What Local Laws Can Help You Save Money on Your AC Bill?

With hot temperatures throughout the summer in the Broken Arrow area, having air conditioning in your home is essential. One drawback to having central air is that it can cost a lot in terms of your energy bills. Local money-saving laws and a few other tips can help you lower the cost of cooling your home this summer.

R-22 or HCFC-22 Laws

If you have an older air conditioning system that still uses R-22 or HCFC-22 — also known as freon — keep in mind that these use a lot of energy. Throughout the United States, this type of refrigerant is being phased out gradually. With these phaseout laws in place, this is a good time to consider switching to a new AC system. In addition to using less energy to cool your home, you’ll also have an easier time having repairs made if needed. Although the phaseout laws don’t require you to buy a newer AC system that doesn’t use R-22 or HCFC-22, you can save considerable money on your energy bills.

Local Money-Saving Laws

In the Broken Arrow area, Power Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) offers ways to save money and energy. PSO has several instant rebates available for homeowners who have certain upgrades done, such as purchasing an eligible energy-efficient HVAC system. Homeowners can save up to $800 with this type of upgrade — or even more money when two or more qualifying upgrades are done. Air Assurance is among the service providers that can help you qualify for these HVAC upgrades.

Tips for Reducing Energy Usage

You can also save money on energy bills this summer by scheduling routine HVAC maintenance, which keeps your AC working efficiently. Using a programmable thermostat, changing your air filters, and turning your thermostat up a few (or more) degrees are other ways to lower the cost of cooling your home during the summer months.

If you’re looking for more ways to save money on cooling your Broken Arrow home, contact Air Assurance today.

Saving on Energy Bills This Summer

Summer will be heating up all too soon in Broken Arrow, and that means turning on the air conditioner and watching your utility bills go up. Fortunately, modern air conditioners are more efficient than ever before. You can save by replacing your old electricity sapper with a new, high-SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) model.But along with replacing old equipment, here are some additional ideas for summer savings:

Efficient Ideas for Summer Savings

1. Install ceiling fans. If you don't already have ceiling fans, install them. Make sure blades are reversible. In the summer, run the fan blades counterclockwise to help lift warm air to the ceiling and disperse the cold air from the A/C around the room. In the winter, run the blades the opposite direction to push heat downwards. Ceiling fans won't make the temperature cooler, but the home's occupants will feel cooler as the air moves over the skin and perspiration evaporates.

2. Keep your air filter changed. Don't push the use of that air filter beyond what the manufacturer recommends. You won't be saving money, but you are probably causing your air conditioner to run inefficiently with a dirty filter that is slowing down air flow.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. To be sure, the programmable thermostat will not make your home more efficient unless you adhere to the schedule you program, but if you abide by an energy-saving schedule, you will save. Turn the thermostat down at least five degrees when the home's occupants are sleeping or away from home.

4. Keep the sunlight out. Draw shades, drapes and blinds to keep passive solar energy out of the home.

5. Keep a lid on humidity. High humidity can make you feel warmer in the summer. Reduce humidity by doing the following:

• Take shorter showers

• Put all indoor plants in one room

• Install bathroom and range hood exhaust ventilation

• Fix leaks as soon as you find them

To learn more about summer savings through efficiency, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding 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 saving money and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “gc1366/Pixabay”

These Small Changes Could Mean Big Savings

We're always looking for ways to save money. One great way to do that this summer is to make some small changes in the way you approach efficiency in your home. It's not just about buying a more efficient system — although that's certainly one major step you can take to save on your utility bills — but also about taking a more organic, whole-house approach to cutting back on energy use.

Tips for Cutting Back on Energy Use

1. Keep conditioned air in and unconditioned air out. Air leaks are one of the main ways your air conditioning dollars are wasted. Every home has them, but some have more than others. Perform your own energy audit by walking around your home, waving either a lit candle or incense stick in front of windows and doors and any openings from the exterior (wires, cables and pipes) to see if the smoke wavers. If so, you have a leak. Seal them with weatherstripping, caulk or insulation.

2. Make sure your system is running at its peak. The best way to do this is to schedule spring maintenance. Your HVAC tech will test the refrigerant level, inspect for parts that may be wearing out and require replacement, or places where conditioned air may be leaking out.

3. Change the air filter regularly. Be sure to change your air filter regularly. A dirty filter will slow down the system's air flow, causing it to run less efficiently, and perhaps even damaging parts. A clean air filter will also help your A/C dehumidify the home better. Higher humidity levels in the summer make you feel warmer, so it's important keep the relative humidity well below 50 percent.

4. If your home is too humid (a hygrometer can tell you), you can lower it by installing a whole-house dehumidifier.

5. Install ceiling fans. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise in the summer to feel cooler as the breeze passes over your skin.

To learn more small changes that will help you save on energy, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. We've served our customers 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). For more information about saving money and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ouacws/Pixabay”

Duct Sealing is Important to Maintain Efficiency in Your Home

When homeowners think about HVAC maintenance, it’s usually the obvious things like changing the air filter or cleaning your main appliances. The ductwork on the other hand, is out of sight for the most part and often neglected. Ducts can develop serious air leaks which will cost you both money and comfort.

Air Leaks and Your Ducts

All of the separate ducts in your ductwork are sealed together. As they age, this seal gets weaker and leaks can begin to develop. This has a few serious consequences:

• Air quality: When treated air gets out, untreated air gets into your ducts and circulated around your home. This is bad for your health and can also lead to mold in your ducts.

• Wear and tear: Since your HVAC system has to keep heating or cooling air to make up for lost air, it has to run more often and will be more prone to breaking down. It’s lifespan will also be shortened.

• Comfort: When you turn on the heat in your home, it’s to make it more comfortable. If you're leaking air, it will take a long time to reach your desired temperature.

Finding Leaks and Duct Sealing

You need to identify and fix air leaks before they become large issues. This is easier said than done, because other than in attics and crawl spaces, it is usually hard to inspect. You might find that you are unable to inspect for leaks yourself and may have to call in an HVAC professional.

If a professional also has a tough time inspecting your ducts and suspects you may have airflow issues, he will conduct a duct blower test. This test will help pinpoint the location of leaks as well as the severity.

Once a leak is found, it needs to be patched up. You can use metal tape to cover a small leak or mastic sealant. If it’s a big leak however, or your ducts seem deteriorated, your professional may recommend replacing the ductwork.

To get help with duct sealing in your Broken Arrow home, please 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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Did You Skip Your Furnace Inspection Last Fall? Schedule It Now

If you skipped your annual furnace inspection last fall, you can check two items off your to-do list by scheduling it now and having your technician perform an A/C check-up too. Regular HVAC maintenance can help you:

• Avert dangers such as gas and deadly carbon monoxide (CO) leaks, and the risk of explosions and fires.

• Find and fix small issues before they grow into expensive repairs.

• Prevent undue wear on key system components, which can help you avoid an inconvenient and costly equipment failure.

• Extend the service life of your vital HVAC equipment, and satisfy the requirements of your manufacturer's warranty.

• Improve the energy efficiency of your entire heating and cooling system, which will save you money year round.

The tasks performed during a comprehensive HVAC system tune-up can vary, but typically, a reliable professional will:

• Check that the thermostat is functioning correctly to ensure that you have a comfortable living environment, and that you're saving as much energy as possible.

• Measure the voltage and current on your system's motors, and tighten all the electrical connections.

• Lubricate all the moving parts to reduce friction and prevent excessive energy consumption.

• Inspect and clean the system's condensate drain to prevent a backup and the risk of water damage in your home.

• Test the system's built-in safety controls to ensure proper operation.

• Check the equipment's startup cycle to ensure that it starts, runs, and shuts off as it should.

• Clean the blower components, and make any necessary adjustments to increase your comfort and improve the overall system efficiency by as much as 15 percent.

• Clean the condenser coils to ensure effective and efficient cooling.

• Check the A/C refrigerant level to maximize efficiency, and prolong the equipment's service life.

• Examine the heat exchanger(s) for signs of corrosion or cracks.

• Test for correct gas pressure, and check all fuel connections.

• Check for proper combustion, and clean the furnace burner(s) if necessary.

To learn more about the benefits of scheduling an air conditioning and furnace inspection, contact us at Air Assurance. We've proudly served the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow area homeowners for over 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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

How Smart Thermostats Can Boost Savings, Comfort and Convenience

If you’re looking to save money on your heating and cooling expenses (and who isn’t looking to save money?), consider installing a smart/programmable thermostat.

Smart thermostats don’t simply allow you to raise and/or lower the temperature in your home. They function as a control panel for your heating and air conditioning systems. A smart thermostat allows you to pre-program temperatures during the day. In other words, you can program it to heat up the house in the early morning, allowing you to wake up to a comfortable temperature.

Similarly, a smart thermostat can keep the house at a lower temperature during the day when the house is empty, and raise the heat so you come home to a warm house. Units range from thermostats you program on the control panel (similar to programming a DVD-R device) to those that are controlled via the Internet.

So because you’re able to program your temperature beforehand (or in the case of advanced models, remotely), you’re able to genuinely save money, because you’re not turning on the heat or A/C during the hours when you’re not home. It also is a comfort factor, as you can program your unit to raise or lower the temperature automatically, so your home is at the desired temperature.

Programmable/smart thermostats are pricier than standard units. Obviously, the more advanced and complex they are, the more they cost. Units that are programmed on the front of the unit and work on a timer are less expensive then their web-enabled counterparts.

Also realize that installing a thermostat is not a job for novices. If you have no experience with home wiring, it’s best to leave it to a professional. And you also should factor in that the more expense you incur to install smart thermostats, the longer it will take to realize the savings.

Whenever you need expert advice with heating and air conditioning in your home or office, or any other issues related to home comfort, please contact us. Whether it’s heating, air conditioning or hot water, we’ve been servicing the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan area for almost three decades.

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