Home Is Where the Health Is - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Advantages of Flameless Candles

Every year, firefighters put out a significant number of home fires caused by candle flames. At least half of these fires are caused when a lit candle is placed too close to something combustible, such as a set of curtains or a stack of books.

If your home or office suffers from a candle fire, aside from having to pay for damages, your insurance rates could rise as well.

Fortunately, you can still enjoy the soothing atmosphere a candle provides without the health and home risks of a flame.

A flameless candle looks very similar to a standard wax and wick candle. However, it functions via a battery-operated LED light operated by batteries instead of a flame. Most flameless candles are still made from wax, and some even have a slight scent. There are even flameless tea lights that can be placed in candleholders or wall sconces for an added look.

The LED light flickers just as a flame would to provide that signature ambiance a candle is known for. Some flameless candles have a timer inside them that allows you to set them to come on at a certain time and turn off hours later.

These candles are much safer for your home. There’s no risk of fire, and you can place them on bookshelves or near fabrics that would normally pose a threat. You can also use them during a storm or power outage, and carry them or fall asleep without worry.  

Since there’s no melting wax or burning wick, flameless candles can be used over and over. This means you’ll never have to purchase candles again.

The next time you light a candle, consider purchasing a flameless one. The safety and financial benefits outweigh those of a standard candle by far.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

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Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Receives State Farm "Good Neighbor" Award

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9826101.htm

 

Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) August 24, 2012

Cincinnati-based plumbing and HVAC systems contractor Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling received the State Farm “Good Neighbor” Award, an honor that recognizes local companies for their work in the community.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling received the “Good Neighbor” Award during a Pre-Game Onfield Ceremony taking place at the Great American Ball Park prior to the Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs game on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Founded in association with Major League Baseball (MLB), the State Farm Go to Bat program is a nonprofit initiative. In addition to recognizing companies like Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for their charitable contributions to local communities, Go to Bat allows baseball fans to support their favorite charities, awarding $18,000 to a fan-selected charity each week.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has more than 80 years of service in the Tri-State area. Thompson bears the “Green Screened” and “Technician Seal of Safety” certifications and has won numerous national awards recognizing its professionalism and high-quality plumbing, repair and HVAC services. Among the organizations recognizing Thompson’s excellence is Airtime 500, the most forward-thinking organization of independent HVAC contractors in the industry today.

Thompson is an active member of multiple trade organizations with the best heating and cooling systems contractors in the country, granting them access to the most cutting-edge technology and the best training practices.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is dedicated to giving back to the community on both a local and national level. The company is a proud supporter of the Disabled American Veterans, raising more than $100,000 for veterans since 2009.

To schedule a service or to learn more information about the services offered by Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit 333HELP.com or call 513-333-HELP (4357).

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Using a Humidifier During a Drought

With the recent spike in heat across the country paired with very little rain, air quality is poor.  

During a drought, it’s easy to assume the presence of pollen would be less. However, the dry climate actually creates the opposite effect, causing pollen to continually cycle through the air.

Unfortunately, we bring this pollen, dust and dirt into our homes, creating a bad situation for our indoor air quality. Dry air alone can bring forth throat dryness and respiratory problems.

However, there is a simple solution: Purchasing a humidifier. Putting a humidifier in your home will help the indoor air quality when humidity levels are less than normal. Adding moisture in the air will help with dry skin, cold, flu, allergies and even asthma. 

As with many products for the home, there are many different types and models of humidifiers to choose from. Manufacturers offer humidifiers for warm weather conditions and for cold weather conditions. Humidifiers for cold weather use a heating element, such as steam, a vaporizer or a misting device.

The heating method warms the water in the unit, then it emits into the air. Humidifiers for warm weather don’t use a heating device. Instead, they put moisture into the air by way of an impeller, an evaporation wick or ultrasonic technologies.

If you decide to purchase a humidifier for your home, make sure to follow the suggested safety measures to avoid any problems in your home. Measuring the current moisture in your home is a good start, so you don’t over moisturize.

Regularly cleaning the humidifier and refreshing the water in its tank will keep your air quality top notch and prevent bacteria and mold from appearing. Use distilled water to curtail the rapid growth of micro-organisms. Clean all of the attachments and parts on a regular basis, especially after pulling the unit out of storage from the dry, summer months.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

WIN A DINNER FOR TWO WITH MARTY BRENNAMAN

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers contest to win dinner with the voice of the Cincinnati Reds.

CINCINNATI, OH — Legendary Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman is teaming up with the Tri-State area’s favorite plumbing and HVAC systems contractor, Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, to offer one lucky customer the opportunity to have a private dinner with this local legend.

All Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling customers who have service during the months of August or September will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a dinner for two with Marty. The winner of the contest will be announced at the Thompson Veterans Day Breakfast and Check Presentation, taking place at Thompson’s Headquarters on Monday, November 12, 2012 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Marty Brennaman has served as at the voice of the Cincinnati Reds as a broadcaster on the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network since 1974. Celebrated for his provocative, straight-talking style, Marty has been named Ohio Sportscaster of the year several times and was presented the Ford C. Frick Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to Major League Baseball in 2000.

More recently, in July 2012, the broadcasting icon vowed to shave his head if the Reds achieved a 10-game winning streak. When the Reds reached this threshold with a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on July 29, Marty had to make good on his promise. After challenging fans to donate $20,000 to the Reds Community Fund to see the haircut take place on the field, Marty publically parted with his famous white locks following the Reds’ August 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans ended up raising over $50,000 for the charity.

To schedule a service or to learn more information about the services offered by Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit 333HELP.com or call 513-333-HELP (4357).

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Plumbing Problems Can Present Hazards to your Health

Sometimes plumbing equipment, fittings or mechanisms simply break. This can be due to overuse, abuse or even defective parts. But plumbing problems are especially likely to develop in cases where systems are neglected or not well-maintained.

Cracked or corroded pipes, clogged drains and dried up traps can lead to circumstances that threaten the health of a home’s residents. These include mold; sewer gas escaping into the home; and an unhealthy level of lead in a home’s drinking water.

Mold presents one of the greatest dangers, not only to the health of those that live in a home — especially if they have allergies or existing respiratory conditions — but also to a home’s structural integrity. Clogged drains and leaky pipes are a major cause of moisture problems within a home that creates a perfect environment for mold to flourish.

Toilets and drains are built with “traps” to prevent sewer gas from penetrating into a home. The water within these traps creates a seal between the plumbing and the home’s interior. But when that water evaporates or drains out due to a leak, methane gas can seep into the dwelling. This gas can carry dangerous toxins, and in extreme cases can create a combustion hazard.

Corrosion in a home’s plumbing can also increase the lead levels in drinking water. Consumption of water with a high lead content can have serious health consequences to both adults and children. It is well worth the expenditure and effort to test your water for lead relatively regularly.

Whether plumbing problems are obvious or suspected, homeowners should contact their plumbing company or plumbing contractors immediately for repairs, professional drain cleaning or system maintenance. Procrastination in this area is not an option when your family’s health may be at risk.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking In the Home and AC System

 When a non-smoker walks into a home where cigarettes have been smoked, they can tell it immediately. Not only does the smell of tobacco smoke linger in the air, but the walls are yellowed with tar, and often the curtains and upholstery will be as well.

The distinctive odor left behind by smoking cigarettes or cigars can infiltrate the heating and air system of a home and become quite expensive and difficult to remove. The health problems associated with smoking in the home can also be devastating, even to those who do not smoke.

According to the American Cancer Society, second hand smoke — smoke inhaled by bystanders — can cause serious health issues for those who do not smoke. Asthma and other breathing issues as well as cancer, heart disease and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in non-smokers have all been linked back to second hand smoke. The National Cancer Institute estimates that almost forty thousand people die each year from issues obtained from second hand smoke.

The United States Preventive Task Force has issued strong recommendations for doctors to urge adults to quit smoking. It is also advised that doctors warn parents of the hazards of smoking in the home in order to reduce the amount of second hand smoke exposure to children.

As far as cleaning the after effects of smoking in the home, several things must be done. In order to rid the home of the smells smoking leaves behind, an electrical ionic air purification machine may be needed. Wiping down the walls and cabinets as well as having all upholstery, mattresses, and carpets cleaned can also help cut down the damage smoking does to the home.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling