Preparing Your Thermostat for Cooling Season

With cooling season on the horizon, it's time to prepare your home and thermostat so they're optimized for comfort and energy efficiency. Here's how you can get ready for the coming change in weather and temperature.

Invest in New Thermostat Technology

If you rely on a basic digital control to regulate your home's HVAC system, you'll appreciate the convenience that a programmable thermostat provides. The Department of Energy (DOE) also advises that going programmable can save you up to 10 percent on your yearly HVAC energy consumption. When choosing a new thermostat, look for one that works with your type of HVAC equipment and also meshes with your usual weekly routine.

Prime Your HVAC for Summer Energy Savings

To reap the greatest savings, the DOE recommends programming your thermostat with different temperature adjustments for specific periods each day: lower when you're home and active, and higher when everyone is sleeping or away. These daily temperature adjustments can add up to sizable savings over time, because a one-degree change for eight hours brings a one-percent drop in annual energy consumption. You should also:

• Set the temperature at 78°F when you're at home and active.

• Increase it to 85°F at night and when the house isn't occupied.

• Don't be afraid to experiment to see if you can save more energy with a higher temperature. Do so incrementally, one or two degrees at a time, to avoid causing discomfort or overtaxing your cooling equipment.

• Never use the override function to make a big temperature adjustment in order to cool down the house faster. The cooling process won't speed up, but you can accidentally cool your home too much and end up wasting energy.

• Run your ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner to boost the cooling effect, but only in occupied rooms. With the blades moving counter-clockwise, the fan's air movement cools the skin, which lets you raise the temperature setting by up to four degrees.

For expert help getting your Broken Arrow home ready for the cooling season, contact us at Air Assurance.

Benefits of a Portable A/C

Although it’s hard to match the convenience and comfort of a central air conditioner, sometimes it makes sense to use a portable A/C in junction with it or independently. Over the last few years, portable air conditioners have become more energy efficient and versatile and they may be just what you need in certain situations.

Supplemental Cooling

If you need supplemental cooling in one particular room or area of your home because it’s consistently hotter than the rest, a portable air conditioner might be the best solution. You can use the A/C as a supplemental cooling unit only when you plan to use the areas that are overly warm.You might have a home office or a hobby room that isn’t consistently used. When the air conditioner isn’t in use, you can disconnect the venting hose and tuck the unit into a closet or roll it into a corner.You may also use the cooling unit to make a guest or family member more comfortable. What’s comfortable for one person may not be for another and rather than cooling the whole house down to accommodate their preferred sleeping temperatures, it makes sense to use a portable unit to cool just their bedroom instead.

Dehumidification

One of the newest features a portable A/C may have is a dehumidify-only switch. Being able to remove the humidity without having to cool the room. Humidity increases the "feels like” temperature and by lowering it, you will feel cooler. You can also use this feature in the winter to dry out a damp, clammy basement.

Appearances

Unlike window or wall air conditioners, portable units have small venting requirements that aren’t necessarily visible from the street. When the unit isn’t in use, simply remove the vent and store the A/C. Wall and window A/C units, on the other hand, have an unsightly appearance both indoors and out.

A portable A/C might help you solve some of your cooling and humidity challenges. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Turning on Your Air Conditioner: Steps to Take First

With temperatures getting warmer, it will soon be time for turning on your air conditioner. Before you do so, though, there are certain steps you should take to make sure that it’s ready. Use the following steps to prepare your air conditioner for the summer months, so that your Broken Arrow home can stay as cool as possible.

Replace the Air Filter

The air filter inside your HVAC system has a direct impact on the quality of your indoor air. It also affects how efficiently your HVAC system works. If your system has a dirty filter, it will have to run for longer periods of time and work much harder to cool your home, which increases the risk of repairs. Take time to change the air filter in your HVAC system before turning on your air conditioner for the season. Having a clean air filter helps your cooling system work as efficiently as possible.

Clean Around the Outdoor Unit

If weeds or other debris and vegetation are around your outdoor unit, they can block air from flowing out of it. This leads to excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system, which shortens its lifespan. Make sure that your outdoor unit has a clear space of about a couple of feet around it on all sides.

Check Your Thermostat

Before you use your air conditioner for the season, check the settings on your thermostat. It should be set to “auto” rather than “on,” and you should adjust the temperature as needed. Having the fan turned to “on” means that your system will run constantly. Having it on “auto” means that it will run when it needs to in order to cool your home.

Set Up Routine Maintenance

Schedule preventative maintenance for your HVAC system before you cool your home. This maintenance helps ensure that your air conditioner is in good working condition for the season.If you need maintenance for your air conditioner before you use it, please contact Air Assurance for help. We offer dependable HVAC services for homeowners in the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

What's the Difference Between HVAC and A/C?

If you're like most homeowners, you find HVAC terms confusing, and since some seem interchangeable, it can be hard to know exactly what terminology like “HVAC” and “A/C” really means. Although they're similar, these two terms aren't synonymous, so it's beneficial to know the differences between the two.

Definition of HVAC

The meaning of the term “HVAC” is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Most often, this acronym is used in reference to a home's complete comfort system. A system may be comprised of various heating and cooling components, such as a gas furnace, electric central split air conditioner or heat pump, ductless mini split units, or geothermal heat pump system. The system's ventilation portion often refers to the air circulation/distribution components like the blower unit, ductwork and air filter, but it can also include a whole-house ventilation unit, or an air cleaner unit added to the HVAC system.

What A/C Means

The term “A/C” stands for “air conditioning,” but it's frequently used to describe any type of home cooling equipment, such as a traditional split-system air conditioner or heat pump, mini-split unit, geothermal system, or even a window unit.

Different Types of Equipment Have Different Maintenance Needs

Routine preventive maintenance is the key to keeping any sort of comfort equipment running reliably and efficiently, so all the common components of your HVAC system should be inspected, cleaned and tuned-up by a skilled technician on a twice-yearly basis. Different portions in your home's HVAC system also need specific maintenance tasks performed, such as:

• Cooling equipment: Before cooling season begins, the evaporator and condenser coils should be cleaned, the condensate drain flushed and the refrigerant level checked.

• Heating equipment: Every fall, the gas burner should be cleaned and tested, and the venting system and heat exchanger inspected.

• Ventilation components: With every preventive maintenance visit, your technician should clean and lubricate the blower assembly, check for proper system airflow, and install a fresh air filter.

To learn more about the meaning of different HVAC terms and how they relate to the comfort system in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Name That Tune: What a Humming Air Conditioner Means

All air conditioners make noise as they run, mainly from the blower fans and the compressors. When the dominant sound is a humming air conditioner, odds are, something isn’t working as it should. The most common problems associated with the humming sound include:

Indoor Noises

• When you hear humming sounds from the air handler, it may be caused by a frozen motor. Some blower motors require periodic lubrication to keep their bearings turning smoothly. A lack of oil will seize the bearings and prevent the motor’s shaft from turning. It could conceivably run until it burns out.

• Humming from the breaker box. Whenever you hear humming sounds near the circuit breaker panel, suspect a serious electrical problem and turn off the noisy breaker. If you can’t identify which, turn off the main breaker and contact a licensed electrician immediately.

Outdoors

A humming sound is much more likely to originate in the outdoor condenser and it could be coming from:

• The compressor. This part does the heavy lifting in cooling systems and it could hum or buzz when it’s at the end of its lifetime. It could also indicate an electrical problem involving the compressor.Compressors sit on rubber isolation feet that can wear out or crack. Damaged feet can cause the compressor vibrations to amplify and cause humming sounds.

• Frozen coil. It might seem counterintuitive, but a humming air conditioner may have a frozen coil. Coils freeze when the refrigerant level is too low or they’re too dirty. A frozen coil can do serious damage to a heat pump or A/C should the compressor continue to run.

• Fan problems. The condenser uses a large fan to blow the heat off the hot refrigerant. There could be a problem with its motor or the fan blade, which could be loose or bent.

Whenever you hear a humming air conditioner and it’s not working as it should or the sound is isn’t part of its normal operation, contact the pros at Air Assurance to diagnose and fix it. We proudly provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Things to Avoid When Buying a New Air Conditioner

When buying a new air conditioner, you obviously need to focus on buying a dependable model that won't blow your cooling bills sky high. But other considerations are important, too, including a number of things to avoid when buying a new A/C. Save a lot of time and trouble by following these tips:

Don't allow the A/C contractor to talk you into a certain capacity model without considering the unique factors of your home. A professional air conditioning installer should insist on conducting a cooling load calculation on your home. This involves taking into consideration a range of factors including your home's size and layout, amount of window coverage, energy efficiency (level of air sealing and insulation), building materials, orientation to the afternoon sun, and more. Only when they determine your home's cooling load can they recommend the right-sized A/C.

Don't accept an estimate for a new air conditioner over the phone. The contractor should insist on inspecting your home, and learning about your energy habits, past cooling bills, and other factors that may affect what sort of central A/C is right for your home.

Avoid choosing the cheapest A/C available. While the upfront cost may be affordable, you'll likely be plagued with higher monthly bills years into the future, as well as poor performance and more frequent repair bills. The A/C's service life probably will be shorter than it would have been with a better model. In areas with hot summers, it pays to invest in a higher-efficiency A/C that will provide more cooling at a lower price.

Don't forget about available rebates that might be available from the manufacturer, electric utility or HVAC contractor for purchasing a higher-efficiency air conditioner. Some years the federal government offers tax credits for high-efficiency A/Cs.

Likewise, don't neglect to consider purchasing a maintenance contract that will assure annual professional maintenance for your new air conditioner. A well-maintained A/C will deliver better cooling at a lower price for a longer period of time.

For help choosing the right air conditioner for your Broken Arrow area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about new air conditioner and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Watch Out for These 3 A/C Condensate Drain Problems

You might be surprised to learn that your home's central air conditioning system is more than a cooling system. If it's working properly, it also should also dehumidify your home. As a result of this two-fold function, all that moisture removed from the air has to go someplace. In most systems, the water drains away without any issues, though in some systems, A/C condensate drain problems can arise. Following are some of the most common.

Overflow

In a properly operating A/C drainage system, moisture removed from indoor air during the cooling process will drip from the evaporator coil into a collection pan. It then flows through a condensate drain line to the household sewage drainage system and then out of the house. The collection pan and condensate drain provide a welcoming environment for algae growth. The algae can clog the drain line, resulting in water backing up, overflowing the collection pan and flooding the area around the evaporator coil. This can damage floors, walls, carpets, fixtures and belongings, and the homeowner may not find out about the water backup until it's too late. If your A/C is equipped with an overflow sensor, it will shut down the system until the clog is addressed.

Drain Trap Problems

In most central A/Cs, the condensate drain line has a U-shaped trap, similar to the traps you see in toilet plumbing. Its purpose is to keep sewer gases and fumes from backing up into the house. If you start smelling nasty odors coming from air conditioning supply registers, it could mean a problem with the drain trap. You'll want to call a plumber or A/C technician ASAP.

Mold Growth

Mold spores love the dark, damp area around an A/C's condensate collection pan and drain. From there, mold can make an easy jump into household air during the cooling process. This creates a health hazard for home occupants, especially those with allergies and other respiratory conditions.

To prevent common A/C condensate drain problems, please contact us at Air Assurance to schedule preventive maintenance on your Tulsa area home's cooling system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Mark Hayes/Shutterstock”

Keep Cool and Reduce Humidity in Your Home With These Tips

The first goal of any air conditioning system is to cool the home, but that's not the only thing. Effective residential cooling also requires the ability to reduce humidity. If your home is cool but still damp and clammy, your A/C isn't doing its job. The good news is that every homeowner has available strategies to dehumidify the home. 

Dehumidification Steps for Your Home

The following are a few ways to dehumidify your home:

• Effective ventilation: This is especially important in rooms or areas where activities add moisture to the air, such as bathrooms and the kitchen. Make sure these areas have exhaust fans that are vented to the outside. The last thing you want is for moist air to be redirected back into the house.

• Attic ventilation: A hot, muggy attic can have a negative effect throughout the house. Make sure the attic has the right amount and type of vents, and consider an attic fan. The attic floor should be properly sealed and insulated to separate attic heat and air from the downstairs living spaces.

• Shorter, cooler showers: Those 15-minute, steamy showers may feel good, but they add a lot of moisture to the air that can remain in the bathroom and general area for hours afterward. Along with using the bathroom exhaust fan, take shorter showers that aren't so hot. Install low-flow shower heads to reduce humidity and save water.

• Use the A/C: Most of the time, you can better dehumidify household air with the air conditioner running than by opening windows. A well-maintained, properly sized cooling system is designed to remove moisture from indoor air.

• Get a dehumidifier: For persistent whole-house humidity, you'll need an effective whole-house solution such as a dehumidifier that connects directly to the home's HVAC system.

For more advice on how to remove humidity from your greater Tulsa area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “PJStock/Shutterstock”

Central A/C Features to Keep in Mind When Looking for a New System

Central air conditioners tend to have long life spans of 10 to 15 years on average, but sooner or later, the time comes for A/C replacement. If your cooling system is nearing the end of its days, the following advice can help you understand what central A/C features to look for when you're shopping for a new system.

The Right Size

A system sized too large for a home's cooling load will short cycle, running inefficiently and failing to remove moisture. The home's occupants will feel clammy and need to turn the thermostat down to keep comfortable. A system sized too small will run continuously, straining to meet thermostat settings.Both situations overwork parts and can lead to breakdowns and potential system failures. Get the right size by insisting your contractor use Manual J software to determine cooling load, Manual D software for ductwork, and Manual S to determine the size of the cooling system.

SEER

SEER is an acronym for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The minimum SEER mandated for air conditioners by the Environmental Protection Agency is currently 14 for systems manufactured after Jan. 1, 2015, and 13 for systems manufactured prior. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the equipment, as long as it's sized and installed properly. Use SEER to guide you when comparing similar models.

Quiet Operation

Noisy air conditioners that cycle on with a rumble and a bang are annoying and can interfere with sleep and entertainment. Look for brands and models known for quiet operation, and use consumer ratings and reviews to guide you or ask your contractor for recommendations.

Desirable Features

Modern air conditioners offer a number of convenient and efficient features. Some have a thermal expansion valve to modulate refrigerant flow for greater efficiency, or a variable speed air handler. A fan-only switch allows homeowners to turn on ventilation and reduce A/C use.

For more on central A/C features, contact Air Assurance. We've been providing our Broken Arrow customers quality HVAC service since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “James J. Flanigan/Shutterstock”