not your home
The typical duct system loses 25 percent to 40 percent
is ready for the cold winter ahead. What’s done
of the energy put out by the central furnace, heat or air
is done, and what’s not done – well, it could cost you
conditioner.
hundreds of dollars in home repair. Luckily there’s no 4. Get your home’s air checked to find out if the air you
time like the present to make sure
breathe is unhealthy. Your indoor
you’re prepared before your hindair can be up to 12 times more
sight kicks in…
polluted than what is outside, and
1. Have your heating system
with all the time spent indoors
cleaned and tuned. A pre-seaduring the winter, you’ll want to
son tune-up is a good investensure your family’s health, safety
ment – it reduces the chances
and comfort. For free tips on keepof breakdowns in the middle of
ing your air clean and your home
winter, improves safety, and pays
healthy, visit our website.
for itself through more energy ef5. Consider replacing your old
ficient operation.
furnace or heat pump. Just like
2. Test your system for hazardous
a car, heating equipment doesn’t
carbon monoxide, which can be
last forever. If your system is
produced by a dirty or malfuncmore than 12 years-old, and
tioning furnace or water heater. We
you are planning to stay in your
can also install a low level carbon monoxide alarm.
home more than a few years, it is wise to consider
replacing it before it fails permanently. A new sys3. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many
tem is safer, more dependable, and can pay for itself
think that windows and doors are the major cause of a
through energy savings as it is up to twice as energy
home’s air leaks. But according to recent research by
efficient.
the U.S. Department of Energy, gaps and cracks in the
HomeFront
What’s Decreasing the Value of Your Home?
T
his year it’s been one woeful economic report ˛ A one-car garage typically means
after another. Corporate bailouts, government
serious deductions in the value of
intervention, soaring unemployment, and skyhomes. Most home buyers look for
rocketing foreclosure rates…
a two-car garage.
Convinced yet that selling a home in this market is no
walk in the park? Good. (And if you think it is, you’re
in for a rude – and quite possibly expensive – awakening.)
˛ Pools are often viewed as a liability, more than an asset, because of the constant attention they require.
˛ Waterbeds, neon walls, and mod deco have disappeared from the crazed spotlight; and modern trends
will too, in time. Stick to a neutral, yet classic, approach in establishing home décor.
There’s not much you can do about the market, but
there are things you can do to make your home move
to the front of the pack for those who can buy and are
looking to do just that. But shoppers are also looking ˛ Appliances that break with a simple touch do not
persuade home shoppers to buy now. Give constant
for homes that they can easily move into – not homes
maintenance to home appliances and systems.
that require attention beforehand. These changes, however, can set you back more than a little…maybe even ˛ Mold, stains, and environmental hazards are some
more than a lot.
of the costliest liabilities to home values. We can
help you spot these now, before your potential
So what should you know if you don’t want to spend
buyers beat us to it.
your kid’s college fund on pricey improvements?
P.S. Want us to send this issue to a
friend? Just call us and it’s done! So
many great articles, they’re bound to
thank you!
Believe me, we understand.
Water heaters wear out, just like
all appliances. Over time, rust and
sediment slowly reduce your heater’s
performance. If you wait too long and
the tank or burner rusts out, big costly
problems can result.
Avoid cold showers or a costly mess.
We can check your heater or – if you
choose – upgrade you to a top-quality
water heater that’s guaranteed to keep
you in hot water.
Call Bel-O at 618-235-6626.
©2008
May I Borrow
Several of Your
Friends?
Now what kind of question is that? You’d think I wasn’t
raised properly. But the truth of the matter is that we here at
Bel-O enjoy providing superior service and value to our customers
(that’s you!). And we’d like to offer the same expertise to your
friends and family.
So pass our name along to the people you care about – we
promise to care about their comfort as much as you do. And to
say thanks, we’ll gladly take $20 off your next service for each
referral you send our way. Just call Bel-O at 618-235-6626
and let us know you’re sending another friendly face our way.
©2008
5909 Cool Sports Rd
Belleville, IL 62223
mighty thin. Somewhere in there this
means I’ve gotten a year older, which
means I’ll be advised to “watch my
diet and exercise” to ward off accelerated aging. (Sound like someone at
your house?)
Preventive
HomePoints
maintenance is
Upgrading to a
good, I guess.
sealed-combustion furnace
My
house
could eliminate 2.5 tons of
needs a little
carbon dioxide when heated
by oil and 1.5 tons if
fixing, my car
heated with gas.
needs
some
tending.
My
wardrobe could use an update. (No
comments please.) Fortunately, good
maintenance is better than full and
costly replacement. Here’s where you
expect – and will get – a nudge from
me about keeping your heating and air
conditioning in tune.
But for the living and irreplaceable
things – like the earth, you, and your
family – good maintenance is the only
prudent path.
Here’s to the health of all,
HomeSense
continued from page 1
“I really need to
get into some hot
water. Like now.”
If your mailing address is not correct, please call us!
MyWord