Is It Time to Buy a New Furnace for Your Home This Winter?

If you don't pay much attention to your furnace, you may not realize it needs replacement until it's too late and inconvenient. Your furnace will give some warning signs that your furnace may be approaching the end of its life span. Here's how to know when it may be time to invest in a new furnace.

Old Age

Furnaces generally last between 15 and 30 years. If your furnace is more than 15 years old and giving you trouble, it could be reaching the end of its service life. You may need to replace it in the near future.

Higher Energy Bills

A unit with one foot out the door will operate less efficiently. It will use more energy to heat your house, resulting in higher energy bills than usual.

Frequent Repairs

Furnaces usually need more frequent and costly repairs in the last years of their lives. If your old furnace has required multiple repairs recently, it may be time to replace it.

Loud, Strange Noises

A furnace making loud, unusual noises should be a cause for concern. Noises such as clicking, rattling, popping, bumping, and banging could indicate that your furnace needs repair or even that it's time for a new furnace.

Yellow Flame

The pilot flame can give you an idea of the condition of your furnace. For a functional, efficient furnace, the pilot flame will be clean and bright blue. A yellow flame is a sign that the furnace isn't burning off the gas that's entering it as cleanly as it should. A weak yellow flame could indicate that the gas isn't burning out or there's improper ventilation. You'll need to have the furnace checked as soon as possible.

Uneven Heating

Furnaces can lose the ability to deliver heat evenly to an entire home as they age, especially if they've lasted longer than 15 years. If some rooms are toasty while others are chilly, your furnace could be nearing the end of its life.

If your heating unit no longer works as efficiently as it used to, it may be time to get a new furnace. If you're unsure whether you need a new furnace, you could contact an HVAC professional for help. If you're in the Broken Arrow area, don't hesitate to contact Air Assurance for assistance with all your furnace replacement, installation, repair, and maintenance needs.

How to Care for Your Furnace When It's Dormant

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Most households stop using their furnace once the spring season arrives because they simply don't need it anymore. However, you still want to care for the unit and prepare it before the winter season so that when the weather gets cold again, the system is operating properly. Here are a few furnace-care tips that you should follow:

Hire an HVAC Technician

The first thing to remember about keeping any type of HVAC equipment running smoothly is to have it checked out by a professional technician at least once every year. The warmer months are the perfect time to have your furnace maintenance scheduled, because the techs won't be busy with those types of requests.

Test It Out Periodically

The last thing you want is to turn on the furnace at the beginning of the cold season only to find that it's probably not been working for a while. Test it out by letting the system run periodically to see if it seems to be functioning properly, especially as you get closer to the winter months.

Clean or Replace the Air filter

It's always best that you check your furnace's air filter once per month, but there's a good chance that you didn't take a look at it when the winter season ended. To make sure you're ready for the next winter season, check to see if the filter is filled up and then either clean or replace it if that's the case.

Remove All Obstructions

Since you won't be using the furnace for a while, you and other household members may get a little careless with regard to placing obstructions near the equipment, which can impede its operation and act as a fire hazard. Before you turn the system on again, be sure to remove anything that's been placed close to the unit.

As you can see, proper furnace care doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort. If you would like more tips or need service for your home or business, the experts at Air Assurance can assist you. We've been serving the needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

What to Do If Your Home Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

Few things can make life in your Broken Arrow home more frustrating and uncomfortable in the winter than a furnace that's blowing cold air. Several issues could cause your furnace to act up in this way. Keep reading to learn more about these issues with cold air and what you can do to restore normal functioning to your furnace.

Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat is set to "On" rather than "Auto," the furnace fan will run continuously, including when your furnace isn't producing heat. As a result, the system may circulate cool air between the heating cycles. Change the thermostat fan setting to "Auto" to ensure that the blower runs only during the heating cycles.

Clogged Air Filter

An air filter clogged with airborne pollutants restricts airflow and can lead to overheating and short-cycling of the furnace. If your furnace is blowing cold air and your thermostat has been set correctly, you may need to remove and clean (or replace) your filter.

The Pilot Light Has Gone Out

If your gas furnace has a pilot light and is blowing cold air, the reason could be that the pilot light has gone out. If you've set your thermostat correctly and see that there's no flame when you check the pilot light assembly, you'll need to relight the pilot flame. Furnace instruction kits usually have details on how to check and relight the pilot light.

Flame-Sensor Problems

A flame sensor that's worn out or covered in dust, dirt, and grime will make your furnace shut off because of its inability to detect the burner flame correctly. Cleaning the flame sensor may solve the issue. You may also need to have the sensor replaced.

Leaky Ductwork

Cracks and holes will allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter your ductwork and be circulated throughout your home. Duct sealing will eliminate these leaks.

Clogged Condensate Drain Lines

The latest furnace models have condensate lines to help remove excess moisture. Your furnace may not work properly if there's a blockage in the lines. It's best to have an HVAC professional clean clogged furnace-drain lines.

If your furnace is blowing cold air despite your best efforts to rectify the issue, don't hesitate to contact an HVAC professional. Don't forget that furnace maintenance will help you avoid this and many other problems. Contact Air Assurance if you need furnace installation, repair, or maintenance in the Broken Arrow area.

Buying a New Furnace? Here’s What You Should Know.

Having a reliable and efficient furnace can help ensure that your Broken Arrow home stays cool and your energy bills stay low. When you plan on buying a new furnace, how do you know what to get? Consider the following factors when choosing a furnace for your home.

Energy Efficiency

Look for a furnace that offers high efficiency, which will help keep your energy usage and bills low. Furnaces that use gas, oil, or propane have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings that tell you how efficient they are. You can also check the EnergyGuide label on furnaces to learn more about their energy efficiency.

Furnace Size

This refers to heating capacity rather than the actual physical size of the furnace. An HVAC expert can determine the right-size furnace for your home to make sure you get enough heat based on your home's size and other factors.

Furnace Type

You can choose from electric, gas, oil, or propane furnaces. Although it’s easier to stick with the same type as your current furnace, you can have a different type installed if you desire. For example, you can switch from a gas furnace to an electric furnace.

Blower Type

Single-speed, multispeed, and variable-speed blower types are available. Variable-speed furnaces offer the highest amount of efficiency. Single-speed blowers are on or off, while multispeed blowers run on low, medium, or high.

Burner Type

Single-stage, two-stage, and modulating burners are your options when purchasing a new furnace. Modulating burners offer the most efficiency. This type can adjust levels from off to high. Single-stage burners are either on or off, while dual-stage burners can run on low or high.

Budget

When choosing a new furnace, consider your budget. In general, electric furnaces have lower installation costs and tend to cost less upfront than natural gas furnaces. However, gas furnaces tend to generate less-expensive heating bills than electric furnaces do.

If you’re ready to choose a new furnace and schedule installation, please contact Air Assurance. Our HVAC experts can help you select the right furnace for your home.

Why Is There Sometimes Furnace Leakage in Your Home?

If you notice a puddle of water forming around your furnace, you probably have furnace leakage. There are several reasons why your furnace may leak water. What you should do to remedy the issue varies from one situation to another. Noted below are the common reasons for furnace leakage, along with their solutions.

Blocked Drain Line

A high-efficiency furnace creates condensation when releasing exhaust gases. The condensation drains into either a floor drain or a condensate pump. A clogged drain line can make the condensate back up and create a furnace leak. A professional can inspect and clean out the drain line. Meanwhile, consider wrapping a rag around the drain line's end and sweeping out anything blocking it.

Malfunctioning Condensate Pump

Condensate pumps mostly last between three and five years. After this period, they may fail to function optimally. A malfunctioning pump may make the water back up, potentially resulting in furnace leakage. You'll need to schedule a professional furnace inspection.

Dirty Filter

When your filter plugs up, your furnace is forced to work harder to push heated air to different areas of your home. Condensation buildup may occur around the filter and eventually leak onto the floor. You'll need to clean or replace the filter.

Issues with the Secondary Heat Exchanger

High-efficiency furnaces have secondary heat exchangers. The flue or exhaust gas undergoes additional heat exchange here, forming water vapor. A problem with the secondary heat exchanger, such as a calcium carbonate clog, can cause increased condensation on the floor below. A professional will have to inspect the heat exchanger.

Vent Pipe Blockage

Clogs in the vent pipe that leads outside can cause a furnace leak. Fixing the problem will require the assistance of a trained HVAC technician.

Ignoring a furnace leak could lead to bigger problems, such as mold growth, health problems, and property damage. If you need help fixing furnace leakage or any other HVAC issue in the Broken Arrow area, don't hesitate to contact the trained professionals at Air Assurance.

5 Reasons You Need An Annual Furnace Tune-Up - Air Assurance

Top 5 Reasons for Furnace Maintenance Tune Up

Top 5 Reasons to schedule your annual furnace service with Air Assurance and stay ahead of any seasonal breakdowns. Neglect is the number #1 reason why mechanical system fail.

Energy Savings - With the system clean, filter changed, gas pressures set correctly….it can mean the difference in your comfort and the performance on your utility savings during the fall and winter months.

Safe Operation - AC clean and check service is all about efficiencies. But the furnace check is all about safety. Safety from fire. Safety from Carbon Monoxide potentials and more.

Early Detection - You don’t wait until you have a flat tire on the highway to buy new tires right? When you notice the tread wearing and the tire becoming bald it affects performance. Stay ahead of any potential break downs this season.

Optimize Performance - Our technicians will use a combustion analyzer to determine how efficient you furnace is operating….and we can make adjustments to make sure you get the best performance.

Peace of Mind - We check over 25 items during our heating and furnace check to give you comfort and peace of mind.

Call Air Assurance to inquire or schedule your AC or Furnace clean and check maintenance service today!

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Furnace Maintenance

The furnace burner is the heart of your central heating system. It’s the component that mixes air with natural gas and produces a clean-burning, high-temperature flame that generates heat for the whole house. A clean, intact furnace burner also ensures maximum fuel efficiency and low operating costs while minimizing the amount of combustion byproducts, including dangerous carbon monoxide. Here are some details about the process:

The Burner Cycle

In a typical gas-fired furnace, heating and burner operation are divided into several stages:

• Signaling for Heat. When the household temperature drops below the thermostat setting, the furnace receives a signal to initiate heating from the system thermostat.

• Fuel Delivery. The furnace fuel valve opens to start the flow of natural gas to the burner. At the same time, air from the furnace air intake blends with gas flow to provide the right mixture for clean, safe ignition and combustion.

• Ignition. The mixture of natural gas and air is ignited at the burner. Ignition may be provided by a pilot light — a small flame that runs continuously — or, more commonly in newer furnaces, by an electric igniter that produces a spark.

• Heat Transfer. Heat produced by the burner enclosed within the combustion chamber is added to the HVAC system's airflow by the heat exchanger. This vital component incorporates air passages to transfer heat efficiently to the airflow while sealing out dangerous gases.

• Heated Air Circulation. Heated air is pulled into the ductwork by the system blower and distributed throughout the house and into each individual room through supply air vents.

• Burner Shutdown. When household temperatures reach the desired setting, the thermostat sends a signal to shut off gas flow until temperatures drop again and the heating cycle repeats.

Furnace Burner Maintenance

Checking the burner is a critical part of annual furnace maintenance by a qualified HVAC contractor. The technician can verify proper burner operation by sampling and analyzing combustion gases. The burner in a gas furnace may require professional cleaning at intervals to support efficient and safe operation. 

For more about furnace burner operation and annual professional furnace maintenance, contact Air Assurance.