How Weather Affects Your Energy Bill

Americans spend about half their annual energy budget on keeping their homes comfortable, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The weather has a big impact on each month’s energy bill. When it’s mild, bills stay low. During extremes, daily energy use climbs.

Temperature and Humidity

The two aspects of summer weather that increases cooling costs include the air temperature and the humidity level. Of the two, it’s faster and easier for your A/C to remove the heat from dry air than it is to cool off hot, humid air. Keeping the humidity out of your home in the summer does help lower its cooling costs and keeps you more comfortable. Besides being energy-intensive to remove, humidity also increases discomfort indoors when it exceeds 50 percent.

The HVAC industry deals with the extra burden that humidity puts on cooling systems by consulting a software resource that identifies cooling systems better suited for humid climates. When replacing your current system, ask the HVAC contractor to verify that the new one can handle the area’s summertime humidity.

What You Can Do

If you find that your energy consumption is higher than you’d like it to be, making improvements that help your home resist heat transfer and air infiltration will help lower your energy bill and increase your comfort. Consider:

• Adding insulation to the attic. The DOE recommends at least 10 inches in the attic for the best thermal control.

• Using the kitchen and bathroom fans. Be careful not to run the fans too long. Although they’re small, they’re capable of pulling a lot of conditioned air out of your home.

• Sealing the air leaks in your home’s exterior to prevent air infiltration that could raise the indoor humidity. Use caulk, expanding foam and weatherstripping around windows and doors, as well as entry points for pipes and wires.

• Using specialty products like chimney pillows to stop air leaks from fireplace chimneys, or self-sealing dryer vents.

If your monthly energy bill seems too high, contact Air Assurance for an HVAC inspection. We provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners 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.

Turning on Your Air Conditioner: Steps to Take First

With temperatures getting warmer, it will soon be time for turning on your air conditioner. Before you do so, though, there are certain steps you should take to make sure that it’s ready. Use the following steps to prepare your air conditioner for the summer months, so that your Broken Arrow home can stay as cool as possible.

Replace the Air Filter

The air filter inside your HVAC system has a direct impact on the quality of your indoor air. It also affects how efficiently your HVAC system works. If your system has a dirty filter, it will have to run for longer periods of time and work much harder to cool your home, which increases the risk of repairs. Take time to change the air filter in your HVAC system before turning on your air conditioner for the season. Having a clean air filter helps your cooling system work as efficiently as possible.

Clean Around the Outdoor Unit

If weeds or other debris and vegetation are around your outdoor unit, they can block air from flowing out of it. This leads to excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system, which shortens its lifespan. Make sure that your outdoor unit has a clear space of about a couple of feet around it on all sides.

Check Your Thermostat

Before you use your air conditioner for the season, check the settings on your thermostat. It should be set to “auto” rather than “on,” and you should adjust the temperature as needed. Having the fan turned to “on” means that your system will run constantly. Having it on “auto” means that it will run when it needs to in order to cool your home.

Set Up Routine Maintenance

Schedule preventative maintenance for your HVAC system before you cool your home. This maintenance helps ensure that your air conditioner is in good working condition for the season.If you need maintenance for your air conditioner before you use it, please contact Air Assurance for help. We offer dependable HVAC services for homeowners in 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

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.

Water Heater Maintenance Can Affect Your HVAC

If you have a forced-air central HVAC system and a gas water heater like many area homes, and you're looking for ways to save energy, you need to understand that there's a maintenance correlation between the two. What this means is when you're taking steps to boost the efficiency of your HVAC, you'll waste potential savings if you ignore water heater maintenance.

Why Water Heater Maintenance is Important

When it comes to home comfort, your HVAC system and water heater are two necessities you rely on daily. They're also the two biggest energy users in most households. Just as twice-yearly maintenance is vital to keep your HVAC operating efficiently, it's essential for your water heater too.Having your water heater serviced regularly by an experienced professional not only helps with efficiency, but it also keeps the appliance running reliably and can prolong its lifespan too. Here are some key maintenance tasks that a pro will tackle:

• Testing the T&P valve. This valve needs to be fully functional so excess pressure/hot water can exit the tank. If it's seized up, it should be replaced to prevent a dangerous rupture or explosion.

• Checking/replacing the anode rod. This metal rod is in place to attract corrosion so it doesn't eat away at the tank material. Eventually, the rod will disintegrate, so it should be checked routinely and replaced as needed.

• Flushing sediment from the tank. Some minerals present in water form into sediment particles during the heating process, then settle to the tank bottom. Draining, flushing and refilling the tank every year is necessary to clear out sediment so it doesn't affect the unit's energy efficiency, or cause it to fail prematurely.

• Inspecting the tank for corrosion. If your plumber finds considerable rust development along the tank's seams and at various connections, it can be a sign that your water heater might start leaking or even rupture unexpectedly. If the appliance is badly rusted, having a new water heater installed will probably be recommended.

To schedule HVAC system or water heater maintenance in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance today.

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.

How Planting Trees Can Lead to HVAC Savings

We all know that shade trees make a difference when it comes to keeping cool in the summertime. But did you know that planting trees can also boost HVAC savings on your energy bill? Read on for how the trees you plant today can earn their keep by saving on your HVAC energy bill in the future.

Keeping Cool With Trees

Shade trees keep the temperature down in your home in two ways. They block solar radiation from entering the home, sure, but they also cool the air around them through a process called transpiration. The trees pull water through the roots, which changes from a liquid to vapor as it is released through the leaves. As the vapor enters the air, a cooling effect takes place. A dense planting of shade trees can cool the air around them by as much as 6 degrees.

Where to Plant Trees

Think carefully about where you want to plant trees. Shorter shade trees work well on the eastern and western sides of the home, since that's where the sun will shine closest to the horizon. Taller trees on the south face of the home offer midday cover and can keep the walls and roof cool.Don't plant trees too close to the home -- 10 to 20 feet away from exterior walls is recommended. Planting trees too close can cause foundation problems. You may also have to do extensive trimming to keep limbs from damaging the roof during storms.

Choosing Trees

If you aren't particularly tree savvy, talk to a nursery professional before you choose trees based on looks alone. Avoid trees that are too fast growing, as these species may be subject to disease or breakage before they grow big enough to shade your home. Ask about maximum height, growth habit and the tree's ability to flourish in the microclimate that your home will provide. Don't choose trees that shed fibers or seeds that might clog your outdoor condenser unit.

We've got more tips on HVAC savings at 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.