Guest House Comfort Considerations

Giving overnight visitors a separate space inside or adjacent to your home makes it easier to host others overnight. When you’re looking for ways to provide guest house comfort when the weather is hot, one of these options might work well for your particular space.

When it’s a separate structure.

A ductless mini split heat pump may be the best option for conditioning a separate guest space to use it year-round. Ductless systems offer a high degree of energy efficiency for both cooling and heating. They’re easy for an HVAC pro to install, use little interior space and operate quietly.If you only want to cool the structure, you may find that a portable A/C or window air conditioner will work well, as long as your homeowner’s association permits them.

When it’s a space inside or attached to your home.

Besides using a wall or window air conditioner for individual cooling, there are two other options that use your existing HVAC system. The first is to install a zoning system that lets your guest select the comfort level that works for him.

A zoning system divides your home into separate areas, each of which has its own thermostat. It’s an ideal solution for families that have different temperature preferences or in homes where temperature variances are wide.

You could put the guest quarters on a separate zone, so that the area only received conditioned air when someone wanted to use the space. Two-story homes, those with unequally-sized windows, or variable ceiling heights throughout benefit from zoning systems because their temperatures vary quite a bit. These systems can be installed with new HVAC equipment or as an upgrade for an existing system.

If your guest space isn’t part of the conditioned area, ask your HVAC contractor if your system is large enough to extend the ductwork. The contractor will evaluate the capacity of the system and the cooling load inside the guest space.

For more information about which guest house comfort option will work best for your home, contact a pro at Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Keep Guests Cool at Summer Parties

Summer parties are the best, but when guests are uncomfortable because of the sweltering heat, they can turn into a disaster. We'd hate to see that happen, so we've compiled some of our favorite tips to help you keep your guests cool:

Get a Checkup for Your HVAC System

Like clockwork, you should be scheduling a yearly inspection of your cooling system by an HVAC professional. This will keep your system running more efficiently for your guests (and you, of course) while prolonging its lifespan.

Change the Air Filter

If you want to keep your guests cool, then you need to make sure that your HVAC system is as efficient as possible. If the air filter is dirty, then that's not happening. Replace it at the beginning of the summer season and then get it replaced every 30 days or so after that, as needed.

Consider an Evening Party

Everyone loves a good BBQ in the middle of the day, but the heat might bother some guests. A great way to keep them cool during summer parties is by taking away the sun. No, they don't have an app for that, so your best bet is to schedule your party in the evening.

Serve Plenty of Liquids

Guests who become dehydrated are not only unhappy, but could be in serious danger. You can solve this problem by providing plenty of water and other refreshing drinks. This is essential if you're serving alcohol since those will add to the dehydration.

Provide Tons of Shade

If you prefer to have an outdoor party during the day, then you should ensure that your guests have plenty of shade to shield themselves from the summer sun. If your backyard is lacking, there are plenty of shading choices that can be set up and taken down for each get-together.

To schedule services to ensure your guests stay cool at summer parties, reach out to the professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

What to Expect: HVAC Costs

Most people don't know much about their HVAC systems. And that's OK, as long as you have a trained, experienced technician to take care of problems for you. But until you find that technician, you're often flying blind. One quotes you a price for fixing your A/C, and it seems a little high, but in the end, you have no frame of reference for what the actual price should be.So here's a helpful guide to various HVAC costs you can expect.

Repair Costs

In Broken Arrow, the average HVAC repair job will cost you $212. You can expect to pay a minimum of $100, just for basic service fees, and possibly up to $400. Bear in mind, this is a bit higher than the national average and that more extensive repairs can run higher yet.Also note that your HVAC costs are very much dependent on what repairs need to be made, how serious they are, and what you're willing to pay for. Replacing your thermostat, for example, can cost anywhere from $60, for a basic model, to $250, for a top of the line Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat. And one of your most expensive repairs will be to replace your air compressor. That can range anywhere from $1,350 to $1,800, depending on what size and type of compressor you need.

Annual Maintenance

There are other types of HVAC costs besides just repairs. In order to make sure your system is running at peak efficiency, your HVAC technician needs to perform annual maintenance. Keeping up with this can help you avoid expensive repairs later, and extend the life of your system overall.On average, you can expect to pay between $70 and $100 for your maintenance visit. Or, by paying just a little more, you can get a service contract. For a flat annual fee, not only do you get scheduled tuneups for both your A/C and furnace, but service visits for basic repairs as well.

To learn more about your expected HVAC costs, contact us at Air Assurance today. We're Broken Arrow's trusted source for quality HVAC solutions.

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

HVAC Parts Every Homeowner Should Recognize

 It's no secret your HVAC system is one of the most important elements of your Oklahoma home. For you to keep it working efficiently throughout the year, it's vital that you understand its basic components. Read on to learn more about the essential HVAC parts.

Thermostat

This is the panel you use to adjust your home's temperature. It controls the rest of your HVAC system. If you still use a manual thermostat and want more energy savings and home comfort, switch to a programmable thermostat.

Furnace

This is the heart of your home's heating system. It consists of a blower cabinet and burner cabinet. It's usually installed in a designated spot, usually the basement, attic, or special cabinet. If you hear groaning, banging, and whirring noises coming from it, you should contact an HVAC professional. A blue furnace pilot light shows your system is safe whereas a yellow one shows you may be having a carbon monoxide problem.

Heat Exchanger

It's the HVAC component that actually warms your home. It's located inside your furnace unit. When it's on, air is sucked into it from the outdoors or through specific indoor vents. This air is heated rapidly and then blown into your home via the ductwork.

Condensing Unit

The unit sits outside the home. It cools a special refrigerant gas, which is transported to the evaporator coil after sufficient cooling. It's crucial to keep the area around this unit clear of fallen leaves and other debris to avoid diminishing its efficiency.

Evaporator Coil

It's located inside the house and is responsible for providing cool air for your home. The cold refrigerant inside it absorbs heat and moisture from your home's air.

Ducts

They deliver hot or cold air to your home. Having them sealed by a professional will make your home more energy efficient.

Knowing the HVAC parts involved in your system's operation helps you spot problems when they arise more easily and fix them before they get bigger. If you need excellent and dependable HVAC service in the Broken Arrow area, don't hesitate to contact the experts 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Vacation 101: HVAC Prep Before You Go

As welcome as any getaway is, taking time for vacation HVAC prep ahead of time may help you have a more relaxing and carefree trip. Leaving it on will keep your home healthier while you're away and more comfortable when you return.

Inspect the air filter.

If it’s dirty, change it before you leave. Leaving a dirty filter in place puts it at risk for freezing over or shutting down entirely.Low airflow over the evaporator coil inside the air handler could easily make it freeze over. If it continues to run, the cold refrigerant can harm the compressor, the system’s most expensive part. Eventually the AC will turn off and the excessive frost could flood the drain pan and the areas near the air handler.?Sometimes a dirty filter will block the airflow enough to trigger a low airflow switch inside the air handler. If you leave your home with a dirty filter in place, the HVAC system may not run at all, which could allow humidity to build and create uncomfortable temperatures for any pets or plants you leave behind.

Clean the outdoor condenser.

Be sure that the area around the outdoor condenser has at least three feet of clearance around it and nothing sits on top. The condenser needs free airflow to cool the hot refrigerant coming from your home. Hose off the coils if they appear dusty.

Have it professionally serviced.

An important part of vacation HVAC prep is having a professional HVAC technician look over the equipment before you go. The cleaning and adjusting that’s part of annual servicing will keep it running smoothly. The technician will check the refrigerant level, oil the motors and remove any oxidation or dust from the electrical components.Install a surge protector to protect the HVAC system from power surges that may occur from strong spring storms while you're away.Starting the cooling season with personal and professional vacation HVAC prep will reward you with dependable and efficient air conditioning performance. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Homes With Pets: HVAC Tips and Maintenance

Throughout much of the history of the Western world, the prevailing practice regarding the treatment of pets was to leave them outside. Nowadays, that's far from the case. In fact most pet owners can't imagine leaving beloved cats and dogs outside to face the weather without the comfort of air conditioning and heating.But living indoors with pets creates some challenges when it comes to keeping the home clean, and preventing the pets from disrupting our home appliances. Among the major challenges for people in homes with pets is filtering pet hair out of the HVAC system.

Pet Dander and More

The main issue for most homeowners when it comes to shedding pets is the hair. You have to vacuum the home more often, and though you may not have known it, you should be changing your HVAC filter more often too. It's not just the hair you want to keep out of the equipment; pets also shed dander, to which many people are allergic. When dander is pulled into your system, it can get redistributed into your home's air. The best defense is a good quality, dense air filter. The filter should likely be changed even more often than the manufacturer recommends when you have pets.Brush your pets outdoors frequently to remove loose hair and dander. Also, bathe them as often as the vet recommends.

Dirt

Pets, like people, track dirt and dust into the home when they go in and out. While we can take our shoes off, they will be bringing in dirt on their feet. You are probably already in the practice of cleaning their feet if they are muddy, but you may want to wipe their feet off when they come inside just to get the dust off.

Marking Territory

Male dogs are known for marking territory by hiking their legs and urinating on objects in the yard -- including the air conditioner condenser. If your dog does this, erect a barrier around the unit. Urine can corrode the coils.

For more tips for homes with pets, contact Air Assurance, serving 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

What's the Difference Between HVAC and A/C?

If you're like most homeowners, you find HVAC terms confusing, and since some seem interchangeable, it can be hard to know exactly what terminology like “HVAC” and “A/C” really means. Although they're similar, these two terms aren't synonymous, so it's beneficial to know the differences between the two.

Definition of HVAC

The meaning of the term “HVAC” is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Most often, this acronym is used in reference to a home's complete comfort system. A system may be comprised of various heating and cooling components, such as a gas furnace, electric central split air conditioner or heat pump, ductless mini split units, or geothermal heat pump system. The system's ventilation portion often refers to the air circulation/distribution components like the blower unit, ductwork and air filter, but it can also include a whole-house ventilation unit, or an air cleaner unit added to the HVAC system.

What A/C Means

The term “A/C” stands for “air conditioning,” but it's frequently used to describe any type of home cooling equipment, such as a traditional split-system air conditioner or heat pump, mini-split unit, geothermal system, or even a window unit.

Different Types of Equipment Have Different Maintenance Needs

Routine preventive maintenance is the key to keeping any sort of comfort equipment running reliably and efficiently, so all the common components of your HVAC system should be inspected, cleaned and tuned-up by a skilled technician on a twice-yearly basis. Different portions in your home's HVAC system also need specific maintenance tasks performed, such as:

• Cooling equipment: Before cooling season begins, the evaporator and condenser coils should be cleaned, the condensate drain flushed and the refrigerant level checked.

• Heating equipment: Every fall, the gas burner should be cleaned and tested, and the venting system and heat exchanger inspected.

• Ventilation components: With every preventive maintenance visit, your technician should clean and lubricate the blower assembly, check for proper system airflow, and install a fresh air filter.

To learn more about the meaning of different HVAC terms and how they relate to the comfort system 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Career Day: Teaching Kids about HVAC and Energy Efficiency

From leaving the lights on to taking long showers to turning the thermostat up and down in a bid to achieve instant temperature control, children can significantly increase your utility bills due to their wasteful habits. For that reason, teaching kids about HVAC and energy efficiency should be a priority. Use the tips below to get them involved in saving energy at home.

Discuss the Thermostat

Your HVAC system is a major energy consumer. One of its parts that you interact with the most is the thermostat. Take the time to talk to your kids about how its settings affect energy efficiency. Explain to them why they should leave the settings alone to make them appreciate the need to have adults solely responsible for managing the device.

Do Basic HVAC Maintenance Together

Kids love doing adult work. Ask them to help you in doing basic maintenance tasks, such as:

• Inspecting and cleaning or replacing air filters

• Cleaning air vents

• Looking for air leaks

• Hosing down the exterior A/C unit

As you perform these tasks, make sure you explain to them the importance of what you're doing.

Give Rewards

A great way to prevent children from viewing conservation as a new chore is by turning it into a game. For example, you could come up with a game to find out and reward the person that best remembers to unplug unused appliances or turn off the lights. You could also keep track of their energy-saving habits and reward them once they meet certain goals.

Involve Them in HVAC Decisions

Are you planning to upgrade your thermostat? Let the kids help you choose a new programmable thermostat. If your furnace or air conditioner needs repair or replacement, talk to the young ones about the process. Allow them to watch your HVAC technician work and encourage them to ask questions.

Teaching kids about energy efficiency helps them develop good habits that will yield lifelong benefits. For more tips on energy efficiency, contact us at Air Assurance. Our friendly all-NATE certified technicians serve the Broken Arrow area with safe, effective, and efficient HVAC services.

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

HVAC Problems: Normal or Not?

Your HVAC system is comprised of complicated equipment, so it can be hard to know if a developing issue is really a cause for concern, or the equipment is operating normally. To help you determine when expert help is needed, here's some guidance on common HVAC problems that should raise a red flag:

New Sounds

Some HVAC noise is completely normal, like a humming outdoor compressor, a whirring blower fan, or the whoosh of air traveling through the ducting. If startling new sounds like clanking, rattling, hissing or shrill screeching occur, it deserves attention before costly component damage occurs.

Condensate Leaks

Heat pumps and air conditioners pull water from the air when they're cooling, but it should drain away unseen through the system's condensate drain. If you discover a puddle of water below or near the air handler unit, there's likely a blockage or other problem with the condensate drain system. To minimize the risk of water backups that result in interior damage, call your HVAC pro for help.

Excess Humidity

If your home always seems too hot and sticky, and you're seeing more mold growth in the bathrooms, it's wise to have an HVAC technician assess your system. If your cooling equipment isn't dehumidifying properly because of its age or capacity, you may be advised to upgrade.

Bigger Energy Bills

If your utility company increases its rates, or your normal consumption increases, you expect to see bigger energy bills, but an increase for no obvious reason may point to a problem with your HVAC. A technician may discover that it's caused by an age-related drop in your equipment's efficiency, dirty cooling coils, a low refrigerant level, or leaky ductwork.

Odd Odors

Normally, you shouldn't notice any odor in the conditioned air coming from your HVAC vents. If you detect a dirty sock, acetone or acrid, burnt scent, it needs further investigation because there may be mold or algae growth, a refrigerant leak, or arcing/overheating electrical components within your HVAC system.

If you're experiencing HVAC problems in your Broken Arrow home, contact us today at Air Assurance for expert solutions.

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