What Are the Best Ways to Conserve Energy This Winter?

Exploring ways to conserve energy will give you a road map to energy savings in your home. The effort and financial outlays it takes to improve your home's energy efficiency will pay for itself all year long via lower heating and cooling costs and greater health and comfort. Read on to learn about the best ways to conserve energy.

• Have your heating system serviced. The technicians from Air Assurance go through the entire system cleaning, adjusting, and verifying that it's running as efficiently and as safely as possible.

• Add a programmable thermostat. When you have your system serviced, ask the technician about installing a programmable or smart thermostat to help you save energy. You can reduce heating costs by turning the temperature down when you're away and during the night. Smart thermostats give you even more options for controlling home comfort that can help you save energy.

• Check the doors and windows for air infiltration and thermal losses. Dual- or triple-pane windows prevent much heat loss through the glass, while single-pane windows have almost no insulating value. You can use storm windows or plastic window film kits from local or online retailers.

  Over time, the weatherstripping around doors and windows wears out and needs replacing. Locking the doors and windows helps prevent drafts. Draft blockers placed at the base of the doors and windows are one of the best ways to conserve energy.

• Look for other signs of air leaks around the exterior walls and the ceiling plate. Electrical switches and outlets could be leaking cold air into your home. Recessed lighting that protrudes into the attic is another source of energy loss. Vents and fans can also need additional insulation or sealing.

• Check insulation levels in the attic. Then add more insulation if you can see the tops of the ceiling joists.

• Lower the water heater's temperature to 120 degrees. Water heaters rank high on the list of energy-hungry home appliances. This temperature also prevents accidental scalding injuries and hard-water deposits from forming in the tank.

If you'd like more ways to conserve energy, contact the pros at Air Assurance. We provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

How Do You Know If You Have an Energy Efficient AC Unit?

Increased comfort, lower utility bills, and a reduced need for repairs are some of the perks of owning an energy efficient AC unit. But how exactly will you know that an air conditioner is efficient? Here's what you should consider to help determine if your home has an energy efficient AC unit.

High Efficiency Ratings

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) are a measure of a unit's efficiency measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). You can find them on both central and room air conditioners. Generally, a bigger rating means higher energy efficiency.

Energy Star Certification

Another way to know if you have an energy efficient AC unit is to look for the Energy Star label. The label means that the unit has been certified by the federal Energy Star program. An Energy Star-certified unit meets or exceeds higher energy-efficiency standards than other comparable models will.

Proper Maintenance

A system that's maintained properly runs more efficiently and cools your house better. A properly maintained air conditioner is serviced by a professional at least once a year. During annual service, an HVAC professional cleans the critical condenser coils and checks the rest of your cooling system for any more maintenance needs. Lack of regular maintenance reduces the system's efficiency.

Know the Signs of Inefficiency

You can know whether your air conditioner is operating efficiently by watching out for indicators of inefficiency. Your system is unlikely to be working as efficiently as it ought to be if you have:

• Out-of-control humidity

• Unusually higher energy bills

• Frequent AC breakdowns

If you feel your air conditioner isn't operating at peak efficiency, you can call in a professional to inspect it thoroughly. For more information on maintaining an energy efficient AC unit, contact us at Air Assurance. We've been helping Broken Arrow-area homeowners with their heating and air conditioning problems since 1985.

How Can Sustainable Design Factor into the Next Home You Build or Buy?

If you're moving to a new home, an important concern should be that house's carbon footprint. Does it promote energy savings, or does it encourage wastefulness? The way a house is designed has a significant impact on its energy usage. Whether your home is built or bought, here's how to implement a sustainable design.

Sustainable Design for New Homes

Building a new home is the best way to ensure efficiency. You can literally make sustainable decisions from the ground up. Consider insulating the walls. A great supplement to your attic insulation, this helps reduce heat loss and boosts HVAC efficiency. It's fairly simple to put in when building a home, and it's very expensive to retrofit later.

Another essential sustainable design factor is window placement. Large windows provide natural light, reducing your need for electric lighting during the day. South-facing windows also let in direct sunlight, providing natural heating. Complement it with a deciduous tree next to the window, as its leaves will provide natural shade and cooling in the summer. When it loses its leaves in the winter, it will let in the warmth.

Sustainable Design for Existing Homes

Even if you're moving into an existing home, there are still plenty of sustainable ideas to implement. Try investing in a smart thermostat. From your mobile device, you can control heating and cooling, humidity, and other home-comfort factors. You can even receive notifications of ways to improve energy efficiency, when to change your filter, and more!

Your sustainable design might also include a zoning system and a tankless water heater. A zoning system heats and cools homes evenly, without sending air to areas that don't need it. A tankless water heater is similar, heating water on demand, rather than keeping gallons of it warm when no one is using it.

Finally, purchase Energy Star-certified appliances, such as your HVAC system, refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc., whenever possible. Energy Star appliances use less energy than similar models without sacrificing performance or comfort.

For more sustainable design tips for new and existing homes, contact us at Air Assurance. We help Broken Arrow homes get the quality home-comfort solutions it needs.

Does Your Local Climate Impact the Kind of HVAC Equipment You Should Buy?

Choosing the right HVAC equipment is crucial for your comfort and for keeping your energy bills in check. Not all HVAC systems are created equal, and it's important to get the right one for the climate you live in, for both comfort and efficiency. Let's have a look at the climate's impact on your HVAC system. 

Climate and HVAC

The average summer or winter temperature of a region should always be considered when choosing an air conditioner or a furnace. For instance, if you live in Miami or along the Gulf Coast, you will not need the most efficient furnace. Likewise, those in the northern climes, where summers are not as long or as hot as in the South, won't need an air conditioner with top efficiency. In fact, today's extremely efficient HVAC systems feature a number of bells and whistles that may be superfluous for your climate.

Talk about climate impact with your HVAC consultant. Our Broken Arrow climate isn't the coldest or the warmest, although temperatures can occasionally plunge or peak. Your consultant can advise you about the level of efficiency that's best for your home. When shopping, look at the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings) for furnaces, and the SEER, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the AC. Because our summers are generally not that long or that hot, you may not need a top SEER. Likewise with furnaces. AFUEs of 80% to 85% are mid-efficiency ratings, while high-efficiency units rate between 90% and 97% AFUE. Obviously, the more efficient the unit, the more you will pay when you buy it.

Humidity

High humidity also affects comfort and efficiency, and Oklahoma can be very humid during the summer, when the south wind brings moisture in from Texas. Remember that high humidity is a factor in climate impact in that it makes your AC work harder to cool your home. When discussing climate impact during your next HVAC installation, ask about how to compensate for excessive moisture.

To learn more about climate's impact on HVAC equipment, contact Air Assurance.

Which Window Glass Allows Optimum Home Cooling?

Window glass may not be the first thing homeowners in the Broken Arrow area think about when it comes to energy efficiency, but it should definitely be on your radar. Having the right window glass can make a huge difference in your energy bills.

We've come a long way in window technology since the days when a window was literally just a hole in the wall. Today, window frames come in a variety of different materials, and window glass can be layered with different gases or have energy-efficient coatings to help reduce heat transfer.

Making Your Windows More Efficient

One of the more effective ways of making windows more efficient is to install double-paned windows with argon or krypton gas between the panes. These gases are invisible, odorless, and nontoxic. They work by reducing the amount of heat that's able to transfer from the exterior pane to the interior pane, thus keeping your home cooler.

Krypton prevents the most heat transfer and can be used in windows where the space between panes is as small as 1/4 inch. However, it is more expensive than argon. Argon can be used in spaces as small as 1/2 inch and comes with a lower price, although it's not quite as efficient in blocking heat as krypton is.

Buying Windows: What to Look For

The federal Energy Star program helps consumers figure out whether a product is energy efficient. If you see windows that have the Energy Star label, that means that they are certified to meet federal guidelines for efficiency.

Another thing to compare between window choices is the U-Factor and SHGC. The U-Factor shows how well a window insulates against heat transfer. SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or how much solar energy transmits through the window. When comparing windows, look for lower numbers in both of these categories.

Low-emissivity coatings come on some new windows and can be applied to existing windows. These coatings block heat transfer. Some low-emissivity coatings are spectrally selective, meaning that they'll allow a full amount of light while blocking up to 70% of heat from coming through the windows.

For more information about choosing energy-efficient window glass for your Broken Arrow home, contact Air Assurance today.

What to Know about HVAC Diffusers

As a responsible homeowner, you're always looking for new and better ways to improve the effectiveness of your HVAC system and save on your utility bills through better efficiency. Today, we thought it'd be a great idea if we explained how the use of HVAC diffusers in various rooms of your home can help you accomplish this.

What a Diffuser Does

When air blows directly out of your ductwork and through a register or grille, it is either being directly pushed out or down. Once installed, an HVAC diffuser will cause the air to spread out evenly in multiple directions, which allows for even distribution. Plus, a diffuser is also beneficial for the reduction of noise with a properly designed system.

Functionality and Decoration

HVAC diffusers not only improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your cooling and heating equipment by spreading air more effectively in a given room, but they also have an attractive appearance, too. These devices come in round, square, rectangular, and linear designs, which makes them a perfect complement to any home.

Difference Between Diffusers and Grille/Registers

There's a somewhat common misconception amongst many homeowners that diffusers function in the same way as grilles and registers. However, while those two latter items are put into place to block objects from entering your ductwork or HVAC system, diffusers are used to evenly distribute the air into a specific area.

Essential Oils as Part of the System

In addition to its primary functionality of air distribution, a diffuser can improve your home's indoor air quality through the use of essential oils. While you may be thinking that all these oils will do is make the air smell nicer, the fact is that they help purify the air, reduce mold, kill harmful contaminants, boost immune systems, and help you relax.

The use of HVAC diffusers can help improve your system's efficiency and save on utility bills. If you have more questions about this or have any other home comfort concerns, reach out to the team of experts at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Will Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Help You Save Money?

When you’re focused on finding ways to save on heating and cooling costs during fluctuating temperatures in Broken Arrow, you might be tempted to close vents in unused rooms throughout your home. While this practice might seem like a sure-fire way to reduce energy costs, the reality is that closing off vents can lead to some unintended consequences.

The following discusses just a few problems related to closing your vents.

Your Energy Costs Could Actually Increase

When you close vents in unused rooms, increased air pressure within the vents might make it more difficult for your HVAC system to blow air into your ducts. Restricted airflow can cause energy efficiency issues similar to clogged air filters.

Extra Strain Can Be Placed on Your HVAC System

If the airflow is restricted to the point that your air conditioner’s coils begin to freeze, the end result could be permanent damage to the compressor. Conversely, low airflow can cause the heat exchanger in your heating unit to overheat or possibly crack.

The Atmosphere in Your Home Could Feel Uncomfortable

The more vents you close, the harder your heater or air conditioner will have to work to keep your house at a comfortable temperature. The added pressure from closing vents will lead to unnecessary energy waste, too.

Mold and Mildew Problems Could Develop

Whenever you close the registers of your heating or air conditioner, lower surface temperatures in unused spaces could allow condensation to occur. This can result in mold and mildew growth behind the air vents within your ducts. If mold and mildew recirculate throughout your home each time you operate your system, it could pose a serious health risk to your indoor air quality and your family. Open your air vents to help keep things nice and dry throughout the system.

Schedule Service Today

From residential to commercial HVAC services, the knowledgeable team at Air Assurance in Broken Arrow covers it all. Whether you’re in need of air conditioning repair, plumbing service, or indoor air quality improvement, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.