Different Types of Plumbing Pipes

For most homeowners, figuring out the plumbing in their homes is a confusing task. You have a wide variety of pipes going in many different directions. What's worse, if you get something wrong when working with your plumbing, you have to deal with water — or worse — spraying everywhere.Knowing a little about the pipes that you're looking at can take some of the confusion out of your plumbing. Here's a list of the most common types of pipes and what they're used for:

• Cast iron pipes. This type of pipe used to be used for drains and vents and is still found in older homes. Cast iron tends to rust easily, but often the rust is just on the surface. Cast iron is a durable material that can last for many years.

• Galvanized steel pipes. Like cast iron, these pipes are found in older homes and were typically used for drains. They have one downside: they don't last as long as some of the other choices available today.

• ABS. This type of pipe is one of the early plastic pipes. ABS pipes are black and used for drains and vents. Because they often came loose at joints, they no longer meet code for new construction in many areas.

• PVC. This type of pipe is the most common type used for drains and vents today. Specific kinds of PVC are usable for supply lines, but it is a good idea to check with your plumbing contractor to make sure you're using a type that meets building codes for your area. PVC is white plastic, extremely durable, lightweight, and inexpensive. They typically have the diameter of the pipe stamped on the side.

• Copper pipes. Typically used for water lines, there's either rigid or flexible copper lines.

• PEX. PEX is a flexible plastic that's used for water lines. It is very versatile and comes in different colors, allowing you to assign different colors of pipe to your hot and cold water lines.

For more answers to your questions about the plumbing in your Broken Arrow-area home, contact Air Assurance today.

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Keep Your Appliance in Tip-Top Shape With Water Heater Maintenance

You may not give your water heater much thought until the shower turns cold, or a repair or replacement is needed. However, the water heater is an important appliance that is used daily in practically every home. Consider these water heater maintenance tips to raise the performance of your system and lower your utility bill.

Water Heater Maintenance

Regular maintenance helps your water heater operate safely and efficiently. When maintaining your system, remember that you're not only dealing with very hot water, but also high pressure. Water heaters have a built-in safety feature called the temperature and pressure (T&P) valve. This device should be checked at least every six months. Here's how:

• Turn off the electricity at the circuit box or turn the gas to pilot.

• Turn off the cold water inlet valve, which is located near the top of the water heater on the side. A pipe may extend from the valve to near the bottom of the water heater.

• Place a bucket beneath the pipe to catch hot water.

• Pull the lever on the valve. Air and hot water should rush out. If it does not, replace the valve.

• If you ever notice the valve dripping water, replace it.

Refer to your owner's manual for flushing the tank. Many manufacturer's suggest flushing the water heater twice a year. This is best left to a professional. In between full tank flushes, perform a mini flush every month. Place a bucket beneath the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and flush about one gallon of water. This helps remove sediment and preserve water heater lining.

Water Heater Efficiency

To help your water heater operate more efficiently, set the temperature to 120 degrees. You may also insulate the inlet and outlet pipes. Newer water heaters are well insulated to curb standby heat loss. If your water heater is warm to the touch, consider installing a blanket or jacket insulation.

If you have questions or would like to schedule water heater maintenance in your Broken Arrow area home, contact Air Assurance today.

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The Importance of Sizing a Geothermal Heat Pump

A geothermal heat pump is an inexpensive, renewable way of heating and cooling your home by using energy from the ground. However, before you invest in a geothermal system, it's important to get the correct size for your space. Otherwise, you could end up wasting energy instead of saving it. Let's look at why sizing a geothermal heat pump is so important, and how to do it properly.

How a Geothermal System Works

No matter what the weather is like outside, the temperature about 10 feet underground is a constant 50 to 60 degrees. A geothermal system buries a loop of pipe beneath the ground, then circulates liquid through it to absorb that heat energy and bring it into the home. During the summer, a geothermal heat pump extracts heat energy from indoor air and uses the ground as a heat-sink to dispose of the unwanted heat. The cool air is the result of this heat extraction.

Problems With Improper Sizing

If you size your system too small, it won't have the capacity to heat or cool the air as it should. It has to work harder to do the job properly, using extra electricity and putting undue stress on system components, which can cause unnecessary damage and ultimately shorten system life.Sizing a geothermal heat pump too large causes problems as well. A system that's too big will cycle on and off too frequently, which also causes damage and uses excess electricity. It also creates a disparity in temperature from one area to the next and can fail to dehumidify the space, making things wet and clammy.

So what size should your geothermal system be? It depends on the size of your home, as well as climate, soil type and other factors. Talk to a professional HVAC contractor, who can measure these factors and make sure your geothermal system and piping loop are the proper size for your home.

For help sizing a geothermal heat pump for your home, contact us at Air Assurance.

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Should You Leave These Heating Equipment Tasks to a Pro?

Taking care of your home's heating system is essential if you want to provide your home with reliable, comfortable heating throughout the winter. This is true whether you use a gas furnace, an electric heat pump or a combustion boiler. As with all HVAC systems, heating equipment maintenance involves a mixture of do-it-yourself steps and professional tasks.

So, how to you know which heating equipment tasks should be left to a professional? Here's a basic explanation:

Do-It-Yourself

• Inspect and change air filters when they get dirty. Make sure to check your filter at least once a month. A clean filter allows for a smooth airflow through your system, keeping damaging dust and debris out of sensitive components. As a result, you'll save money on energy and reduce the chance of breakdowns.

• Seal leaky ducts. If you find loose connections or actual holes or cracks, seal them with duct mastic and metal-backed tape. Then, insulate ducts that run through unconditioned areas, such as your crawlspace or basement.

• Remove obstructions from heating vents and registers. You'll be surprised by how many household objects get shoved atop vents, including rugs, furniture and drapes.

Call a Professional 

• Check ignition and combustion components for fuel-burning furnaces and boilers. All components should be clean, and moving parts should be lubricated.

• With combustion heating systems, your technician should make sure the venting, exhaust and chimney set-up is safe and up to code. Otherwise, you're risking carbon-monoxide poisoning and/or fire.

• Electric wiring and terminals should be assessed for proper connections and operation in heat pumps, furnaces and boiler systems.

• Heat pump systems should be inspected for correct refrigerant level, while indoor and outdoor coils should be cleaned. Airflow should also be checked and adjusted.

• In both furnaces and heat pumps, the condensate drain should be inspected for blockages and cleaned.

For more advice on helpful heating equipment tasks to complete this season, please contact Air Assurance. We serve the Greater Tulsa area.

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HVAC Terms That Are Handy to Know

When speaking with an HVAC professional about your system, you may become confused when they use HVAC terms to describe your system. If you know and understand some of the basic terms that are used in the HVAC industry, you'll be on top of what all the professional terminology means.Here are some of the basic HVAC terms that you'll hear when a heating or air conditioning system is being described.

• HVAC -- (H)eating, (V)entilation and (A)ir (C)onditioning comprises your entire HVAC heating and cooling system.

• BTU -- Describes how much heating capacity your HVAC system has. The higher the BTU rating, the greater its heating ability.

• Ton -- How much cooling capacity your central air conditioning has. Just like a BTU unit, the more tons your air conditioner has, the greater its cooling ability.

• AFUE -- Stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and refers directly to how efficient your furnace is. The higher the AFUE number, the more efficient the system.

• SEER -- The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is how the efficiency of air conditioners is classified. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system.

• MERV Rating -- MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It directly relates to how efficient your HVAC system filter is, and the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient it is at trapping dirt, dust, smoke and pollen particles.

• Off-Grid -- Going "off-grid" means you have your own power source, like solar panels or a windmill, and are able to disconnect from your local utility service provider.

• Energy Star -- A product designation from the Environmental Protection Agency that promises an Energy Star product meets or beats EPA energy efficient guidelines.

If you'd like to know more about HVAC terms and what they mean, contact Air Assurance. We'll answer your questions and provide outstanding service for all of your HVAC needs. Serving the Tulsa metropolitan area for more than 50 years.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).

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Upgrade, Extend Or Add To Your HVAC System For A Second-Story Addition

Are you planning to construct a second-story addition on your house? Have you given thought as to how you will handle its heating and cooling needs? When developing an HVAC system for this new space in your Greater Tulsa Metropolitan home, there are three options available.Professional evaluation is neededThe first thing you must realize is that the choice might not be entirely up to you. Perhaps your current HVAC system isn't capable of delivering conditioned air efficiently to your second-story addition, or maybe the new area is too far from your ductwork. What you'll need to do is have an HVAC professional conduct an energy evaluation. Once that's finished, he'll be able to provide you with a recommendation.Three optionsOne option might be to extend the HVAC system that you already have. This is often the easiest choice, but only if your unit has the capacity to maintain the new space and isn't more than ten years old. Also keep in mind that you will need to make sure your home's ductwork is sealed and insulated throughout.Another possible choice would be to switch out your current system with an upgraded version. Although this might be a bit costly, you'll be able to utilize a more energy-efficient model. This is a common choice when the house's HVAC system is either too old or not powerful enough to handle the heating and cooling requirements of the second-story addition.And finally, you may need to install a stand-alone system, especially if this new space isn't close enough to the ductwork's main trunk. One advantage of this is being able to utilize a different type of system altogether, one that is more energy efficient. For example, you may decide on a hydronic or high-velocity system for this new area. Or you could install a ductless system, which has increased in popularity over the years.For more expert advice about your HVAC system to a second-story addition, or for questions relating to home comfort, please contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We have been serving the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan area 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). Image courtesy of Shutterstock