For pets that are sensitive to heat, the steamy summer months are more than uncomfortable. Excessive heat and humidity pose a serious risk of heatstroke, a condition that needlessly kills thousands of pets every year.

Observing the following precautions will help keep your pets out of harm’s way:

• Make sure they have plenty of shade all day long. Just because your dog or cat is in a shady spot in the morning doesn’t mean the same spot will be shady once afternoon comes around. Pets also need a cool surface to stand on, as asphalt or concrete can quickly burn the pads of their feet.

• Make sure your pets have plenty of water throughout the course of the day. At the same time, avoid giving them ice water.

• NEVER leave your pet in a parked car. The temperature on dark, leather seats can reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit and hotter.

Would you recognize signs of heatstroke if you saw them? Copyright 2012 . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

At first you’ll notice heavy panting, rapid breathing and bright red gums and tongue.  Once your dog begins showing signs of heat stroke, you should try to cool it down immediately.

More advanced levels of heatstroke include unwillingness to move, noisy breathing, and uncontrollable body functions.

To help your pet recover, the AKC urges you to apply ice packs to the groin area, douse it with water and allow it to lick ice cubes. If your pet cannot be cooled down, take it to an animal hospital immediately.

While the inside of your house will never reach 180 degrees F on even the hottest day of the year, things can get awfully uncomfortable for pets and humans alike should you incur a problem with your central AC system.  To ensure that doesn’t happen, contact Absolute Air today and ask for our AC preventative maintenance service.  We’ll clean and inspect your system inside and out and, in the process, alert you to any problems in the making so they can be taken care of now before causing even a temporary system shutdown.  That way, you get to stay just as cool and comfortable as you like inside your home, even when conditions aren’t nearly as pleasant outdoors.

Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, occur when your body can no longer cool itself off. As the air temperature rises, your body stays cool when your sweat evaporates. On hot, humid days, the evaporation of sweat is slowed by the increased moisture in the air. When sweating isn’t enough to cool your body, your body temperature rises, and you may become ill.

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion occurs when your body becomes over-heated. It can be caused by physical exercise, hot weather, or the combination of both. Heat exhaustion is likely to produce symptoms such as these:

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness or confusion
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Rapid
• Dark-colored urine, which indicates dehydration

What should I do if I think I have heat exhaustion?

If you think you have heat exhaustion, get out of the heat quickly. Rest in a building that has air-conditioning. If you can’t get inside, find a cool, shady place outdoors. Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Do NOT drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks (such as soda). These can make heat exhaustion worse. Take a cool shower or bath, or apply cool water to your skin. Take off any tight or unnecessary clothing.

If you do not feel better within 30 minutes, you should contact your doctor. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it can progress to heat stroke.

What is heat stroke?

According to WebMd.com: “The medical definition of heat stroke is a core body temperature greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, with complications involving the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures. Other common symptoms include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.”

What should I do if I think someone has heat stroke?

If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from heat stroke, call 911 immediately. While you are waiting for medical assistance, take the person into an air-conditioned building or a cool, shady place. Remove the person’s unnecessary clothing to help cool them down Try to fan air over them while moistening their skin. You can also apply ice packs to their armpits, groin, neck and back. These areas contain extra blood vessels close the surface of the skin. Cooling them with ice packs can help expedite the cooling down process.

Is your home cool enough in the summer to help prevent a heat-related illness or to provide fast relief for someone who may be experiencing its telltale symptoms?  If not, contact Absolute Air today for expert advice on how to repair or improve the performance of your AC system.  If you don’t already have them, we’ll show you just how quickly and affordably you can start enjoying all the benefits of whole-house air conditioning.

Take a drive around any neighborhood this time of year and, along with the tulips and daffodils, you’ll notice something else popping up on front lawns – For Sale signs. Yup, spring is real estate season. And if you’re one of the many homeowners currently trying to sell your humble abode, you know how important it is to make sure it stands out from the rest. Luckily, you don’t need to invest thousands of dollars to ensure that it does.

Here are 8 small changes that will wow potential buyers the minute they pull up to check out your house.

1. Make a great first impression. Delight house hunters right from the start by updating your mailbox, light fixtures, house numbers, and doormat. Add a little color with potted plants, and keep landscaping neat and tidy.

2. Make floors shine. You may no longer notice the dingy tile grout or dull wood flooring, but potential buyers will. If possible, refinish hardwood floors and deep clean your grout. Steam clean carpets, and add soft area rugs to cover floors that are in rough shape.

3. Give the impression of more storage. Clear out the clutter and leave about 30% of closets, cabinets, and shelves empty to give the illusion of abundant storage.

4. Freshen the space with paint. Choose warm neutrals like grays or creams for walls, and crisp white for trim work to make it pop. Save your beloved crimson red for your new home.

5. Flood your home with natural light. Make the most of your windows by washing them inside and out and replace heavy room-darkening window treatments with light and airy shears pulled to the sides; or, leave them off altogether if your home has a more contemporary feel.

6. Add inviting accents. Help buyers envision themselves in each room. Set the dining room table for an intimate gathering, place a couple of books and a blanket on the window seat, and set the stage for outdoor entertaining or relaxing with a small bistro set and outdoor area rug on the back deck or patio.

7. Remember, less is more. Remove as many unnecessary furnishings and personal belongings as you can to make rooms feel clean and spacious.

8. Tackle those neglected repairs. If you neglect the small fixes, a potential buyer might wonder how well you take care of the big stuff. Fix the leaky faucets, squeaky door hinge, and loose handrail.

How about things not as readily notice – does that make them any less important to the eventual sale of your home?  Not even a little.  That’s why we also recommend that you have your heating and cooling systems professionally cleaned and inspected before putting your home on the market.  They’ll eventually be included in the home inspection anyway, so why not check them off your list now and put yourself that much further ahead of the game.  Plus, for top professional service and results, contact Absolute Air to schedule service – we’re your local home comfort specialists.

When you think about making home improvements, it’s easy to concentrate more on the things that cost money than those you can probably should be getting rid of. You know, things you may have forgotten you even have, let alone use any more.

So how about it? Do you have enough extra and no-longer-needed stuff you could easily do without while perhaps eliminating a fire hazard or two? Probably, right? Well then, here are 5 such items you can – and should – toss from your home right now.

1.  Old Magazines and Newspapers – It might be time to admit that you’re just not going to get around to reading all those well-written articles and trying all those delicious-looking recipes. For those that you’re not quite ready to part with, take a picture of the article or recipe, and recycle the actual newspaper or magazine.

2. Rusty Tools and Unused Hardware – Allen wrenches, extra screws, and other odds and ends do nothing but clutter your toolbox (or, for some of us, the junk drawer). Toss those extra parts you no longer need and those tired-looking tools you can no longer use; in the process, you’ll be making minor repairs and DIY projects a little easier to complete.

3. Plastic and Paper Grocery Bags – We applaud your noble efforts to reuse old shopping bags, but we’re guessing you currently have way more than you could ever use in a lifetime. Keep just enough for those times when you actually need a bag, recycle the rest, and consider getting reusable bags for your shopping trips.

4. Instruction Manuals – Let’s face it, when a gadget or appliance goes awry, chances are you’ll look for help online as most manufacturer’s now put their manuals on the web. So there’s really no need to hang onto old instructions manuals, especially those for items you no longer own. You can even download manuals for larger appliances or more expensive purchases into a folder in your hard drive where you can access them after a few easy licks.

5. Plastic Food Containers – Look in any kitchen cabinet in America and you’re sure to find a pile of mismatched plastic food containers and random lids. Create some extra space by pairing up tops with bottoms and recycling the rest.

6. Unwanted Toys – Yes, we understand that that ninja sword and shield were once junior’s favorite playmates, but junior’s 12 now and hasn’t gone ninja on you in years.   But this time, don’t simply toss or recycle those unwanted but still-in-good-shape toys; instead, bundle or box them and donate them to your favorite charitable organization.

Even if it does still have a place in your life, it’s especially important to relocate (or get rid of) any combustible materials that are too close for comfort to your furnace or water heater. If it’s worth keeping, just find a different place to keep it.

The holidays are a time to gather with family and friends; a time for food, friendship, merriment, and joy. But all that celebrating can lead to some unexpected seasonal dangers, and yet most can be avoided with proper planning, constant awareness, and by sharing the following holiday season safety tips with family members and guests.

Avoid Dangerous Decorating – There’s nothing more festive than a home decked out for the holidays, inside and out. But standing on an outdoor ladder to hang decorations can be dangerous. For every four feet in ladder height, place it at a distance of one foot away from a supporting wall. And have someone hold the bottom as an added safety precaution.

Avoid a Christmas Tree Fire – If you opt for a live tree, choose one that is fresh and water it daily. Use high-quality, flame-retardant decorations and string lights, and always check the lights for any damage. Place your tree away from heat sources like a fire place or radiator, and make sure your smoke detectors are all in working order.

Mind Food and Beverages – Forgotten food and beverages can be dangerous to children and pets. A curious child might pick up an unattended alcoholic beverage, while your four-legged companion might be tempted to feast on half-eaten plates of food which could contain ingredients that are hazardous to their health. Clear unattended plates and dump unfinished beverages.

Put Away Medications – When expecting guests for the holidays, store all medications out of reach of children and pets. And since many of us travel with needed prescriptions, offer your guests a safe place to put their jackets and purses to prevent little hands from wandering.

Tread Carefully – Be diligent about keeping sidewalks, walkways, and stairs well-lit and accessible. Shovel away snow and put down plenty of salt on icy areas. Consider adding a slip-resistant tread on each stair to provide more traction.

You know what keeps everyone feeling merry and bright around our home for the holidays? Helping each other stay safe and sound. We hope these home safety tips come in handy for you, as well. And Happy Holidays from all of us at Absolute Air.

“Stress” and “holiday season shopping” go hand in hand. For some people, they’re synonymous, as in, there’s no doing one without feeling the other.

But does it really need to be that way? Ah, a question for the ages, if ever there was one. So, to get to the core of all this, let’s first re-visit Einstein’s definition of insanity, i.e., repeating the same mistakes over and over again while hoping for a different outcome. How does that apply to shopping? Easy. If you’re still buying for the same number or people (perhaps even more?), and still shopping in the same stores over roughly the same period of time, etc. how can you reasonably expect that this year will be any less stressful than the year before. The sad truth is, you can’t.

Even saving money these days can be a stressful process all in itself, chasing down one Cyber Monday sale here, trying to make the best use of this coupon there, and on and on it goes.

Bottom line, you have to WANT a less stressful holiday shopping experience or you have no chance of succeeding. Attitude and commitment are everything, just as they are in breaking any bad habit, including and perhaps especially smoking.

So from our house to yours, and once your “I want less stress” commitment is squarely in place, follow these helpful hints and you WILL experience less stress:

1. Put a lid on it. We’re talking your budget here, of course. Saving money isn’t just about buying something on sale. Because sometimes all the encourages you to do is buy that person a little something extra to assuage the guilt you feel for spending less on them than usual, which is the whole object of trying to save money! How to climb outside that vicious circle? That leads to point #2 below.

2. Spreadsheet it. Set up a holiday shopping spreadsheet, even if you don’t know the first thing about XCEL or any other computerized organizers. Paper and pen still work just fine. The point is, make a list of everyone you buy for, then additional columns for gift ideas, gifts purchased, and money spent. And constantly add that last column and compare it to your budget ceiling. That gives you the opportunity to adjust on the fly. More importantly, it will allow you to feel like you’ve gained control over the budget vs. allowing it to control you.

3. Shopping online doesn’t make it less personal. If you’re a devout mall goer, you’re not going to suddenly purchase all your gifts online. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do some of your shopping that way. Once you open your mind to it, you’ll find it’s a great way to buy things you don’t need to shop for, like the book your friend has been asking for and the lunch gift certificate you routinely buy for your hairdresser. Sit down, pour a cup of green tea, and do some shopping. And guess what? There will never be a line at the register.

4. Pump yourself up. If you begin a shopping excursion expecting to be aggravated, you no doubt will be. So play little tricks on yourself to stop the aggravation before it stops, like focusing on the smiling faces of loved ones as they open your gifts. It probably wouldn’t hurt to pop on a set of head phones, too, so you can listen to some soothing music while making the rounds, and thus cancelling out the sounds of shopping.

At Absolute Air, we wish you all the calm, good feelings, and quality family time the holidays have to offer.