Company: A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

Women That Have Shaped the HVAC Industry

Women That Have Changed Heating and Cooling

Nowadays, women are moving into spaces that have been traditionally dominated by men, but that is a relatively new concept. Looking back at history, women have had amazing ideas and implemented them in ways that have changed the way people live their lives without even thinking about the innovation that went into developing these great ideas. Many of us don’t think about what it would be like to live without modern conveniences!

What the Industry Looks Like Today

The US Department of Labor reported that HVAC industry jobs are at an all-time high and that 9% of HVAC technicians in the United States are women, with more joining technical service jobs every year.

Women in HVACR offers a supportive space for women to support each other, network, find a mentor, and stay up-to-date on everything going on in the HVAC world! Scholarship opportunities to further education are available to qualified candidates, too!

Many companies have committed to training more women in skilled labor trades like HVAC, especially since the industry is expected to have 115,000 open jobs to fill by the end of 2022 if the demand continues to grow as it has been.

Common misconceptions about women being able to perform the demanding parts of the job, from heavy lifting to understanding chemistry, math, and physics, are being smashed through by women that actively work in the industry every day while excelling in the business.

Alice H. Parker

Alice H. Parker & Natural Gas Furnaces

Alice H. Parker is a female African American inventor that filed for a patent for the natural gas furnace in December 1919. At that time, black women were not encouraged to attend college, but they attended classes at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Her idea for the furnace stemmed from a desire not to use a wood fireplace in her home in Morristown, New Jersey, during frigid Northeastern winters because of having to go outside to split firewood and the fact that fireplaces are drafty inefficient heat sources. Fires were common at that time, which led to the destruction of property and loss of life. This method of heating saved lives and improved the quality of life.

 

 

Meet Margaret IngelsMargaret Ingels

Margaret Ingels was an American female engineer who was the first female mechanical engineer to graduate with a four-year degree in the United States in 1916. She spent her entire career working to improve air quality and humidity levels, especially for children.

Her pioneering into air conditioning is the reason residential and commercial ventilation is taken seriously now. Americans spend a good portion of their lives indoors at home, work, school, or shops, so respiratory illnesses are common among socioeconomic classes of people that cannot afford to properly maintain indoor air quality. Ms. Ingles worked to reduce costs and make units more durable and affordable.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions is a family-owned and operated AC repair company in Austin, TX, that has served its customers since 1977! And now that Spring is in full swing, it's the perfect time to schedule an air conditioning maintenance in Austin. Call A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions today for fast, friendly service from technicians that are on time, every time.

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Green Up the Yard for St. Patrick's Day!

Make Neighbors Green with Envy with the Best Lawn in the Neighborhood

Spring is in the air, and it’s time to start thinking about getting the lawn ready for the season. Cleaning up rubbish from the winter months, pruning back trees and bushes, clearing old mulch, and laying out fresh grass seed is just the start of getting the yard in tip-top shape that will make the neighbors jealous. Taking care of the yard is a great feeling for homeowners that take pride in their property.

hand holding seeds

Choose the Right Grass Seeds

There are about 12 different kinds of grass seeds available that are split into warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses are intended for warmer climates like the southern US, while cool-season grasses are meant for heartier climates like the Northeast and Northern Pacific regions.

Choosing the right grass seed for the individual homeowner's needs is important. Knowing how much water is required, how closely mowed the grass can be, fertilizer and weeding needs, and how often reseeding needs to be done are all important for lawn maintenance.

Check the pH of the Soil

Checking the soil’s pH level will help determine the natural acidity of the lawn, and this aids in knowing how to properly care for the lawn. The pH ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline), with most soils falling in between 5 & 9. Most plants will thrive in environments between 6.0 and 7.5.

To test the pH of the soil, a manual tester can be purchased that extends two small probes into the ground to measure pH and moisture levels.

Or, consider purchasing a soil test kit from a garden center. Take 3-5 samples from different parts of the yard at 4-6” below the surface by digging with a small hand shovel. Make sure there is no grass or debris in the sample. Mix the samples, then spread the soil over a newspaper to dry for 24 hours. Follow instructions on the kit.

Change up the Care of Shady Areas

grass with the shade of a treeGrass growing in shady areas will need less water and fertilizer. In early spring, spread a layer of compost to give shady spaces a boost early in the year to promote growth. If choosing to aerate, do so before laying compost. After the compost is laid, overseed this area to promote healthy growth.

Some lawn care experts recommend mixing some of both shady and full sunlight mix for shady areas to get the best shade/sun balance. In the fall, spread grass seed again over shady areas about 45 days before the first anticipated frost for the area. The benefit of choosing shade-specific grass seed is that this type of seed requires only 4 hours of sunlight per day, whereas regular grass seed needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions are family-owned and operated in Austin since 1977! This is the premier service company in the area, and a call to them means technicians show up on time and are ready to get the job done right! Give them a call today for all your lawn service needs and other handyman services in Austin.

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Everyday Can Be Self-Care Day

Homeowners Can Turn Their Bathrooms into Luxurious Oases 

Many people deprive themselves of essential self-care treatments. They say, “After Friday, I’ll take that bubble bath,” or “I’ll have a long relaxing shower after my mother-in-law's birthday.” However, these benchmarks are unnecessary. Every day in a newly remodeled bathroom can be a spa day with only a few minor adjustments. 

Jet-powered baths, rain showers, and LED lights can transform a sterile bathroom into a luxurious oasis. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on spa memberships and massages, homeowners should consider bathroom remodeling services. It adds value to one’s home and is invaluable for comfort. 

benefits

There Are Countless Benefits of Taking Baths 

Cleveland Clinic notes that cleanliness is just one benefit of regularly taking a bath. Other health benefits include: 

Mental health benefits: Sitting in a bathtub at 104 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes alleviates depression. The steam, aroma, and sensation prompt the body to produce serotonin, the “happy” chemical. For many, regular baths improve anxiety by promoting deep, consistent breaths. 

Pain-relieving qualities: When someone submerges themselves in a warm bath, the water promotes blood flow, which can reduce inflammation and, in some cases, break down scar tissue. By adding Epsom salt,s one can get even more out of the bath’s pain-relieving qualities. 

Infection prevention: Some surface-level wounds can benefit significantly from being submerged in warm, clean water. Not only does this kill germs that could enter the body, but, as mentioned above, it reduces the injured tissues’ swelling and inflammation. Yet, some wounds should be kept dry, so it may be wise to consult with a doctor before regularly doing this. 

Regularly taking baths also removes dead skin cells, leading to a softer, smoother, and brighter complexion. 

A Splash of Color Makes Everything Better 

Color therapy, or chromatherapy, can provide many benefits. Chromatherapy is the practice of using lights and colors to help mental health and improve moods. While many doctors dismiss this as “quackery,” some studies show that it can improve one’s mental health––if even for a few hours. 

Here’s a great way to set the mood in one’s bathroom: 

  • Fill a bathtub with warm water, ideally matching the temperature of a hot tub. 
  • Crumble a “bath bomb” into the water, turning that ordinary bathroom into a spa tub. 
  • Turn on LED lights that alternate between soft colors, like blue, green, and purple. 

Based on one’s preference, they can turn on music or “white noise.” In doing so, they activate all five senses, creating a truly luxurious experience. 

“Feel the Rain on Your Skin”: Turn that Shower into a Rain Shower

showerWhen considering shower installation, a homeowner should consider installing a rain showerhead. Sometimes, these devices are installed on the ceiling. Other times, they attach to the showerhead’s faucet. 

They can also: 

  • Connect to a smartphone using Bluetooth and play music 
  • Create light shows 
  • Remotely control the temperature 
  • Save water 

 

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions 

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions gets an “A+” for bathtub installation, home remodeling, and other spa-inspired installations. Parties looking to turn their bathrooms into relaxing havens can call these professionals today to learn more about their home solutions in Austin, TX.

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Black History Month HVAC Inventors

Three Black Inventors That Revolutionized Modern Heating and Cooling

There are hundreds of black inventors that do not go recognized! Unfortunately, they are often forgotten in history, but homeowners should learn about them because homeowners benefit from their contributions. There are many tools and techniques that plumbing, HVAC, and electrical technicians use today that a black inventor created.

Just to name three in this article, David Crosthwait, Alice Parker, and Lewis Latimer changed the HVAC industry forever with their three brilliant inventions. Most of the names on this list also went on to invent other amazing things!

1. David Crosthwait

David Crosthwait was an amazing black inventor who changed the lives of millions of people worldwide. He was a creative and brilliant mind that created various contributions in just a few years.

He was an engineer and invented many devices, with the most popular ones made during the 1920s and 1930s. In just ten years, David Crosthwait contributed to the modern heating and cooling system by creating temperature regulation devices, a new boiler system, and vacuum pumps.

The new boiler system was easier to use, less money to operate, and worked faster to warm a home using water instead of gas. Some homeowners still use water boiler systems for their central heating as they last a long time.

2. Alice Parker

alice parkerAlice Parker was a black woman and inventor of a gas furnace with ductwork. Parker created this when she noticed a huge safety problem with the previous heating method.

Before her patented invention, people were using an older system that was expensive and dangerous. The materials necessary to burn for heat were mainly wood and coal, which at the time were expensive. Not everyone could afford this heating technology and got sick.

Her gas furnace fixed the problem as the immensely flammable materials were unnecessary, and gas was easy to come by. The duct also erased the possibility of overheating and fire, which was a massive relief.

3. Lewis Latimer

lewis latimer

Indoor air quality was something most people did not blink at, but Lewis Latimer noticed a problem and wanted to fix it immediately. He created the condenser unit, which used humidity and condensation in the air to cool a home and simultaneously clean the air.

Although this HVAC contribution is amazing, Latimer also is credited with the invention of the lightbulb and the telephone. He did not create the first light bulb but improved it only weeks after Thomas Edison had it patented.

In the case of the telephone, Latimer did not design the invention but took part in creating blueprints to make it happen. Lewis Latimer was one of many African American inventors with incredible scientific talent!

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

Family-owned since 1977, A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions offer fast, friendly service and maintenance plans for peace of mind year-round. They provide HVAC services, as well as home repairs and remodeling. Call them today for heating and cooling services in Austin, TX.

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The Myth of Duct Cleaning

Duct Cleaning Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be

Homeowners are constantly told about ways to protect their household and its HVAC system. There’s routine maintenance, unit replacement, and often, whole-house duct cleaning. The truth is that duct cleaning isn’t beneficial in the same way as these other home maintenance methods. This article will go over the realities of air duct cleaning and give homeowners the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.

Is Duct Cleaning Even Necessary?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, duct cleaning does not prevent health problems. Asthma, dry throat, or whatever else might ail homeowners are a product of poor indoor air quality, but HVAC systems are already designed to prevent them through their built-in air filters. That means that routinely replacing a clogged or dirty air filter already keeps dust and dirt out of the system in the same way that duct cleaning supposedly does.

Worse, there is no proof that dust levels in the home decrease after duct cleaning. Most of the dust that goes through the HVAC system is blocked by the air filter or clings to the duct surface before entering the living space. If the home has a dust problem even with clean air filters, that might mean the HVAC itself needs replacement.

The Dangers of Duct Cleaning

broken ductThat’s right; duct cleaning isn’t just unnecessary; it might be actively dangerous to the home’s HVAC system.

The first danger comes from those doing duct cleaning. Most duct cleaning companies are not HVAC and don’t necessarily have the expertise to treat these systems appropriately. This is why homeowners should always call licensed and trained technicians.

More importantly, home air ducts are often flexible and sensitive pieces of equipment, so running along with brush through them might tear the vents rather than clean them. Another risk is that the meeting could loosen fiberglass fibers, releasing them into the air and posing a danger to the household. Either way, the risk is too significant and the reward too little.

The only air ducts that might be safe to clean are metal ducts that are hardy enough not to tear. These are commonly found in older homes or commercial establishments. But again, even without the danger of tearing, there seems to be no benefit involved.

How to Get Better Indoor Air

uv sanitizer

If duct cleaning doesn’t make for better indoor air quality, what does? The answer is a well-maintained HVAC system and regularly cleaned air filters!

Technologies like UV air sanitizers and quality whole-home air filtration systems are more effective than ever. They can remove allergens, mold spores, dust, and whatever else might affect the respiratory system. All this leads to a stronger, healthier, and happier household, and it comes at a fraction of the cost of duct cleaning. Those looking for cleaner air in their homes would benefit from ignoring the money-wasting myths and calling professionals with real solutions.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions is the premier HVAC company in Austin, TX. Residents have enjoyed consistently good service for over 40 years, and their friendly technicians never fail to get the job done! Call now for air filtration services in Austin, TX.

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