What Are the Pros and Cons of Ductless Mini-Splits?

You need a new HVAC system. The typical option is an AC or furnace, but that's not right for every home. Maybe you'd be better suited to a ductless mini-split. Here are some of the pros and cons of ductless mini-splits for home comfort.

Pros

The main advantage to mini-splits is their efficiency. They run on electricity, which allows the most efficient models to have SEER ratings up to 30. The most efficient AC, on the other hand, has a SEER rating of around 25.

That efficiency is compounded by the fact that mini-splits don't lose energy through ductwork. Holes and other damage to your ducts can cause energy loss in your home averaging 30%. Ductless systems don't have that problem, and they deliver all the air directly to you with no loss.

Finally, mini-splits provide zone control. While smaller systems are designed for a single room, larger ones include multiple units, which can be placed in rooms around the house. Each unit has its own thermostat and can be adjusted according to that room's needs — and the occupants' preferences — without disturbing the rest of the house.

Cons

While it's true mini-splits are efficient, they're also expensive. They cost much more to purchase and install than traditional HVAC units. You can make that money back over time through energy savings, but it's definitely a long-term investment, and not everyone can afford that initial cost.

Another problem is IAQ. Ductless mini-split air filters aren't as efficient as regular furnace and AC filters, and they won't eliminate as many contaminants. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, it might be a good idea to supplement your mini-split with an air purifier.

Ductless mini-splits aren't suited to every home. In the right situation, however, they can be a real asset in terms of comfort, savings, and other advantages. Talk to your HVAC contractor to see if a mini-split is the right option for your needs.

To learn more about ductless mini-splits and other heating and cooling options, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve all of Broken Arrow's home-comfort needs.

Are Your Ducts Tight Enough to Keep Heat Inside Your Home?

Most people know how to locate their furnace. Fewer people know where to find heating ducts or how to tell if they are working properly. Unfortunately, without basic knowledge about the HVAC system, recognizing problems can be difficult. Here are some signs that your ducts could be in need of routine care or repairs:

• Uneven heating or cooling

• Unexpected increases in heating costs

• Frequent shaking or rattling noises

• High-pitched or "whooshing" sound

When the HVAC system is working properly, cool air is brought to the furnace to be heated, then the warmed air is sent back through tight ducts to heat your home. However, if air is having trouble moving through the ductwork, the problems may be caused by blocked ducts. Blocked ductwork can also cause noises or create hot and cold spots. Leaks also make it hard to warm your home evenly.

If you suspect problems, first check that none of the registers are blocked by furniture, then move on to looking for a solution to your heating problems. While you can compare temperatures in different areas of the house or other very basic tests, a technician is required to perform most tests. HVAC experts look for air leaks, determine whether the ducts are the correct size for your living space, and check to see if you have tight ducts or if they need repair.Many people believe that repairs can easily be done with duct tape, but this does not give secure results. For reliable, long lasting repairs, a technician should always be consulted. Professionals replace unusable segments of ductwork and use high quality, durable supplies such as sheet metal screws, mastic, joint collars, metal tape, and fiberglass to repair less seriously damaged parts of the ductwork.

Air Assurance has been taking care of HVAC systems in homes and businesses in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma since 1985. If you have any concerns about whether your tight ducts will keep you warm this winter, call us today!

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: “Kichigin/Shutterstock”

Keep Your Attic Ducts Free of Costly Leaks

According to Energy Star, leaky and poorly designed ducts account for as much as 30 percent of the energy lost in the average home. If you experience uneven temperatures in your home, or hear rattling noises caused by loose ducts, make sure to find and seal them so you can save more energy dollars and increase your home comfort.

Finding Attic Duct Leaks

Most attics are inhospitable, so make sure to dress appropriately by wearing goggles and a hard hat. For a basic duct leak evaluation, you only need a few simple tools: a flashlight, a grease pencil and a smoke pencil or incense stick. Here's what needs to be done:

• Turn on the HVAC system.

• Mark air leaks with a grease pencil.

• If your ducts are insulated, look for dirt streaks, which are a sign of air leaks.

• Inspect your ducts for obvious holes, damage, tangled ducts, disconnected ducts and loose ducts.

• Use the smoke pencil or incense stick to find smaller holes. Hold the smoke pencil or incense at each duct connection. If the smoke swirls, you’ve found a leak. Mark it with the grease pencil.

If your HVAC professional is evaluating your attic ducts, specialized equipment is used. A blower door test pressurizes your ducts to detect leaks, and airflow is measured across the blower (i.e. pressure drop). If you want the best duct sealing, or if you're upgrading your HVAC equipment, it’s wise to bring in the pros.

Sealing Duct Leaks

Sealing air ducts can be fairly simple, or get pretty messy. It depends how air-tight you want your ducts to be. At the very least, use foil-backed tape to wrap duct joints. For the best seal, use mastic paste first. Simply apply the paste with your gloved hands or a paintbrush. Wait a day to let it dry, and then wrap each area with the foil-backed tape.

For more information about locating and sealing leaks in your Broken Arrow or Tulsa home, contact 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: “Kichigin/Shutterstock”

Find Out How Sealing Your Ducts Can Save More Energy

Homes with forced-air heating and air conditioning systems use ductwork to distribute conditioned air. Unfortunately, a quarter to a third of heated and cooled air is commonly lost through leaks in the ductwork. Sealing your ducts can create obvious benefits in terms of greater comfort, higher efficiency and utility savings.

Why do ducts leak? For most of us who have never seen our ductwork, it's good to understand what's going on.

Poor Installation or Repair

The primary cause of leaking ductwork is poor installation. Joints, seams and fittings can and do fall apart. What's more, an unbalanced system can create high or low pressure that exacerbates this problem.Repairing or sealing with so-called duct tape is another issue. Duct tape deteriorates over time, particularly given the conditions that can prevail in a home's attic, crawlspace, garage or basement, where ducts are usually located. Mastic sealant or foil tape should be used instead. If your ductwork lies in an unconditioned area, consider wrapping ducts with insulation.

Leaks can occur anywhere, including where the main air supply meets the air handler, connections between bends and the main duct line and from smaller branches at the main supply line.

Benefits of Sealing Ducts

• Comfort. Your HVAC system will not have to work as hard to provide you with efficient heating or cooling if ducts are well sealed.

• Utility savings. Obviously, if your HVAC system isn't working as hard, the lower costs will be reflected on your bill.

• Efficiency. If you've invested in newer, more efficient equipment, you'll want to get the most out of them. Make your system even more efficient by preventing conditioned air from leaking into the attic, basement, crawlspace and garage.

• Better air quality. Sealing ducts can reduce the amount of pollutants circulating in your system.

• Reduced fossil fuel consumption. By reducing your use of fossil fuels, you're contributing less to carbon emissions.

For more information about sealing your ducts, contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow. We've been serving the Tulsa 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Silroby80/Shutterstock”

After The Long, Hot Summer, Seal Air Leaks And Save This Winter

With the winter months around the corner you will want to keep your home as energy efficient as possible. One way to do this is to seal air leaks around your home and keep warm air inside. Not only does this create a more comfortable environment, it will save you money on your heating costs. Some air leaks are obvious and present at the usual problem areas, like window and door frames. You can easily seal air leaks in these areas yourself with caulk or weatherstripping which can be purchased at your local home improvement store. When purchasing caulk, make sure you select the correct formula for either indoor or outdoor application. You will also want to measure the length and width of weatherstripping to ensure that you get a good seal when replacing.Less obvious air leaks are found around outdoor water faucets, air vents and ducts, electrical outlets, and outlets for cable and telephone lines. Make sure you check these areas, and create an airtight seal to keep the warmth in and the cold out.If you have a home with a forced-air heating and cooling system you will also want to check ducts for leaks. Some of the ducts may be in the walls or floors making them difficult to access; however, you can check ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces and garages. You can seal air leaks with duct sealant and wrap ducts with additional insulation, especially if they are in areas that are not climate controlled for increased energy efficiency.If you are concerned that you have several small leaks or the repairs will be overwhelming, you should contact a heating and cooling professional to run an energy audit and conduct a blower door test. The blower door test will depressurize the home and detect the majority of small leaks. The energy audit will also let you know if areas of your home require additional insulation to assist in maintaining comfortable temperatures and reduce energy consumption.For more information on how to seal air leaks and create a more energy-efficient home, contact Air Assurance. We serve 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).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock