AireServ - August 2018

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COMFORT CONNECTIONS

LEARNING HOW TO LEARN The Most Important Teachers in My Life

As we close out the summer and all the kids around town flock back to school,

In high school, I had Mr. Licata for biology, the first teacher who really noticed my aptitude for science and pushed me to challenge myself. He was always encouraging me to take on special projects, giving me books and other materials to dig a little further into whatever lesson he was teaching. At the time, I was pretty into lifting weights and fascinated by the human body, so I took to anything that helped me to contextualize and understand it. I can honestly say that his constant encouragement was a big reason I pursued biology in college. Even if that didn’t end up being my career later on in life, it still had a big impact on my self-confidence and ability to learn. Later, in college, I was forced to take calculus, a subject that I found totally abstract and bewildering. The first time through, I got a pretty nasty “F” in the class as I was unable to grasp all the integrals and derivatives and complicated equations. But on my second try, I had a much better teacher, Mr. Van Damme, who took care to make everything accessible and crystal clear. It still wasn't the most fun class in the world, but all of a sudden, everything clicked. I ended up with an “A” and never looked back. When you’re in school, and sometimes even long afterward, it’s easy to look at calculus, biology, and all these other esoteric subjects as totally irrelevant to your life. After all, I own an HVAC business now — I’m not using a graphing calculator or thinking much about how ATP is synthesized within the body. But while I don’t ever really use calculus, I do use a lot of math in my day-to-day. Because of school, I’m well-equipped to learn everything I can about my industry. There’s a lot more theory behind HVAC than people realize, and to be the best technician I can be, I need to know exactly how to learn skills to be the best in the business. That, to me, is a big part of what school was about — not so much about the precise content of what we were learning but equipping us with the tools to work hard and be able to learn whatever we might need in life. I’m grateful to all the teachers of my past who reached out or found a way to teach me something new. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

I’ve been doing a little bit of thinking about my own school experience so many years ago. Though it’s hard to

recall much about those days anymore — much of it goes by as a blur of pencils, papers, and desks in my mind — there are a couple teachers that stick out in my memory, even now.

Way back in elementary school, I had Mr. Powers and Mr. Post, two guys who teamed up to work with a double-sized class. Though I’d always enjoyed school about as much as any kid could be expected to, it wasn’t until they came along that school actually became fun in the day-to-day. They were incredibly animated, and, to us kids,

pretty much the coolest adults ever. I distinctly remember the talk around the school when we learned one of them rode a motorcycle; it was as if that was the most interesting thing we’d ever heard about a teacher before. I guess the doubled-up class size required double the enthusiasm, because those two always seemed to be on the ball, getting us excited about even the most mundane subjects. And every once in a while, they’d throw out some wild card that kept us on our toes, like the time one of them put on the “Tommy” album from The Who and somehow tied it to a lesson. I can’t say I remember what the lesson actually was, but you can bet that “Tommy” stuck with me from then on.

–Jim Serra

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HOT, HOT, HOT! The Best Ways to Cool Your Mouth After Eating Something Spicy

When you pop something spicy into your mouth, it’s always good to have a cool beverage nearby. You never know when you’re going to need to put out a fire. But when your mouth feels like it’s going up in flames, some methods of cooling are better than others. Let’s get this out of the way first: Water and soda are two of the worst ways to cool off your mouth after eating something spicy. Water, soda, and even fruit juice will simply spread the heat around, meaning that fiery sensation will only last longer. To combat the heat, it’s important to understand where that sensation comes from. Many spicy sauces and dishes get their heat from capsaicinoids, or specifically, capsaicin, an oily compound that loves to stick to your tongue. It’s important to note that capsaicin is not water-soluble. Chili peppers are a primary source of capsaicin. Other foods, such as mustard, radish, horseradish, and wasabi, get their heat from a compound called allyl isothiocyanate. This compound does not usually stick around as long as capsaicin.

The best compound? Fat. Whole milk will help, but here are some even better alternatives:

• Half-and-half • Yogurt • Kefir • Sour cream • Ice cream

And for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan, soy milk and peanut butter can help too. The higher the fat content, the better!

What about those other foods, like mustard and wasabi? Unlike capsaicin, allyl isothiocyanate is partially water-soluble. This means water and soda will help cool you down — but you still can’t beat dairy.

So, what can you do to beat the heat?

The next time you eat a habanero pepper or put too much hot sauce on your eggs, having a glass of half- and-half on standby can be a lifesaver. It may sound a little weird, but your mouth will thank you.

For heat brought on by chili peppers, you want a beverage that contains compounds capable of binding with the oiliness of capsaicin.

THE 4 KEYS TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY

2. Clean your air ducts. Regular inspection and cleaning of your ductwork is incredibly important to avoid problems like mold and dust buildup down the road. It’s a good idea to get a professional involved for this. 3. Get some fresh air flowing through. The air inside your home can become as much as five times more polluted than the air outside. Open your windows when it’s cool in the morning, and if the problem persists, consider installing mechanical whole-house ventilators to improve airflow. 4. Dust and vacuum often. If dust and other contaminants are removed from your home, it’ll be difficult for them to pollute your air. Keep it clean to prevent them from becoming part of the air you breathe. Follow these steps, get a little routine maintenance every now and then, and you’ll be breathing easy, confident that there’s nothing invisible messing up your lungs and body.

With the brutal heat of summer, many of us keep our windows shut tight and the AC cranked up all season long. This is great for comfort, but if you’ve noticed the air getting a little stuffy, you may be dealing with poor air quality brought on by an iffy HVAC system.

At Aire Serv, we’re committed to helping our customers understand their home’s air quality, an often-overlooked yet crucial part of day-to-day health. Poor air quality can cause all kinds of illnesses and diseases, including cancer, heart disease, chronic headaches, fatigue, respiratory problems, allergies, and red eyes.

To ensure that the air within your building is clean and healthy to breathe, it’s important to follow the following steps: 1. Change the air filters regularly. This is vital not only to keep your air clean, but to keep your HVAC system running in peak condition. Box filters should be changed once per year, while regular filters require replacement every two or three months.

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3 DIY STEPS TO KEEP YOUR HVAC HUMMING

KEEP THE SURROUNDING AREA CLEAN. Every month or so, you should head outside to your HVAC unit and make sure it’s totally clear of any debris. Leaves, branches, and anything else that could potentially block airflow should be pushed back at least 2 feet away from the unit. Make sure it’s uncovered and ready to go. GIVE IT A ONCE-OVER. You may not be an HVAC technician, but you can still often tell if something is awry with a visual inspection. Every couple of months, turn the system off and do a thorough examination of the exterior of the unit. Are the metal fins bent? If they are, use a butter knife to gently bend them back into place. Do the fans look rusted or damaged? If so, you may need to call a technician to check it out. Regardless of how well you maintain your HVAC system, it’s best to have a professional come in every six months or so to ensure it stays in optimum condition. Give the experts at Aire Serv a call at 845-256-6158 today and save yourself a ton of money.

When it comes to your HVAC system, regular maintenance is essential. But that doesn’t mean you need to call an Aire Serv technician every single month. Here are three maintenance steps you can do yourself regularly to reduce wear and tear, lower energy costs, and keep your system from breaking down between professional HVAC checkups. CHANGE THE FILTER. This is the most important step in ensuring your HVAC unit continues to run in tip-top shape. A clogged filter reduces efficiency, and in extreme cases, it can cause your unit to work twice as hard for half the benefit, leading to more serious issues that will cost you a lot of money. So, twice a year (once before it gets hot, and once before it gets cold), locate your air filter and replace it with one that has the same airflow rating. It’s an extremely simple step that can save you a ton of cash in the long run.

HAVE A LAUGH!

SUMMER GRILLED HALIBUT

If you’re tired of grilling hamburgers at this point in the summer, try using your grill for something a little different. This easy halibut recipe is a great change of pace.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced • 1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained • Basil leaves, for garnish • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

• 4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS 1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium. 2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side. 4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.

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Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

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Jim Serra Reflects on His School Days INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 The Best Ways to Cool Your Mouth After a Kick of Heat 845-256-6158 | aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley

4 Ways to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean

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The 3 Keys to Home HVAC Maintenance

Summer Grilled Halibut

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The Best End-of-Summer Activity

JOURNEY TO THE GREAT BACKYARD

FINISH THE SUMMER WITH A FAMILY CAMPING ‘TRIP’

Remember: It’s okay to call it a night. For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too.

Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks and dinner. Treat this like a “real” camping experience right from the beginning! Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/learn/expert-advice/ campfire-basics.html.

Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone

sleeps; it’s about how much fun your family had together before bedtime.

The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into

the great backyard.

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