Reasons to Be Thankful For Your HVAC System This Season

You probably don’t realize it, but your home’s central HVAC system – provided it’s well-maintained and operating as intended – delivers important benefits for your family and home. Consider saying thanks this November as the holidays approach.

Following are some specific benefits that your home’s HVAC system provides:

Comfort

If your forced-air furnace, A/C or heat pump system weren’t maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity, you’d be in trouble. Thankfully, the HVAC equipment, air distribution system and other complementary components ensure home comfort 24/7 year-round.

Energy Efficiency

Modern central HVAC systems operate more efficiently than ever, consuming the least amount of energy necessary to provide home comfort. It’s important, however, for the equipment to receive regular homeowner and professional maintenance; otherwise, energy efficiency will suffer. In addition, the air conditioner, furnace or heat pump can’t operate efficiently without effective home weatherization. This means proper insulation is necessary, and the home’s outer envelope must be sealed against air leaks.

Ventilation

As a result of tighter residential building practices over the past 20 years, homes today often require mechanical ventilation. Otherwise, air gets trapped inside, becoming stale and dirty. Exhaust fans in bathrooms and the kitchen are necessary, plus effective air exchange can be produced with a Heat or Energy Recovery Ventilator system. These systems exchange fresh outside air with dirty indoor air, with a minimal amount of energy loss.

Indoor air quality

Effective air cleaning is also a function of modern forced-air HVAC systems. This occurs with an energy-efficient air filter, and if necessary, a whole-house air-cleaning system.

Humidity control

In most homes, the HVAC system is charged with regulating both temperatures and humidity. Air that’s too dry or too damp can trigger or exacerbate health issues such as allergies and respiratory ailments. Localized humidity issues can be addressed with portable or room dehumidifiers/humidifiers, while whole-house systems are available for more pervasive issues with damp or dry air.

If your Broken Arrow area home falls short in any of these areas, please contact us at Air Assurance. We can make sure you have something to be truly thankful about.

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 your HVAC system and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “TheDigital Artist/Pixabay”

HVAC Considerations for Hosting Fall Get-togethers

When the seasons change, the possibilities for fall parties abound. Be it a fall harvest festival or Halloween costume party, a football-watching marathon or a German-themed Oktoberfest, you'll want to decorate in style. But in addition to decorations, you'll also want to ensure your guests enjoy maximum comfort during the party. Large gatherings of people can create sometimes stuffy conditions, so be prepared to make some adjustments to your home's temperature.Here are some HVAC considerations that could impact your fall party:

Adjusting the Temperature

Even when it's a bit chilly outdoors, you may find an indoor gathering can generate quite a bit of heat, so be judicious about turning the thermostat up. In fact, you might even have to turn on the air conditioner and some fans to keep things comfy. The last thing you want is guests sweating beneath their makeup and costumes at your Halloween costume party.You've probably also been cooking away the day of the party, so be mindful about how your oven has raised the temperature.

Air Quality

Cooking large quantities of food will not only raise the temperature, but could also diminish the air quality in your home by contributing to higher humidity and odors. Higher humidity will make your home feel warmer. You may need to crack windows and run some fans to improve ventilation if you don't have a dedicated ventilation system.Be sure to change your air filter; a good quality filter will help your air conditioner do a better job of dehumidifying the home. Portable dehumidifiers can help, but a whole-home model will work even better to lower damp conditions.Consider installing a whole-house air cleaner, or even a portable model, to improve air quality. Gas-phased air filters will help diminish odors from many substances, including cigarette smoke.

Whether you use the A/C or it's cold enough to run the furnace, schedule maintenance by an HVAC tech prior to the party so the system is running right for your event.

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 considerations and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay”

When Should You Upgrade Your HVAC System?

An HVAC upgrade is a major expense, so it's an investment you want to make only when it's really necessary. With regular preventive maintenance, you can expect your equipment to last for 10-15 years, so advancing age is often the first indicator that it needs replacement. Other signs that it's time to upgrade your HVAC include:

• Frequent repair bills. Mechanical equipment tends to break down more often as it ages, so if your HVAC system is getting older, you're likely to see more repair bills. In this situation, you should get the input of a trusted HVAC pro to decide when upgrading is more cost-effective than making repairs.

• Inefficient operation. If your HVAC system runs for extended periods, but it never seems to get your home comfortably warm or cool, it may not be properly sized for your home. The capacity for older systems were often sized using a rule of thumb instead of a detailed load calculation, and the result is inefficient operation, a lack of comfort, and higher-than-necessary energy bills.

• Rising energy bills. If your usage habits haven't changed, but your energy bills are rising, it may be due to a decline in your HVAC equipment's efficiency. If you have older equipment, upgrading might bring you significant energy savings since today's systems are much more efficient.

Do You Need to Replace Your Entire System?

It's always best to upgrade both halves of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump because mismatched equipment can cause a host of problems. However, you may not need to upgrade your furnace at the same time if it's in good working condition, or replace all the ductwork if it's properly sized and well-maintained.Before you decide to upgrade, it's also wise to schedule a home energy audit. You might discover that by making efficiency improvements like air sealing the exterior or adding more insulation, you can postpone an HVAC upgrade or that a smaller, less expensive system can keep your home comfortable.

For expert advice about whether it's time to upgrade the HVAC in 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 upgrading your HVAC system and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

Steps to Prepare Your Home for a New HVAC System Installation

While you’re not expected to participate in the new HVAC system installation itself, there are some things you as a homeowner can do. Taking these steps first will speed up the installation process and assure you that you’re getting the most from your investment.

Double-check with the contractor regarding its size in tons or Btus. If there’s any doubt, verify that you and the contractor conducted a load calculation before sizing the new HVAC system. Accurate sizing is crucial to the energy efficiency, comfort and longevity of the new equipment. A reputable contractor will use Manual J software for this exercise.

If there’s any doubt about what size will work best, it’s actually better to undersize rather than oversize an HVAC system.

Have the ductwork tested for leaks.

Whether it’s new ductwork or you’re able to use the existing ducts, make sure that it’s sealed tightly and its capacity is adequate for the new system. Ductwork leaks increase heating and cooling bills and decrease the air quality indoors.

HVAC contractors have equipment that measures the amount of leakage, and it should be as close to zero as possible. Older ducts may need cleaning to optimize their efficiency and improve indoor air quality.

Prepare the yard.

If at all possible, the outdoor condenser should be placed on the north side of your home during a new HVAC system installation, or in a sheltered, shady place. Its slab should be perfectly level, and all sides of the condenser should have at least two feet of clearance.

Move the furniture.

The interior component of the new HVAC system isn’t as heavy and awkward as the outdoor condenser, but it will help the installation team if all the furniture has been moved along the path.

Prepare the pets.

Make arrangements to shelter the pets elsewhere or in a quiet, closed room during the HVAC installation.

Preparing ahead for the new HVAC system installation helps you get the most comfort and energy efficiency from the equipment. To learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

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 System Installation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

How to Protect Your A/C in a Natural Disaster

Reading about natural disasters can make us anxious, as we compare our circumstances and ask, "Could that happen here?" Certainly, Oklahoma has gotten a lot of publicity for our frequent, deadly and disastrous tornadoes. Such weather keeps us on our toes in terms of emergency planning.As you think about emergency planning for a tornado -- although it could also easily be a flood, an earthquake or wildfire -- have you ever thought about protecting your HVAC system? Once the power's on and things are returning to normal, you'll want to be sure your air conditioning and heating are back on as soon as possible. So here are some valuable tips on HVAC protection:

Protecting the HVAC

Depending on the kind of disaster that strikes, you may be able to protect your HVAC system to a degree. If it's in a flood-prone area, you could raise it or move it. If you're worried about hail or flying debris from a storm, you could build a temporary protective structure to put in place, bolting it down to the ground. Also, remove tree limbs that might fall on it, as well as any garden structures that might be hurled into the fins.While your homeowner's policy probably covers storm or fire damage, it might also be a good idea to look into separate policies for flood or earthquake insurance, as your homeowner's policy may cover neither.Your A/C condenser can likely survive brief periods in a few inches of flood water, but if the water rises too high, you will probably need to replace the HVAC system. Regardless, do not turn it back on after the storm until you can get a technician to inspect it.

Survival Tips

Survival after a storm requires some common sense. Think carefully about what you would need to survive at least three days to a week: water for drinking and washing, bleach for disinfecting, medications, non-perishable food and possibly a generator to power appliances till the power comes back on.

To learn more about HVAC protection, 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 HVAC protection and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

5 Ways to Babyproof Your HVAC System

As a new parent, you're no doubt anticipating the day when your baby begins crawling and walking, so you're busy taking safety measures around the house to ensure that it's a baby-friendly environment. It's easy to miss potentially-harmful household elements, though, so here are five helpful suggestions on how to babyproof your HVAC system:

Secure Any Metal HVAC Vent Covers

Babies are attracted to shiny metal HVAC registers that are down near the floor. If you have metal registers, their sharp edges can quickly cut your baby's curious fingers. If the cover comes off, there's also the danger of bruises, bumps or serious eye injuries. You can make the covers less dangerous by screwing them down securely in place.

Switch To Plastic Registers

Another way to babyproof your HVAC vents is to replace your metal ones with the plastic type that don't have sharp edges. You don't have to screw plastic covers down either, so it's easy to keep the registers and duct boots dusted and vacuumed.

Add Screening to Toy-Proof Your Ducts

Babies love to drop toys down into small spaces, but you can keep them out of your ductwork by trimming vinyl window screening to size and securing it underneath each register cover.

Put HVAC Remotes Safely Away

Just like other remote controls, your thermostat and mini-split remotes contain batteries that can cause serious internal burns if they're swallowed. Since babies learn about taste and texture by putting everything in their mouths, for safety, store all your remotes in a secure drawer or on a high shelf.

Take Precautions With The Outdoor Unit

Your outdoor HVAC unit presents a lot of potential dangers for your mobile little one, with its live electrical components, sharp condenser fins and rapidly-rotating fan blades. Whether it's located in your backyard or along the side of the house, you'll have greater peace of mind if you babyproof your HVAC unit by installing a fence around it, or enclosing it in a locked security cage.

For more suggestions on how to babyproof your HVAC system components in 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 home safety and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “FeeLoona/Pixabay”

Does Your Home Insurance Cover Your HVAC?

You probably have homeowner's insurance, but have you ever sat down and carefully gone over what's covered and not covered under your policy?

For instance, your home insurance likely will cover water damage to your HVAC system if the damage occurs from burst pipes or an overflowing condensate drain in the house. But if the outside unit of the air conditioner gets flooded by rising water from a nearby stream or a major storm, you could be out of luck unless you have separate flood insurance.

So what else should you know regarding what home insurance covers and doesn't cover?

Likely Covered

Here are some scenarios where home insurance is likely to pay for your claim to replace or repair your HVAC system:

Storms

Although homeowners' insurance won't cover outdoor flooding, it will usually cover damages from storms, such as a tornado or hailstorm. Also, a windstorm that hurls a tree limb into your outdoor condenser and damages it would be covered, as would an ice storm that harms the parts inside the air conditioning unit.

Theft or Vandalism

Your homeowners' insurance should cover the cost of replacement or repair if your condenser is stolen or vandalized.

Fire

In the case of a fire - from natural causes, electrical problems or from a fireplace or furnace - the homeowners' insurance policy should pay for replacing or repairing the HVAC system.

Not Covered

Here are some scenarios when your homeowner's insurance probably won't pay:

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are become more frequent in Oklahoma, and more homeowners are becoming concerned about earthquake damage to the home. Be advised your policy likely won't cover damages to the home from an earthquake, including damages to your HVAC system. You should obtain a separate policy if you are concerned about earthquake damage.

Age-Related Breakdown or General Wear

Homeowners' insurance will not cover regular wearing out of parts or breakdown as the HVAC ages and parts start to fail.

Contact your insurance provider to ensure your HVAC unit is covered in your home insurance policy. For other HVAC needs, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

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 and home insurance and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Best HVAC Brands to Buy

When you're in the market for a new HVAC system, you'll want to get a unit that provides reliable performance year after year. Such a system will make your life more comfortable and prevent you from having to shell out a small fortune regularly. Therefore, you should take the time to find out which HVAC brands stand out above the rest. Here are some of the best brands available today:

American Standard

American Standard has consistently been rated as one of the top premium brands. It's a bit pricey, but that shouldn't worry you a lot because you'll get excellent reliability and far fewer issues with its heat pumps and air conditioners.

Mitsubishi Electric

Mitsubishi Electric produces the most efficient HVAC systems on the market. They're widely used in Europe and Japan. The systems are ductless, so each room will need its own system. Installing the systems in your entire house is far more costly than having a central heating and cooling system.

Carrier

The company consistently earns high ratings for its sturdiness, efficiency, and quiet operation. It has a low percentage of units that need major repairs and maintenance, and it offers generous warranty coverage. If price isn't an issue for you, then this is a brand worth considering.

Lennox

This company keeps working to improve the efficiency of its equipment, and that's why it has models with efficiency levels of more than 98 percent and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) levels of up to 23.5. Many of its systems accept two types of fuel.

Ruud

This reliable brand is backed up by lots of testing and consumer reviews that describe its products as long-lasting. It makes both commercial and residential products. Its parts are readily available throughout the United States, making repairs not too expensive and warranty issues easy to clear.

Doing research on the top HVAC brands will go a long way to helping you find the best system for your needs. If you're unsure about which brand to choose, please contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve the Broken Arrow 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 HVAC brands and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Buying a New Home: Have an HVAC Inspection by a Professional

Buying a home, whether pre-owned or new, is a daunting task. You want to make sure everything is as near perfect as you can afford -- and that includes the HVAC system. That's why, beyond the regular home inspection, you need a separate HVAC inspection before you commit to a down payment.

Why a Home Inspection Isn't Enough

Generally a home inspector goes through a house and performs a visual inspection of all main systems. Afterward, the inspector will give the clients a written home inspector contract and inspection report. This report will include inspection of the heating, cooling and venting systems, as well as energy sources and distribution equipment. The inspector will also report on insulation and vents.The only action the inspector will perform on the HVAC is to turn the systems on and off to make sure they work. This won't tell you some important things you need to know, such as:

• Maintenance records for the system, including major repairs, and how old it is

• If the filter has been regularly changed

• How efficient the system is, as in average cost of annual utility bills

• If the system is sized correctly for the home

These are things the homeowner needs to know before investing in the house. You probably don't want to invest in a home where the HVAC system hasn't been kept up, unless you make provisions for repair or replacement by adjusting the purchase price.If you're looking at a new home, the inspector should check out the equipment and installation, including ductwork and ventilation, and should be able to assess in general how efficient the system is likely to be.

What You Should Do

Hire an experienced HVAC inspector to look at the system and be thorough in finding answers to the questions above. Remember, if the seller hasn't kept up the system in a pre-owned house with routine preventative maintenance, hidden flaws may be lurking that could cost thousands of dollars.To learn more about an HVAC inspection, contact Air Assurance. We've served Broken Arrow 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 HVAC inspections and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “paulbr75/Pixabay”