My house is over twenty miles from the closest town and located on a dirt road. The benefit is that there’s hardly any traffic on our road. We enjoy the privacy and quiet. However, in the winter, the snow often makes the road impassible and we’re trapped indoors for weeks at a time. I make sure to take very good care of the furnace. We certainly don’t want to be faced with a malfunction and left without heat during a blizzard. After six to eight months of below freezing temperatures and up to twelve feet of snow accumulations, we look forward to the spring weather. I’m always anxious to open the windows and welcome in some fresh air. This past June, however, there was a road construction project taking place. A bridge along the main road leading into town was replaced and all the traffic was detoured directly past our house. The hot and dry weather and influx of cars created a tremendous amount of dust. The dust coated our cars, the garage and our patio furniture. I was unable to hang laundry on the clothesline. We were forced to close the windows to keep the dust from getting inside. With no central air conditioning, the house quickly became overheated, clammy and uncomfortable. I never wanted to invest in a cooling system because of spending so much on heating bills. I liked the break in the summer. I wasn’t happy about it, but I finally had central air conditioning installed last year. I’ve been surprised by how much my whole family appreciates it. The air conditioner not only keeps the house perfectly cool but helps with air filtration, air circulation and dehumidification.