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Home Improvements That Keep Owners From Selling

Spring into the New Season with New Home Projects

Before pushing the “For Sale” sign into the lawn, exhaust every option to fall back in love with the home. This guide will walk homeowners through exciting ideas that may prevent moving and begin reigniting the passion for a home that made their hearts skip a beat at the initial walk-through.

There is no need to keep pushing the dream of new living in a new house to the wayside because, with these simple tips, the old house may feel like a new house. 

Everything Feels Better After A Fresh Coat of Paint

painting

Trends come and go throughout the years, so take that dated room and turn it into something lovable again. Get the paintbrushes ready or bring in the professionals and change the whole mood of a room with color or contrast. Use color to bring out the wood in the furniture, go bold, or go muted, whichever best suits the new house feel. 

The fresh coats of paint are sure to change the perspective of a room, and perhaps the change will inspire some more home improvements. So instead of ditching the house, toss a paintbrush into a paint can and give the house a facelift! 

The Outside is Just as Important as the Inside

deck
Even though the interior may be improved, the home projects don’t have to end yet. After all, where will guests sit on a beautiful summer evening if the porch is still rotted and chipping? Whether the issue is adding woodwork or repairing the existing woodwork, don’t go it alone and let someone else handle the stress! 

How the home feels on the outside begins the story of how the house will feel on the inside. A revamped exterior can change how homeowners feel about their house before even stepping back inside.

A Little Extra Something…

Now that both the outside and inside have been addressed, the house could use a few new pieces of furniture. Furniture can begin to wear down and look dated, just like walls or carpets can. Home improvements don’t just have to include costly purchases like a new kitchen sink because a few minor additions to a room can have an old space looking new again.  

So before throwing in the towel and putting up the real estate listing, let the handymen at A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions tackle the mess of home repairs and remodels. With a few quick upgrades, homeowners can have themselves a new home without the price of one! 

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions is a family-owned and operated business providing its neighbors in Austin with AC and home repair services for over 45 years. They offer flat-rate pricing, financing, and fast, friendly service. They can quickly and efficiently tackle jobs from heating and cooling to furniture assembly and complete home remodeling. Call them today for handyman services in Austin, TX.

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Don't Let Seasonal Allergies Ruin the Day

Spring Cleaning to Aid Allergies

As the weather warms up, many people begin to experience seasonal allergies. People affected by allergies may be looking for ways to improve their indoor air quality and reduce their symptoms this spring. Spring cleaning is a great way to remove pollen, dust, and other allergens. Those with allergies can also benefit from opening windows and replacing their AC unit’s air filter.

The Myth of Closed Windows

window

Sufferers from allergies might argue that opening a window in the middle of allergy season is not a good idea. But closed windows can actually worsen allergies because the air that moves through the air conditioner can become stale and aggravate the sinuses. 

Opening the windows now and then allows the air in the home to circulate with the air outside the house, bringing more rich oxygen and other substances our bodies benefit from. In addition, opening the windows in the home on days with a low pollen count and a slight breeze allows the sinuses to take a break from the harsh air conditioner.

filter

Replacing the Air Filter

The consensus for replacing the air filter is around every three months, but changing the air filter in the AC unit more often benefits those suffering from seasonal allergies. This allows the air filter to work efficiently and doesn’t allow enough time to become full of dust and debris. 

One type of air filter is the fiberglass filter, which has fiberglass strands overlapping with a metal grate enclosed on the inside. Another typical filter is the pleated air filter which uses polyester or pleater fabric to stop dust and a small number of airborne particles. The HEPA air filters are most beneficial for those with allergies or those trying to improve their home’s air quality. This filter has been shown to remove up to 99.97% of particles found in the air. 

Dust is Everywhere, Literally

For those who try to keep the home clean, dust is one of the most irritating substances. Running a microfiber towel over every piece of furniture is highly satisfying and helpful for the home's overall air quality. Soon, especially during allergy season, the surfaces are littered with fallen particles that seem to come out of nowhere. 

As daunting and hopeless as the task of dusting seems, it plays a significant role in the fight to keep pollen and other nasal irritants at bay. Homeowners that regularly dusted their home experienced less eye itching, nasal congestion, and throat itchiness than homeowners who hadn’t.  

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions is a family-owned and operated company that has served the community of Austin for over 45 years. They provide flat-rate pricing, financing, and fast, friendly service. Call them today for air cleaning and filtration services in Austin, TX.

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Women That Have Shaped the HVAC Industry

Technician with multimeter and electrical panel, ensuring air conditioning safety maintenance.

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, African American inventor, historical figure in HVAC, early 20th-century portrait.

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 IngelsPortrait of Margaret Ingels, African American inventor and engineer, known for her patent on the natural gas furnace, emphasizing her contributions to heating technology and air quality improvement.

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!

Human hand touching grass, symbolizing nature connection amidst air conditioning service and home repair information.

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 grass seed over a lush green lawn, emphasizing lawn care and seasonal preparation for homeowners.

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

Shadows of a tree extending across green grass, illustrating the effects of shade on lawn care and growth in shaded areas.Grass 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

Person with a hair bun and white flower in a serene spa setting near calm water and lush greenery, highlighting home comfort.

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. 

Modern freestanding bathtub with white towels, promoting a luxurious bathroom experience and self-care.

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

Rain showerhead with cascading water in a modern bathroom setting, emphasizing a spa-like experience and relaxation.When 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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