5 New Year's Resolutions for Your Home's HVAC System

It's traditional to make resolutions at the start of a new year, so now is the perfect time to plan some strategic changes that can help you save money and enjoy a healthier, more comfortable home. Here are five HVAC resolutions that can help lower your energy bills, increase your comfort level and improve the quality of the air your family breathes all year long.

1. Schedule semi-annual HVAC system maintenance. Keeping your HVAC system well maintained with spring air conditioner and fall furnace tuneups not only improves energy efficiency, but also helps prevent costly breakdowns and prolongs the equipment's service life.

2. Inspect and change the air filter monthly. A dirty filter restricts adequate airflow through the HVAC system, which makes the equipment work harder and erodes efficiency. A clogged filter also lets debris build up inside the system, which will eventually cause breakdowns and premature component failures.

3. Use the thermostat wisely. Make sure you take full advantage of the potential energy savings offered by your programmable thermostat in 2016 by scheduling daily temperature setbacks. Programming in automatic eight-hour setbacks while you're sleeping or away from home can reduce your energy consumption by 1 percent for every single-degree temperature change.

4. Seal and insulate the ductwork. Leaky, uninsulated ducts can rob you of up to a third of your HVAC system's output and significantly increase your energy bills. Having an HVAC professional seal the air ducts not only saves you money, it prevents unhealthy contaminants from being drawn in from unfinished areas like the attic, crawl space and garage.

5. Boost air quality by adding a filtration unit. Replacing the HVAC air filter on a regular basis can protect your equipment, but this type of filter isn't designed to remove the microscopic pollutants that can adversely affect your family's health. To help everyone in the household breathe easier in the new year, talk to an experienced professional about installing an air purifier or air cleaner on the HVAC system.

For expert help putting New Year's HVAC resolutions into effect in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance today.

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Learn the Basics of HVAC Maintenance Agreements

As with any mechanical device, you will get the most out of your HVAC unit if you give it the proper maintenance. There are many things that you as the homeowner can do along these lines. The most basic is to regularly change the air filters. You also want to make sure that the unit itself and the surrounding area are kept free from dirt and debris. However, some tasks require a little more expertise. That is where professional service comes in, and where a maintenance agreement can be helpful.

Agreement Basics

Each contract will detail the services included. You should read the terms carefully, as they may require you to take specific action to fulfill your end. Normally, however, a service contract will almost allow you to forget about HVAC maintenance, placing it in the hands of the issuing dealer.

Air Assurance Extended Service Protection Plan

With the ESP Plan, Air Assurance customers include all of the above benefits of a maintenance agreement. When you need help immediately, our technicians will step in quickly to keep you and your family comfortable. Services covered under the plan include:

• Semi-annual maintenance checks of the A/C and heating systems

• A written service record of all maintenance performed in compliance with manufacturers warranties

• A 15 percent discount on parts and labor

• A limited lifetime warranty with a fully maintained agreement

• VIP specials

• Increased efficiency, translating into money saved.

• Service reminders, so you don't have to keep track

A maintenance agreement will bring you the peace of mind that you and your family deserve. The Nate-certified technicians at Air Assurance are some of the finest in the greater Tulsa metropolitan area. When you contact us, be sure to ask about our Extended Service Protection Plan.

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It's Time for Fall HVAC Maintenance! Here's What You Need to Know

Emergency repairs to your HVAC system are not only expensive, they are often very inconvenient. You may have to wait for hours on the hottest or coldest day of the year for a technician to have time to address the issue. No one can second guess all of the things that can go wrong with an appliance, but regular maintenance can often spare you many uncomfortable hours. Follow these basic steps for fall HVAC maintenance to minimize your frustrations.

Address basic housekeeping tasks first.

Visually inspect air filters monthly. Clean or replace them as necessary. Dirty air filters force the fan to work harder, draining energy and wearing out the motor. An added benefit of a clean filter is cleaner air, helping you breathe easier. Remove dirt and debris that has collected around the unit. Sweep, vacuum, or dust around the coils and exposed parts. Black stains around air registers can indicate dirty HVAC ductwork, poor air filter maintenance, or furnace malfunctions. Add weather stripping to doors and windows to eliminate cold drafts.

Check thermostats.

Adjust settings as dictated by the weather to ensure that the system maintains a comfortable temperature in the home. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures during periods when the home is unoccupied to save energy and money. In colder months, set the temperature to 68 degrees during waking hours and as low as 60 degrees while sleeping.

Schedule a maintenance check.

An HVAC professional will inspect electrical connections to make sure they are secure and delivering the correct voltage and current for optimal performance. The technician will lubricate moving parts to eliminate friction in the motor and extend its life. The technician will also check fuel connections for dirt, damage, leaks, and safety hazards, as well as inspect the condensate drain to make sure it is not clogged.

When it's time for you to schedule fall HVAC maintenance, contact the NATE-certified professionals at Air Assurance. Be sure to ask about our Extended Service Protection Plan. Our team includes the largest full-service HVAC fleet in the Tulsa metropolitan area, making our customers comfortable for 30 years!

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Are You a First-Time Home Buyer? Don't Forget These HVAC Tips

As a first-time home buyer, it's advisable to only consider homes that have been professionally inspected. That said, many home inspectors aren't familiar enough with HVAC systems to make accurate reports. Follow up with your own HVAC questions, consult an HVAC contractor if needed, and consider the following tips:

HVAC Tips for the First-Time Home Buyer

• Types of HVAC systems - First item on the agenda is to familiarize yourself with the HVAC system. Is the heating system a natural gas furnace, oil furnace, boiler, or dual-fuel system? Is a split-system heat pump or A/C used for home cooling?

• System age - If the homeowner or realtor doesn't know the age of the HVAC system, contact the manufacturer with the model number to find out the age of the heating and cooling systems. Generally speaking, if the furnace is more than 12 years old and the heat pump or A/C are more than 10 years old, consider the expense to your pocketbook to replace them in the near future—especially if professional maintenance wasn't performed semi-annually.

• Add-on systems - Add-on systems can greatly enhance home comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Find out if the HVAC system includes a zoning system, whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier, a ventilation system, WiFi thermostat, and air-purification system. Zoning systems and ventilation systems, for example, are going to provide you enhanced comfort.

• Transferable Warranty - If the HVAC system is new or only a few years old, ask to see the warranty. Check if the warranty is transferable. This will give you peace of mind for the remainder.

• Maintenance report - Regular professional HVAC maintenance is vital to maximize efficiency and to extend HVAC lifespan. If a homeowner has been mindful to schedule regular maintenance, they probably kept all records. Review the records to learn the HVAC system's history.

• Ductwork - Don't forget the air ducts. Ask for the latest ductwork inspection. Poor duct design and leaky ducts will cost you substantially in higher energy bills.

If you're a first-time home buyer, it pays to consult a professional to perform an HVAC evaluation. For more information, please contact Air Assurance today.

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Need Advice on Choosing a New HVAC System? Here's a Helpful Guide

When choosing a new HVAC system, you'll be looking at technology you may not have known existed, most of it vastly more efficient than what you had in your home before. Here's a rundown on some of the new technology, but remember, your best bet is discussing your HVAC system replacement with an experienced contractor.

Cooling

When choosing a new central air conditioner, your new system is likely to be much more efficient with a higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). You'll also have the option to choose features such as:

• Variable-speed air handlers that gently gear up to provide cooling as needed, then slowly cycle down, maintaining cool temperatures as you need them.

• Two-stage compressors that use the most power only on the hottest days.

• Scroll compressors that use less energy than a piston-driven compressor.

These features are also available with a heat pump, which works similarly to an A/C. Both systems use refrigerant to extra heat from the home, but a heat pump can be reversed in winter so that it moves heat into the house from the outdoors for warming.

If you already have central heating but don't have a central cooling system, ask your HVAC consultant if the current ductwork is sufficient to handle the volume of air produced by the A/C you are considering. You may have to replace the ductwork.

Ductless systems are a popular option for homes without existing ductwork. You can get a ductless A/C or heat pump depending on your heating and cooling needs. With these systems, air is distributed by small, strategically mounted air handlers, which are connected to an outdoor compressor/condenser. Multiple air handlers can run on one outdoor unit, making these systems perfect for creating comfort zones.

Heating

When choosing a new furnace, pay attention to annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace you choose will be. Newer furnaces also may have safer, more efficiently sealed combustion technology, as well as an efficient modulating gas valve and a variable-speed blower.

To learn more about choosing a new HVAC system, contact Air Assurance. We've been serving customers in the Tulsa area since 1985.

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Learn About All the Systems That Explain What HVAC Stands For

Do you know what HVAC stands for? It's an acronym for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Let's have a look at each of these individual systems and see how they work together to provide your home with a comfortable environment.

Heating

The most common method of heating in the American home is forced air, with a furnace burner warming air, then dispersing it through ductwork and vents. Less common are radiant heating systems, using a boiler to send hot water through a home by way of tubes in the floor or through radiators in each room, and geothermal heating, which absorbs heat from the ground to disperse through the home.

Ventilation

Ventilation systems use an air handler and a home's ductwork to draw in return air, removing pollutants as the air passes through the filter and then dispersing conditioned air through supply ducts into the home.

Auxiliary ventilation equipment such as exhaust, supply, balanced or heat recovery or energy recovery ventilation systems may be installed to move moisture, odors and pollutants out of the home and let fresh air in. Air purifiers help by trapping pollutants and keeping them from circulating in your home's air, while dehumidifiers remove excess moisture in the home that might promote mold.

Air Conditioner

The air conditioner controls the temperature in your home in the summer months, providing cooling and eliminating moisture. If you have a split system central air conditioner or a heat pump, the air conditioner will consist of two units: an indoor evaporator and air handler and an outdoor compressor. Refrigerant is pumped between the two, with the refrigerant absorbing heat indoors and exhausting it outside. Air inside the home is cooled when it passes through an evaporator coil and is dispersed by an air handler through a system of ducts.

Another type of air conditioner is a ductless mini split, also a heat pump, but without ducts. It distributes conditioned air through air handlers mounted on the wall, ceiling or floor.

To learn more about what HVAC stands for, contact Air Assurance. We've served the metropolitan Tulsa area since 1985.

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What's the Easiest Way to Make Your HVAC System More Efficient?

Keeping your HVAC system's air filter clean may not seem like it would make much of a difference in terms of performance. In reality, it's the most important thing you can do to keep your system running both efficiently and durably. Dust found on your filter and inside your air handler can significantly reduce your system's overall performance. 

Importance of Airflow

Engineers design forced-air HVAC systems to pull a specific amount of air through the air handler for peak efficiency. A dirty filter slows airflow, reducing the volume of air that passes through the ductwork. As a result, it will take longer to heat or cool your home, driving up energy consumption.Air handlers also house the components that exchange heat in both the heating and cooling mode. A gas furnace has a heat exchanger, while a heat pump has an evaporator coil that can both heat and cool. When your heat exchanger and coil are dust-free, the heat exchange process is faster and more efficient.

Reducing Dust

Air filters trap airborne particulates of varying sizes, depending on the quality of the filter. Running your system with a dirty filter will eventually cover the parts inside it with dust. A heat exchanger that's covered with dust holds onto heat longer, which can cause it to crack. When the cracks go all the way through, carbon monoxide can escape into your home's air. An HVAC system with a cracked heat exchanger needs to be repaired or completely replaced.When too much dust covers the evaporator coil, the refrigerant inside it will stay cold long enough to freeze the condensation coming off the coil. Unless your system shuts off to give the coil a chance to thaw, the exceptionally cold refrigerant can burn out the compressor inside the outdoor condenser. Keeping your filter clean reduces the likelihood of compressor failure or water damage from a frozen coil.

To learn more about keeping your HVAC system running as efficiently as possible, contact Air Assurance. We've been providing top-notch HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners since 1985.

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Extend HVAC System Life and Get the Most Out of Your Home Comfort Investment

One of the most expensive issues that you'll have to deal with as a homeowner is the replacement of your HVAC system. But don't worry -- there are ways to extend HVAC system life. You can start with these tips:

• Get it serviced -- As you might imagine, the more you use your HVAC system, the faster its performance will deteriorate. To keep it running efficiently and prolong its operating life, hire a technician to give it a little tune-up.

• Change the filters -- When your system's air filter gets dirty, it won't work as efficiently. Start each season with a fresh filter and then change it every 1-2 months, as needed.

• Install a programmable thermostat -- These devices are more accurate and flexible than manual thermostats, which means your HVAC system won't be in operation when it doesn't need to be, thereby decreasing the strain placed upon it.

• Clean the outdoor unit -- If your system uses an outdoor condensing unit, which most do, you'll want to clear off any debris that has accumulated on it. This can be done by simply spraying it off with a water hose.

• Keep the air flowing -- Even if you don't spend any time in a particular room, it's important to keep the air flowing by leaving the vents open. The same goes for rooms that aren't occupied -- keep the doors open to maintain good air flow.

• Clean duct grills -- Each year at this time, you should clean the vents and grills of the duct in each room. To clean them, simply put it out and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth or vacuum it.

• Leave discharge pipes open -- A clogged-up discharge pipe, the one that runs outdoors from your HVAC system, can lead to costly repairs. To prevent this, be sure to keep it clean and free of debris.

For more expert advice on ways to extend HVAC system life, or if you have any other home comfort concerns, get in touch with the knowledgeable technicians at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan area since 1985.

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Ways to Make Sure Your HVAC System Is Debris Free While Remodeling

Are you planning a remodeling project in the near future? Don't forget to protect your HVAC system. Construction can produce dust and debris which are drawn into the air ducts and can potentially damage system components. The fan in the HVAC unit can be knocked out of alignment because of a buildup of debris and other components can also be affected by pollutants. There are steps you can take to minimize reduced air quality and damage to system components.

Tips to Protect Your HVAC System

• Reduce use of the furnace and air conditioning – Limiting the operation of the HVAC system helps to prevent pollutants from being drawn into the ductwork. This will reduce the risk of a clogged air filter.

• Keep registers closed in work areas – The outside weather conditions may mandate running the furnace or A/C during construction. Closing and sealing the registers in the area under construction will significantly limit debris from entering the air duct system. The registers may be left open in non-work areas to maintain an acceptable comfort level.

• Clean the work area often – Try to do dust-producing tasks such as cuttingand sanding outside the home whenever possible. Clean the work area often to ensure that dust is not dragged throughout your home.

• Use plastic tarps to protect non-work areas – Isolate the construction area with plastic tarps and cover furniture near the project.

• Change the air filter often – Debris may enter the HVAC system even if precautions are taken. Any buildup can be minimized by changing the air filter often. A good quality filter will help to trap debris of all sizes that enter the system.

• Inspect the ductwork – You may want to consider a professional inspection of the ductwork and HVAC components after the renovation is complete. A qualified technician can use powerful vacuum equipment to clean the air ducts and inspect the entire system for any potential problems.

Please contact Air Assurance with any concerns about HVAC protection during a remodeling project. We have been serving  the Broken Arrow 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).

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