When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Technician as Opposed to DIY

Do Not Display

Air Conditioner Not Cooling - Tulsa, OK

If heating or cooling problems strike, should you call in a HVAC technician or rely on your own do-it-yourself skills? Changing the system air filter according to the manufacturer's recommendations and keeping the outdoor AC clear of weeds and other obstructions is definitely DIY. However, any other diagnosis and repair of furnaces or air conditioners is a job that’s best left to a qualified HVAC technician with the proper training, experience, and professional certification.

Read on to learn some reasons why “don’t do it yourself” is almost always the best recourse when heating or cooling issues arise.

It Can Be Dangerous

HVAC systems present serious potential hazards to the inexperienced nonprofessional, including:

• Furnaces use flammable, toxic natural gas and develop extremely high temperatures that may result in explosion or fire. The furnace combustion process also produces hazardous byproducts, including deadly carbon monoxide.

• Central air conditioners circulate toxic refrigerant under pressure. EPA certification is required to handle or use these substances. The powerful AC compressor and associated components utilize a high-voltage, hardwired electrical circuit that should not be accessed by persons without proper training.

Not Using an HVAC Technician Will Void the Warranty

The terms of HVAC manufacturers' warranties specify that repair work must be performed by certified HVAC contractors and technicians only. Doing it yourself will invalidate warranty coverage, and you will be responsible for any and all costs incurred as a result.

You’re Not Equipped

Diagnosing and repairing today’s HVAC units requires more than what’s in the typical homeowner’s toolbox. Advanced technology and precise, specialized tools are required to get the job done efficiently and safely.

It Will Cost You More

Another potential casualty of DIY work on HVAC equipment is the unit's energy-efficiency rating. Amateur adjustments or repairs on a furnace or AC may degrade efficiency and result in higher monthly electrical or gas bills for as long as the unit is installed.

For a qualified HVAC technician with recognized industry certification to resolve any issues with your heating and cooling components, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

Questions to Ask During an HVAC System Estimate

If you're planning to update your home's HVAC equipment, you'll likely research reputable local contractors and get estimates from at least three. Before you obtain an HVAC system estimate, ask each contractor the following questions to help judge their industry knowledge, installation expertise and service quality:

How Do You Size New Equipment?

To ensure that the new equipment capacity matches your home's square footage and characteristics, a skilled HVAC contractor will advise you that they'll do a load calculation with Manual J, then select the right equipment using Manual S.

Will My Duct System Need an Upgrade?

Your existing ductwork has a big impact on how well your new equipment performs and your comfort. Experienced HVAC pros know this, so they will tell you they thoroughly inspect the installed ductwork to determine if its design and condition is up to par, based on Manual D guidelines.

Should I Compare Efficiency Ratings?

When you're getting an estimate for new HVAC equipment, a good contractor should willingly provide you with information on the upfront and lifetime costs of models at different efficiency levels. If you ask, a dependable HVAC pro will help you weigh your options to decide if you should invest in higher-rated equipment that gives you long-term savings on energy.

Do You Offer Preventive Maintenance Agreements?

Trustworthy HVAC contractors don't just install new equipment, they also offer expert preventive maintenance and repair services to keep your system working efficiently and reliably. An installer worth hiring should offer extended service protection plans that cover semi-annual planned maintenance, priority service, and savings on parts, labor and after-hours and weekend emergency assistance.

Are There Financing Options Available?

Well-established HVAC companies understand that new equipment is a major purchase for most homeowners, so they team with reputable local financial institutions to provide a range of financing options for their customers. If you ask about financing, you should expect your HVAC installer to give you good alternatives along with advice on how to apply.

When you need a customized HVAC system estimate on new equipment for 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 HVAC systems and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Key Qualities to Look For in an HVAC Technician

Hiring an HVAC technician is a task that must be done with care. After all, you are trusting this person to complete repairs, service and/or installations that can affect the safety and comfort of your home and family. So what should you look for as you make that choice? A company that employs HVAC technicians with the following key qualities:

Strong technical and mechanical knowledge and skills

A great HVAC technician will have extensive understanding of and experience with HVAC systems and controls, testing equipment, technical data and troubleshooting procedures, as well as the mechanical skills to repair, install, assemble, disassemble and program these systems as necessary for safe, efficient operations. Look for HVAC technicians that hold licenses and certifications in their field to ensure this level of knowledge and skill.

Excellent communication and customer service skills

Good HVAC technicians must be able to interact smoothly with homeowners and building managers in order to do their jobs effectively. That means having strong listening skills as well as the ability to explain technical/mechanical information in plain language. Additionally, they must be patient in answering clients' questions and concerns, and respectful of those clients and their homes.

Strong knowledge of and compliance with safety standards

HVAC technicians work with a variety of elements that can be dangerous if not handled appropriately, including natural gas, electricity and coolants, among others, so a great HVAC technician will be well trained in and observant of safety standards in all workplace situations.

Motivated to pursue continued training on new systems, technologies and standards

Equipment, technology and standards are always changing, becoming more advanced, efficient and complex every year. A great HVAC technician knows that keeping up-to-date through continued education is essential to maintaining top performance in his or her field.

If you still have questions about what to look for in a good HVAC technician, please feel free to contact Air Assurance, we're always happy to help. Our extensively-trained, highly-skilled and NATE-certified HVAC professionals have been serving homeowners throughout the Broken Arrow area for more than 30 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). For more information about HVAC technicians and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “OpenClipart-Vectors/Pixabay”

HVAC Terms Every Oklahoma Homeowner Should Know

HVAC technicians go through years of training because there’s so much knowledge to take in. It’s not practical to expect the average Oklahoma homeowner to have all this information. However, Air Assurance has some terms that can give consumers a great advantage in finding the best equipment, service and savings.AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s a measurement for a furnace’s efficiency. AFUE percentages rate how much heat the furnace produces compared to how much energy it takes to operate. A high efficiency furnace with an AFUE of 95 percent converts 95 percent of the fuel it consumes into usable heat.  So in simple terms, for every dollar you pay the gas company to heat your home, $.95 cents is actually getting into the home while only $.05 cents is wasted.  A unit that is over 20 years old is typically rated around 60 AFUE.  This means that $.40 cents of every dollar is wasted through flu venting, pilot lights, insulation of the furnace cabinet, or thicker heat exchangers that trap the heat longer.SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER measures the efficiency of air conditioners. It is similar to AFUE in that it measures how much cool air the units produce against how much energy they consume. High efficiency air conditioners with SEERs from around 16 to 23 get great “miles per gallon.”  A system that is 20 years old is typically rated around 6 SEER. The minimum manufactured SEER rating today is 13.  This could equal nearly 40% in cooling savings annually!MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This measurement applies to air filters. A high MERV rating means the filter traps more particles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a MERV 13 is ideal, as it can trap many airborne particles and allergens.Higher MERV filters are more restrictive, and can inhibit airflow in your system. This can strain your equipment, so before running right out for a high MERV, be sure to get the advice of a qualified technician who can match a filter to your system.  Note: Interesting point, Merv ratings are not governed, therefore each manufacturer can claim different Merv ratings according to different variables such as slower air flow, particle size, etc. Air Assurance has done the testing on all the filters available which is why they recommend the filters they do.  This is also the reason our technicians carry our own Clean-Climate Filters.  Built to our specs according to the most efficient air flow and particulate cleaning possible without harming your system.NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. NATE is a third-party, non-profit organization providing testing and certification to HVAC technicians nationwide. The tests cover areas of the HVAC field, such as heat pumps, air distribution and air conditioning. When you work with a certified NATE technician you can be sure the service is up to national standards, and that you’re not taking chances with your contractor.  Air Assurance was the first company in the country to offer their customers 100% NATE certified technicians.Understanding these four terms can help you make an educated decision on equipment and contractors, so you’ll be sure to get the most “bang for your buck.” Call Air Assurance if you have more HVAC questions. We’re happy to help!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.