If you are tired of dealing with rising power costs, noisy heating systems and frequent furnace breakdowns, the answer to your problems could be hidden right beneath your feet. By taking advantage of the stable temperatures found just beneath the surface of the earth, geothermal heat pumps provide one of the most reliable, energy efficient heating and cooling solutions.Some of the main benefits of geothermal systems include the following:
Quieter operation. Standard heat pumps and air conditioners rely on noisy outdoor condenser units. Geothermal systems, on the other hand, don't require outdoor units, allowing them to heat and cool your home with far less noise than their traditional counterparts.
Improved energy efficiency. Rather than burning fuel, these systems extract the heat that is found naturally in the ground, making them one of the most energy efficient heating and cooling options available.
Better for the environment. Geothermal heating and cooling systems do not give off greenhouse gases, making them one of the most eco-friendly choices for environmentally conscious homeowners and businesses.
Longer lifespan, less maintenance. These systems have a much longer lifespan than conventional furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners, meaning that they will need to be replaced less often. Not only that, but because they have very few moving parts, they are also less prone to breakdowns than other types of heating and cooling equipment.
Improved safety. Unlike typical furnaces, geothermal heat pumps don’t give off harmful gases like carbon monoxide, making them a much safer option for you and your loved ones.
Lower power bills. These units consume far less power than traditional heating and cooling methods, making them a good choice for lowering your power costs. In fact, despite their relatively high installation costs, one of these systems can easily pay for itself through energy savings over just a few short years.
If you live in eastern Oklahoma and would like to learn more about how installing one of these systems can save you money and improve the comfort of your home, please contact us at Air Assurance.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today! Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.
When considering a new heating system, one of the most important factors to consider is the lifetime costs involved with each option. Because the average lifespan of most heating equipment is 15 years, the upfront cost of the equipment may account for as little as 5 percent of the lifetime costs when it is all said and done. Things like operational costs, energy efficiency and repair work all need to be considered. Here's how to compare three different heating options.Natural GasThis is one of the most popular heating options throughout the country. While energy prices have fluctuated over the years, the advancements in furnace and boiler technology have been able to improve their performance, thus requiring less and less fuel. High efficiency equipment begins at 90 percent AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency).GeothermalThese heating systems are amongst the most environmentally friendly of the options. It essentially uses the stable temperature below the ground to heat your home. The installation may be more expensive, but the energy savings over the years will be substantial, sometimes as much as 50 percent compared to whatever you are paying now, especially if you have an outdated furnace of more than 20 years old.Heat PumpsThese are considered the middle ground between the other two types of heating options. They consist of a compressor and tubing that are used to extract heat from either the inside or the outside, depending on if you are cooling or heating your home. They may require an electric or gas backup and your home may need some modifications to your electric system to handle the increase in electricity you will be using.To learn more about various heating options and the benefits they can provide, contact an HVAC professional at Air Assurancetoday. We can help you address the unique conditions that your home presents, and give you advanced information on lifetime costs, what additional factors need to be considered and what is best for your climate. We have proudly served the Tulsa and Broken Arrow area for over 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today! Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.
With a system as large and as important to your daily life as your furnace, it is sometimes easy to ignore small, but vital components, such as your air filters. Furnace air filters may seem trivial, but they are an important part of your overall heating system. Here are some good reasons why your furnace filter should be changed regularly.
Improved health for you and your family – Furnace filters trap dust, pollen, mold, and even bacteria and microorganisms that might normally end up in your home’s interior air, where they can be inhaled by you and your family. A clean, fresh filter will keep these materials out of your air, decreasing the chance of respiratory problems, and reducing the possibility of aggravating allergies, asthma or similar medical conditions.
Better and more efficient furnace operation – By regularly changing air filters in your furnace, you help your heating system run more efficiently. Furnaces need a consistent and unobstructed source of airflow, but if the filter is dirty, that airflow is choked off. Your furnace will run harder to keep up with temperature settings. A clean filter reduces the chance of breakdown.
Decreased need for deep-level cleaning – If dust and other airborne pollutants are trapped in the filter, they don’t have a chance to accumulate inside the furnace itself. This keeps the furnace and ductwork cleaner, and increases the interval between necessary intense cleanings.
Savings on your heating bills – Clean filters help your furnace run more efficiently, which means the unit makes better use of the fuel it consumes. The furnace does not have to run as hard or as long to keep your house warmed to the desired level. Better operation means less energy is used or wasted, adding up to real savings on your heating bills.
Air Assurance has more than three decades of experience serving heating and air conditioning customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas. Let us help you find the most effective filter to use in your furnace. Contact us today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today! Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.
Furnace efficiency is defined by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. This rating represents the percentage of energy in the fuel that is converted to usable heat for warming your home or business. AFUE ratings apply to both electric furnaces and units that use fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas. They are a direct indication of how efficiently your furnace will operate and how much money you are likely to spend, or save, on your heating bills.In a gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 85, for example, 85 percent of the available energy in the gas fuel is converted to heat. However, 15 percent of the energy in the fuel will be wasted. This lost 15 percent will escape out the flue, unused, or will seep out elsewhere in the furnace system.Furnaces with higher AFUE ratings are more efficient, meaning they make better use of the fuel they consume to generate heat. Less fuel is wasted as the furnace operates, and less fuel is needed to attain the desired heating levels than with a lower-AFUE unit. Reduced energy waste and less fuel consumption translates to measurable savings on your winter heating bills.According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you replace an existing AFUE 50 furnace with an AFUE 80 unit, you could save almost 25 percent on your heating fuel costs. Replacing an AFUE 50 unit with an AFUE 95 amounts to almost 50 percent savings.Government standards mandate that new fossil-fuel warm-air furnaces carry a minimum AFUE 78 rating. Electric furnaces generally have an AFUE rating of 95 or higher.High-efficiency, high-AFUE furnaces generally cost more than lower-AFUE models, but the substantial savings on heating bills can offset the expense of a better furnace relatively quickly.Air Assurance has more than 30 years of experience serving heating and air conditioning customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas. We carry a full line of high-efficiency furnaces and can help you decide which model at which AFUE rating is best for your needs. Contact us today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today! Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.
The cooling season is coming to a close in Broken Arrow and that means it's time to start preparing for the colder weather that comes with fall and winter. You will begin using your heating equipment more and it's important to have it ready so that you don't find out too late that you have problems that need repairing. Now is the best time to have your heating equipment checked out. If there are any problems, they can quickly be taken care of without causing a hassle to you. Though your heater may have worked fine last winter, plenty could have happened in the months since you last used it. A planned service check will ensure that there are no parts that have deteriorated and could cause major problems shortly down the road. This protects you from losing access to your heater in the middle of winter, when you need it most and a lack of service would be most inconvenient. To avoid any gap in service, have your heating equipment inspected now.During a planned maintenance check, all of your gas or electrical connections will be inspected. Even a small gas leak can be harmful if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time. The burner will also be inspected and cleaned to make sure it is operating as safely and efficiently as possible.Here are a few other routine steps typically performed during an HVAC inspection:
Moving parts lubricated
Electrical connections tightened
System controls verified
Blower components adjusted
Carbon Monoxide analysis performed
A service check will allow you to get the most from your air system. It ensures that all components are clean and working at their maximum efficiency, as well as making sure the unit is operating safely. The savings you create can be enough to offset the cost of the maintenance itself.For more information about inspections for your HVAC equipment, contact Air Assurance Heating & Air Conditioning. We have proudly served the Broken Arrow area for over 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!
Do you have a tightly sealed home? This is great for saving energy on heating costs in the winter, but how does the stale, moist indoor air escape from your home? After all, actions like washing, cooking and even breathing generate warmth and moisture. If you don’t have a ventilation system in place, chances are the warm, moist air will build up in cold areas like the attic where mold and rot can then set in. Because of this, it’s clear that sealing up your home for winter energy savings isn’t enough if you want to benefit from fresh air in your home as well.Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to your problem in the form of heat-recovery ventilation. Vents that lead to the exterior of the home are installed in prime moisture-generating locations like the kitchen and bathroom. On the way out of your home, the air passes through a metal box with multiple air channels. At the same time, fresh, cold air from outside is sucked into the building. The streams of air don’t mix, but they pass each other and a heat exchange occurs that pre-treats the inbound air with some of the warmth from the outbound air. This process allows you to ventilate fresh air into your home without paying the energy bills to heat it from scratch.Any home with a ducted heating system can have a heat-recovery ventilation system installed. With a heat-recovery ventilator, you can recover as much as 80 percent of the heat energy in outgoing air for use in heating inbound air. You also benefit from the removal of offensive odors and damaging moisture, and enjoy the comfort and health that comes with fresh air in the home. While these systems are particularly effective in northern climates, research shows that warm climates depending primarily on air conditioning can also benefit. This makes heat-recovery ventilating systems beneficial year-round.If you are interested in what heat-recovery ventilation systems have to offer, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Qualityin Broken Arrow for more information.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!
With fall on the horizon for residents of Tulsa, it's time to start thinking about how to get your home ready for the cold weather. Here are eighteen different ways to stay warm and energy efficient this winter.
Stop Drafts: Drafts can waste up to 30 percent of your energy. There are various products that can be used to block drafts under doors and windows.
Change Furnace Filter: Change, or at least check your filter each month. With heavy dirt, comes less airflow, which means higher bills.
Run Fans in Reverse: Simply switching your fans to run clockwise will make your air warmer.
Drain Hoses and Air Conditioner Pipes: This prevents dangerous freezing.
Turn Down Your Water Heater: Lowering the temperature can reduce your water heating costs by 10 percent.
Install Storm Windows and Doors: This reduces drafts and can increase energy efficiency by 45 percent. Be careful though, the ROI can take years to pay you back.
Get a Tuneup: A preventive maintenance tuneup by a contractor will ensure that your heating system stays working efficiently, and most important, safely!
Program Your Thermostat: Set it intelligently, so you aren't paying to warm an empty house.
Use Plastic Insulation: Covering your windows adds a buffer against drafts.
Use An Energy Monitor: These inform you when you have been using more energy than usual.
Use Weatherstripping: This helps prevent air leaks.
Add Insulation: This is particularly helpful in the attic and basement.
Insulate Your Pipes: This will help decrease the chance of freezing pipes.
Seal Ductwork: Up to 30 percent of your conditioned air can leak out of your ducts before it reaches its destination.
Use Tax Credits to Your Advantage: These can make energy-efficient upgrades for your home more affordable.
Be Wise When Selecting a Contractor: Hire an Energy Star home comfort contractor who is certified to help you make the right choices for your home.
Use Alternative Energy Sources: These are often much more energy efficient than traditional methods.
Upgrade Your Furnace: Newer models can save you up to 50 percent when compared to older models.
For more information on how to prepare your home for winter, contact Air Assurance. We can help you turn these ideas into concrete action.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems) .Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!
If your furnace huffed and puffed its way to the finish line this past winter and you're not sure it's up to the challenges of another heating season, right now is an excellent time to replace it. Acting early is a great way to beat the rush that will come when fall rolls around.When it comes to furnaces, here are some telltale signs that it's time to think about getting a new one:
If your furnace is 15 years old or older, it's probably not running as efficiently as it once did, no matter how well you've maintained it. Replacing furnaces that are this old is strongly recommended.
Count up the number of times you've had to have your furnace serviced in the past two or three years. If it totals an average of once a year or more, you're probably spending as much on repairs as you would on a replacement.
This past winter, did you notice that certain rooms in your home were too hot, or that others weren't hot enough? Uneven heating patterns are a sign that it may be time for a new furnace.
Was the air in your home too dry this past winter? If so, it could be a sign that your aging equipment isn't operating at peak efficiency and should be replaced.
Did your furnace make a lot of clanging, banging and whirring noises when it was last used? These types of sounds are strong indicators of impending mechanical breakdowns.
The furnaces being manufactured today operate with far better efficiency than those that were made even ten years ago, so upgrading makes even more sense when considered from a home energy savings standpoint.At Air Assurance, we offer a wide range of furnaces to customers in all budget ranges, and we're happy to help you make a choice that's right for the size and layout of your home. If you'd like to learn more about our furnaces or want to get a price quote on a specific model, please don't hesitate to contact us. We serve customers throughout northeastern Oklahoma.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!
Summer is upon us, and thinking about the best way to keep your home warm is probably one of the last things on your mind. However, just like getting your holiday shopping done early, summer is the perfect time to look into purchasing a new furnace. Be prepared when winter returns, and don't be caught in a chilly home.Most furnaces have a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. However, older models with lower efficiency may be worth replacing before they have reached the end of their operational lifespan. Ultimately, investing in a new, high-efficiency furnace can save you as much as 40 percent on your energy bills.Many older furnaces can have efficiencies as low as 55percent. Modern furnaces, on the other hand, reach efficiencies of over 98 percent. What this means for you is that if you decide to upgrade your current furnace to a new model, less energy will be expended in heating your home.Retrofitting your current furnace is another way of improving the efficiency of your heating system and reducing your energy bill. This option is ideal for furnaces which haven't reached the end of their lifespan, but are not yet old enough to justify the purchase and installation of an entirely new unit.Air Assurance is committed to helping you make the right choice when making a decision about your furnace purchase. If you're considering purchasing a new furnace, don't hesitate to schedule a visit from one of our technicians, who can give you a free estimate on the price of the unit and installation.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.
