Which would you like first, the good news or the bad news?

Well, since most people choose the latter, we’ll go with the majority. As in, the bad news is that September is National Self-Improvement month. How can that possibly be bad news, you might ask? Well, if self-improvement came all that naturally, would we really need an entire month to be    reminded of both the need and opportunity?

And now for the good news: September is National Self-Improvement month. As in, seeing how most of us DO need a little reminding from time to time, maybe this is the month you take a step in the right direction toward new or existing goals.

Here are 5 popular and realistic ways to feel better about just being you:

• Make a date or an appointment. If “apathy” or “procrastination” are your middle name, find one thing that you’ve been putting off way too long and just get it done. It done right now. It could be as simple as changing the oil in your car or finishing the book that’s been on your nightstand since who knows when. Or maybe it’s time you set your reservations aside and finally scheduled that colonoscopy or breast exam.

• Start that diet. You can’t surf very far on your TV screen without bumping into some program concerning America’s bulging waistline. If you’re carrying a few extra pounds, isn’t it better to pick a diet (with your doctor’s advice and consent, of course) and just go for it instead of waiting for that miracle cure or pill that won’t be coming along anyway?

• Get up and move. Nothing builds self-esteem like exercise or movement, and it doesn’t have to be painful to be effective. Go for a walk, dance in your living room, have a catch with your son. But do something to get the ol’ heart and your blood circulating.

• Demand better of yourself. Do you have a tough time saying you’re sorry? Well, it’s never too late to start. Have you reached a point in your job or career where you feel like there’s no point in trying any harder? Even if you’re maxed out salary wise, expanding your skills or knowledge is an achievement unto itself and one that can be applied elsewhere if your present employer doesn’t fully appreciate what you bring to the table.

• Pick up the phone. Nothing makes some people happier than hearing from family and friends. So if you’re the kind of person who only talks on the phone when they call you, now’s a great time to let a distant family member or fellow grad know you’re thinking about them. The kind of warm reception you’re likely to get could turn this into a very rewarding habit.

If one of those things you’ve been putting off is annual preventative maintenance for your home heating system, then just pick up the phone and call Absolute Air. We’ll get it done in no time so you and your family can look forward to feeling better, indoors, all winter long.

With the first day of school right around the corner, it’s good to have a plan in place to help make sure your kids have more than a fighting chance at making this year truly productive and positive in all regards.

One key ingredient to student success is having a clearly defined homework schedule and study habits. From our house to yours, here are a few time-tested techniques that really work:

• Establish a routine. Does your child do his or her best work right after school lets out or does an hour or so break refresh their brain cells just enough to make homework time more productive? No time is the right time for every student, so find and stick to the time of day that works best for your child.
• Designate a homework space. It should be comfortable, well lit, absent of noise and distractions – including cell phones and iPads! – and well-equipped with pencils, pens, calculators, and other helpful homework tools.
• It’s good to be involved, but not too involved. Caring parents naturally want to help out with homework when asked to do so, and provided they can. Just remember that you’re only really helping them when you guide them toward learning the answers for themselves vs. doing some or all of the work for them.
• Check their work. The way you check a first grader’s homework is much different than how you might for a tenth grader so, using age appropriate techniques, establish that all assignments are completed correctly, fully, and on time.
• Are they spending too much time on homework? Extra time spent on homework isn’t always productive. It could mean that your child doesn’t quite get the subject matter or they have a teacher who’s piling it on a little thick. Either way, this might be an occasion to contact the teacher for a fresh perspective on what exactly is going on.

And then there are those students who feel perfectly fine all day at school but sniffle the night away at home. Or scratch their itchy eyes. Or feel all stuffed up and headachy. And nobody can do their best work under those circumstances. So if the problem persists, contact the indoor air quality specialists at Absolute Air, as you and your family might be candidates for some type of remedial action. With a whole-house air filtration system, for example, more than 99% of dust, dirt, and other air pollutants will be trapped as they attempt to pass through the system’s filter. That keeps them out of your home, and out of your lungs.

July is national UV Safety Month, and we happen to think that’s a health issue well worth calling extra attention to. Especially right here in the heart of Texas.

After all, skin is your body’s largest organ, and every bit as much of an organ as your heart and kidneys. Which makes it deserving of the same level of protective care.

So, why exactly does our skin need protection from the sun’s UV rays? Because overexposure can cause all kinds of health problems, including the following:

• Eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration
• Premature wrinkling
• Leathery skin
• Age spots
• Weakened immune system
• Various infections
• Skin cancer

While avoiding over-exposure to the sun (and sun lamps) and applying generous amounts of high level sunscreen are two very good protective measures, here are a few more:

• Wear protective clothing such as pants, long-sleeve shirts and hats whether you’re working in the yard for going for a walk around the block.

• Wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes.

• Avoid getting sunburned, as sunburn adds to the risk of getting skin cancer.

• Whether you’re at the beach or a pool, spend more time in the shade and less in the sun.

• Use extra caution when near reflective surfaces, like water, snow, sand, and glass buildings.       These can increase your chances of getting sunburned, even if you’re within a shaded area.

• Be extra careful in higher elevations. The closer you are to the sun, the greater the concentration of UV rays.
• Re-apply sunscreen during the day, and don’t be fooled by those that are “water resistant.” They may be, but only to the point, and their protection does not last all day.

• Change your schedule, whenever possible, so you have minimum exposure to the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM when UV rays are the strongest.

Okay, you say, but “at least I’ll be perfectly fine and safe while I’m indoors!” Well, yes, but you still need to keep away from windows and skylights that reflect the sun or intensify their heat. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep those windows and skylights covered while the sun is on them for another very good reason: your house will stay cooler and, as a result, you’ll cut your summer time energy costs.

Of course, if you just love looking out your windows even in full sun, then outfit your home with UV-protective window film which blocks more than 99% of the sun’s UV rays.

As a consumer searching for goods and services on the internet, there are certain things you’ve grown to expect, and often without even realizing it.

In general terms, you expect a company to make it easy to do business with them.  And partly, by building and maintaining a customer-friendly web site, one that’s easy to navigate so you can find exactly what you want without delay or inconvenience.

And what happens when you’re disappointed in that regard?  Very often you exit that site and continue searching until you find a company that delivers the whole package, web browsing convenience and all.

At Absolute Air, we work hard every day to be “that company.”  One you want to do business with, and for all the right reasons.  Today, we’re pleased to announce the launch of our brand new mobile site, one that was created and formatted specifically for use on your Smart Phone.

Here’s just some of its customer-friendly features:

• Click-to-call button on every page
• A Request Service email form, also accessible on every page
• Less content than our main web site, but all the essential information is there
• A dedicated page with our current web specials
• Easy to read and find exactly what you’re looking for

That’s the kind of convenience we WANT you to expect from us.  We’re happy to deliver, too, especially since only a small handful of area HVAC companies also have mobile web sites.

Is this reason enough to choose us for all your home heating, cooling, and indoor air quality needs?  Of course not.  Then again, it is one MORE reason to choose us:  Absolute Air.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Dry, itchy winter skin can be more than just uncomfortable here in Forney, Crandall, and throughout the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Decreased humidity, increased exposure to forced air heating, plus the drying effects of wind and cold can strip away your skin’s natural oils and leave it feeling (and looking) like sandpaper.

Luckily, you don’t have to sit idly by, counting the days until spring, waiting for your skin to improve. A few preventative measures can replenish your skin’s moisture and counteract the damaging effects of the winter chill.

• Choose your moisturizer wisely. Many popular commercial lotions contain harsh ingredients that actually work against your skin. Opt for natural coconut or almond oil to replenish moisture and protect your skin.

• Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin, but wash gently the rest of the time using a non-drying body wash.

• It’s common to prolong showers and baths this time of year. You might even be tempted to turn up the temperature of the water. But that piping hot shower just further dries out your skin.

• Apply moisturizer to your entire body right after you shower or bathe, while your skin is still damp. And don’t forget the sunscreen when you head outside.

• For especially dry hands or feet, apply a thin layer of moisturizing oil before bed. To avoid getting oil on your bed linens, wear thin, breathable gloves or socks overnight.

• Use a humidifier to keep humidity levels at a healthy level of about 40%. You can also place a bowl of water in the corner of every room of your home to help achieve the same effect.

For a more permanent solution to dry, indoor temperatures during the heating season, contact Absolute Air today for all the details and a free quote on a whole-house humidity control system.  They’re designed to add moisture throughout your home during the winter, and remove excess moisture during the dog days of summer.  Best of all, they work!

we invite you to contact us today to schedule service for air conditioning services in Forney TX .  Same goes if the noises are already there.  Give us a call for  air conditioning  services in crandall TX, we’ll figure out exactly what’s going on, and then give you a guaranteed upfront quote to fix it, and fix it right.