How to Best Conserve HVAC Energy

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With winter coming up, your HVAC system will soon be working hard to keep your Broken Arrow home heated. This can lead to high energy bills all winter, but there are ways to prevent this from happening. Read on to find out how you can conserve HVAC energy during winter while having a warm and comfortable home.

Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance

HVAC maintenance helps ensure that your HVAC system is working right. HVAC technicians check for problems with your HVAC system during maintenance visits and take care of any issues that come up. This helps lower the risk of your HVAC system needing major repairs during the winter. With regular HVAC maintenance, your system will also run more efficiently, which means it won’t need to run as often or as long in order to heat your home. Having an efficient HVAC system is a good way to conserve HVAC energy and lower your energy bills.

Switch Your Thermostat

Replace your manual thermostat with a programmable or smart thermostat. These types of thermostats allow you to easily adjust the temperature in your home and have your heating system come on at certain times. With a smart thermostat, you can control your thermostat from anywhere on your smartphone or tablet. Being able to lower the temperature during certain times, such as when you’re out during the day, can help you conserve HVAC energy and save money on your bill.

Replace HVAC Filters

Don’t let your HVAC filters go too long without being changed. Otherwise, your HVAC system will have a harder time heating your home during the winter. Check your HVAC filters each month and replace them with new ones. This helps prevent you from having dusty or dirty HVAC filters in your home.

Prevent Drafts

Drafts of cold air can cause your HVAC system to run more often in order to heat your home. Seal up gaps that can let cold air in during winter and you’ll save energy when it’s cold out.

If you’re ready to schedule HVAC maintenance or you need more advice on how to conserve HVAC energy in your home, please contact Air Assurance.

Let's Debunk Common Geothermal Heating & Cooling Myths

Geothermal heating and cooling is generating substantial interest as more homeowners adopt the ultimate in low-cost and environmentally friendly indoor comfort. Just six feet beneath the earth's surface, temperatures average about 55 degrees. This convenient geological fact, combined with efficient heat pump technology, turns the earth itself into an available energy source for geothermal heating and cooling.

Misunderstandings and myths surround some of the basics of geothermal heating and cooling, however. Here are a few you may hear—plus the actual facts of the matter.

Geothermal Consumes Electricity

The nominal electricity consumed by a geothermal system is utilized only to power the heat pump compressor, circulation pumps and blower. Heat produced by a geothermal system is extracted from the earth by a ground heat exchanger consisting of buried tubes that continuously circulate a heat-absorbing solution. In summer, the system reverses and extracts heat from the home, dispersing it back into the earth through the ground heat exchanger.

Geothermal Requires Lots of Space

In a horizontal installation, tubing can be arranged in loops and “slinky” type configuration to reduce the required square footage. Moreover, heat exchange tubing can also be installed vertically, in a deep bore drilled into the ground. Vertical installations can be adapted to almost any size lot.

Underground Components Degrade

High-density polyethylene tubing utilized for the ground heat exchanger is typically guaranteed for 50 years or more. Because they are not exposed to weather extremes, buried components typically incur less wear and tear than surface components of a conventional A/C system.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Make Noise

All above-ground components of a geothermal system are installed indoors. Because heat is absorbed and dispersed by the buried heat exchanger, there are no noisy coil fans running.

Solar Panels and Wind Generators Are More Efficient

For every unit of energy consumed, a geothermal system returns four units of heating or cooling. Reduction in power demand of a geothermal system is equal to or up to four times greater than solar or wind.

Ask the professionals at Air Assurance for more facts about the advantages of geothermal heating and cooling.

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: “shanesabin/Shutterstock”

Home Advisor's Tips For Oklahoma Homeowners Leads To Energy Savings

How would you like to increase your annual energy savings? By following these tips from Energy Star’s Home Advisor, Oklahoma homeowners in theTulsa area may be able to save an estimated 33 percent in annual energy costs.Suggestions include:

• Sealing air leaks – One of the most cost-effective ways to increase household energy savings is to seal off major air leaks commonly found in attics, basements or crawl spaces. Focus on leaks around wiring, plumbing, and ductwork. For optimal results, consult a professional.

• Duct sealing – With duct leaks responsible for an estimated 20 percent of conditioned air loss, duct sealing should be a priority. While you may be able to seal accessible ducts using mastic or metal tape and use at least R-6 insulation to shield exposed ductwork in unconditioned areas of the home, a professional can access those hard-to-reach areas and ensure that your entire system is properly sealed.

• Insulation – To prevent the unwanted exchange of heat and moisture, adequate insulation should be installed. Generally, residents of theTulsaarea should use R-30 to R-49 insulation for the attic, R-13 to R-19 for the exterior wall frame, and somewhere between R-5 and R-13 for crawlspaces.

• HVAC upgrades – Older heating and cooling components just aren’t as efficient as today’s high-efficiency options. If your HVAC system is nearing ten years old, it may be time for a replacement. To maximize long-term energy savings, look for a minimum 14.5 SEER on air conditioners and a minimum 80 percent AFUE on gas furnaces.

• Programmable thermostats – Take full control of your HVAC energy consumption by pre-programming household temperatures according to your family routine. Conserve energy without sacrificing household comfort.

• Energy Star – Products carrying the Energy Star label are designed to improve household energy savings. Consider over 60 types of Energy Star-qualified products, including water heaters, windows and light bulbs.

Depending on the unique needs of your household, you may be able to significantly increase your annual energy savings by implementing some of the strategies outlined by Energy Star’s Home Advisor. For a more personalized energy assessment, consult one of our trained technicians. Contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Need To Replace An Air Conditioner Quickly? Use These Questions To Get A System In Place Fast

The last thing you need in the heat of an Oklahoma summer is a failed air conditioner. Unfortunately, it can happen, and when it does you need to act quickly to preserve the comfort of your family.Whether you’re currently in need of an air-conditioner replacement or simply thinking ahead, answering certain questions now can help alleviate the hassle of the replacement process:

• How does your current system limit your replacement options? While air-conditioner replacement is usually a seamless process, you must be sure that components such as existing ductwork are compatible with your new system.

• Are you financially prepared for an emergency air conditioner replacement? Replacing a failed system can have a major impact on your budget. Hopefully, you’ve planned ahead for just such a situation; if not, we recommend doing so before it’s too late.

• Do you understand efficiency ratings such as SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio)? An indication of cooling capacity versus seasonal energy consumption, understanding SEER can help guide the decision-making process. If you’re unfamiliar with such terminology, research equipment manuals or refer to our Comfort Blog for help.

• How large should your air conditioning system actually be? Remember, oversized air conditioners are known for improper system cycling. This leads to unnecessary energy consumption and affects household comfort. If you’re upgrading to a high-efficiency system, be sure to ask for personalized load calculation to ensure optimal system performance.

Despite the immediate nature of an emergency air-conditioner replacement, it’s important to find a qualified contractor to properly install your system. Questions to ask potential contractors include:

• Are you licensed and insured in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area?

• How many years have you been in business?

• Can you provide customer references?

• Are your technicians certified by NATE or other nationally recognized organizations?

• Are you Better Business Bureau Accredited? How do you rate in terms of customer satisfaction?

With more than 30 years of service in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow area, we can assure you that our NATE-certified technicians will provide the expertise and quality of service that you expect and deserve. For more information on how to best handle an air-conditioner replacement, contact Air Assurance Heating & Air Conditioning today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Take A Whole-House Look At Energy Savings With This Online Tool

If you’re a homeowner, you are already familiar with the time-consuming, often stressful demands of home ownership. There’s lawn care and upgrading the kitchen to increase the home’s value. Yes, there are lots of perks too, like privacy and building equity; however, the money and energy that it takes to maintain and increase that investment is often overwhelming. Utility bills are an all-to-familiar concern for homeowners.Homeowners can do lots of things to increase energy savings. Without a complete picture of where your home stands on energy consumption, taking a stab at one area, such as insulation, might prove futile in light of other concerns. That’s where Energy Star’s online tool helps. The Home Energy Yardstick: What’s Your Score? tool helps homeowners do just that: you get a big picture view of areas that impact your home’s energy consumption and information on how to increase energy savings in each one.After entering your home’s square footage and energy consumption for the past year, Energy Star provides a score on their yardstick. Depending on your score, the program lists nine possible areas for improvement. You'll also get an overview of your home’s energy efficiency.Homeowners will appreciate the specific suggestions Energy Star provides for each area. For example, you can learn about the importance of sealing air leaks. Using the insulation guide might reveal that insulation is more of a problem in your home than leaky windows and ducts. You can then focus on priority issues first to get the most energy savings.Take a whole-house view of how your home uses energy, and use Energy Star’s tool to find out the areas that have the greatest potential return in energy savings. Of course, an online tool can't replace real advice from a company that knows your neighborhood. Air Assurance wants to be your partner in home comfort and energy savings, so call us if we can help.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.