Top 5 Plants for a cleaner home in Edmonton!

When we think of air pollution, our minds naturally gravitate toward crowded freeways and monstrous production factories.  We rarely visualize our cozy indoor abode as a hotbed for harmful chemicals. The unfortunate truth is that the limited air flow inside our homes means that we’re unintentionally building up air pollution from things like our furniture and cleaning products, and even from the synthetic materials that our houses and condos are made of!
The good news is that we have the natural means of eliminating most of these pollutants. All we need is a bit of plant know-how! With the right plants and a bit of a green thumb, anyone can clean their home of harmful chemicals and start living a healthier life. Here is a breakdown of five of the best air purifying plants. Take a look below!
First up, I hope there are no arachnophobes out there, because spider plants are your new best friend. They are easy to care for! A fantastic addition to any home that has little ones or pets running around. They are known to grow fast, look great in hanging baskets and get rid of any lingering formaldehyde or xylene in your air.

The snake plant, also known as Mother in Law’s Tongue, is a hardy indoor plant. It that requires little in terms of maintenance but filters the air in your home in a big way. Depending on the variety that you decide to go with, you can have a table-top or a floor version, which can grow up to eight feet tall!

If you’re looking for a plant that does double duty, Aloe Vera is hands-down your new go-to. On top of being a rockstar formaldehyde killer, its leaves contain some seriously potent medicinal properties. Chock full of vitamins, enzymes and amino acids, the juice from its leaves is a leading ingredient in most sunburn relievers and can also be consumed as a health supplement. Scrapes or cuts? Aloe Vera is great for that, with its wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties!

Do you have a shady spot in your home that could use a bit of floral flare? Peace Lilies are a beautiful addition to any darker corner of your home, since they love moist soil and indirect light. You can enjoy its lush chemical-annihilating leaves year-round and its beautiful white buds during the summer months. Just be sure to keep it out of reach of both cats and dogs, as it is toxic to them.

Finally, and rated the best toxin neutralizer of all by NASA! The Chrysanthemum neutralizes all kinds of dangers, like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and even ammonia! She’s a double-edged sword though. The Chrysanthemum only blooms for about 6 weeks of the year, and without those beautiful flowers she doesn’t absorb any toxins. Because of this you’re going to want to pick a couple more plants from this list – or all of them! – to supplement her toxin neutralizing abilities in her downtime.

For more air-cleaning tips and tricks, be sure to ask the experts at Legacy Heating and Cooling! As Edmonton’s premier HVAC specialists, we have all sorts of solutions to keep the air quality in your home at a level that will keep your entire family safe and healthy!

Legacy Heating and Cooling - Edmonton's HVAC Experts - Call us Today (780) 733-1256

Cool Summer Tips!

Summer in Edmonton can be unpredictable at times but one thing is for sure it’s a HOT one. As temperatures rise we all know that using AC, having a popsicle or getting drenched in water are ways to stay cool. But here are 11 ways to keep your cool in our hot temperature

11 Summertime Coolness Tips!

1. Eat small meals more often throughout the day. Your body spends less time creates breaking down food. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
2. Every 2 hours run your wrists under a cold water for 5 seconds as a main vein passes through this area, it helps cool the blood.
3. Eat spicy food. I know the question really? In taking curries and chillies will stimulate heat receptors in the mouth, enhance circulation and cause sweating, which cools the body down.
4. Take a bath or shower just below body temperature before bedtime. Although a cold shower might sound more tempting, your body generates heat afterwards to compensate for the heat loss.
5. It’s true basements are the coolest area in the house. So take advantage of going downstairs as it runs 10-15 degrees than the upstairs of the house, and keep cool!
6. Wear lightweight, light-coloured cotton clothes. Heat is trapped by synthetic fibres, but cotton absorbs perspiration and its evaporation causes you to feel cooler. The light colours reflect the sun's radiation.
7. Some of us tend to forget to do this but keeping the curtains drawn when you are out can prevent the house overheating and feeling like a sauna.
8. On a hot day it’s natural to crave a nice cold beer or a chilled spritzer but as many of you know alcohol dehydrates the body. Although it’s not as satisfying as those drinks, a great substitution is mineral water or low-sugar fizzy drinks. Drinks with caffeine such as coffee and colas will crease the metabolic heat in the body.
9. Purchase a Chillow. It's a thin, soft, thermo-regulating leather device that you place inside your pillow case or lay on top of your pillow to keep your head cool. In studies, Chillow users got to sleep an average of 68 per cent faster. You can pick one up at Walmart or Bed, Bath and Beyond.
10. Sleeping under a sheet is one of the best things to do. Even better, put your sheets in a plastic bag and stick them in the fridge a couple of hours before going to bed. As we fall asleep our body temperature lowers, which is why it's difficult to sleep in hot weather. Cold sheets straight from the fridge should help you sleep better.
11. Air conditioning units is a great way to stay cool all summer long and at Legacy Heating and Cooling we can help with your needs.

Source: Dailymail.com.uk/health

 

DIY TIPS!

The next time you feel a draft, try one of these simple DIY projects. They're easy, take minimal time, and best of all - cost next to nothing! So get busy and ensure your house will be warm and cozy this winter.

Here are 5 simple DIY Tips!

1. Check your windows for incoming air.
   

   Use your hand to feel around the window frame for cold air escaping. If you feel any air coming through, use seal-and-peel caulking or weather stripping to repair the gap. Although caulking and weather stripping aren’t permanent solutions, they do the trick and should keep cold air out until spring.

2. Check your power outlets, too.
   

   Commonly power outlets are overlooked as a source of cool air, but it’s just as easy for air to get in through these fixtures as it is windows. It’s a bit harder to check power outlets, but on a very cold day you will be able to feel a draft coming through with your hand. An easy fix to this problem is to unscrew the plate and install a gasket from the hardware store.

3. Turn your thermostat down to 16 degrees when you leave the house.

   There’s no need to turn your house into an icebox when you leave, but there’s also no need to keep your heat cranked on full blast. Turning down your thermostat several degrees when you leave is an environmentally friendly practice and also helps save you money.

4. Use an inflatable chimney balloon.
   

   Did you know that when fireplaces aren't in use, warm indoor air escapes through the chimney? Since Santa can't block off your chimney 24/7, we have another solution to this problem. Chimney balloons (sometimes called fireplace plugs) are a simple and cost effective way to keep warm air from escaping and draughts coming back down. They can be found online or at any hardware store.

5. Close off unused rooms.

   Our final and easiest heat-saving tip: don’t waste heat on rooms that aren’t being utilized. Close doors to rooms that aren't occupied.