How Cleaning Your Windows Enhances Energy Efficiency

Spring cleaning the windows is a great way to refresh your home's exterior and give its aesthetic a boost. Shiny window panes are great for zesting up curb appeal, but for improving HVAC performance and your home's overall efficiency, you also need to focus on window maintenance.

Why Windows Matter for Energy Efficiency

Statistics from the Department of Energy tell us that 25 to 30 percent of a home's HVAC-related energy consumption can be wasted by heat gains and losses through the windows. You can trim that percentage by cleaning and enhancing your windows' efficiency. Having more efficient windows also reduces your HVAC equipment's workload, which translates into better performance and longer component lifespan.

Tips for Enhancing Window Efficiency

Along with tackling your normal spring cleaning, try taking a few of these measures to improve your windows' efficiency:

• Before shining and polishing the glass, inspect the windows to locate any areas of cracked/missing caulking or damaged/missing weatherstripping. To stop air leakage in these spots, remove any damaged material, then seal them with add new caulking or weatherstripping.

• If your windows are leaking badly or in poor condition, spring is an ideal time to replace them with energy-efficient units. A less costly option is purchasing interior inserts. These acrylic or plexiglass units are made to size, so they fit tightly and prevent air leaks.

• If your home has casement or double-hung windows, pay special attention to the tracks and moving parts when you clean. You need to remove all built-up debris in these areas so the windows close snugly and won't leak air.

• Give your home's interior a revamp with new insulated window treatments that you can close during the day to keep out solar heat.

• Shade your windows by adding awnings on your home's exterior and/or by planting a few strategically-placed trees.

• Put window cleaning on your fall home maintenance list too, because squeaky-clean glass lets in more of the sun's energy, which can help warm the interior during the winter.

To learn more effective ways to enhance energy efficiency in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

Do You Need Climate Control in Your Garage?

It’s possible to make your garage usable year-round by installing climate control equipment for winter heating and summer cooling. Plenty of workable options are available that provide the comfort you want in the garage, whether it’s a hobby space or you use it as additional livable space.

Heaters

Ductless mini split heat pump.

This system tops the list because it provides both heating and cooling in one easy to maintain, affordable and energy efficient appliance. Unless the weather is exceptionally cold, a heat pump provides adequate warmth in the winter. Ductless systems are similar to central HVAC systems except they blow the air directly from an air handler and don’t need ductwork.

Electric heaters.

Whether they’re space or baseboard heaters, these kinds are better at spot heating than overall garage heating since they’re the most expensive kinds to use on an ongoing basis.

Vented gas heaters.

A gas heater that hangs from the ceiling and vents to the outdoors will provide comfortable heat for cool-season use. Your HVAC contractor will securely hang it and extend a gas line to the heater. Unvented heaters are available, as well, but aren’t considered completely safe. If you do use such a system for climate control, keep a window or door slightly open to pull in fresh air and don’t use it more than a few hours at a time.

Cooling Systems

If you opt for a ductless heat pump, you will have a high-efficiency cooling system. These appliances are also available as air conditioners that provide cooling only.

Portable, window and wall air conditioners will also provide cooled air for the garage. The size you need depends on the cubic footage in the garage and its insulation levels, along with the amount of air infiltration. These re the same factors that will impact the size of heating system you need as well.

Adding climate control equipment to the garage helps you enjoy your time with hobbies, lucrative work, or in an alternative living space. To learn more about any of these systems, 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.

W+hy Does My House Have a Musty Smell?

If you experience a musty smell when returning home, odds mold or mildew is growing somewhere inside your home. Mold has a fluffy appearance and can be white, black, or colorful. Food often becomes moldy as it rots. A few types of cheese, like blue and Roquefort, have veins of mold growing inside them. Mildew is a powdery substance that grows on living plants and fabrics like carpeting, drapes and upholstery.Mold and mildew are mother nature’s natural decomposers. Both require moisture and organic matter as food to thrive. When you smell it in your home, it indicates that there is a colony of mold or mildew growing somewhere. The odor may be an early warning sign for water leaks inside walls or a basement that’s wicking water from the soil. Other sources might be plumbing fixtures like sink drains, washing machine, or the garbage disposal.

Finding the Source

Your nose is the best way to track down the source of the musty smell. If it’s in the walls, look for mildew or mold growing on the drywall or nearby. Leaking pipes, ice dams, or roof leaks can send water into the walls or ceilings. Spongy drywall also indicates mold.Plumbers use cameras to find the source of leaks inside walls or ceilings and you might be able to find a roof leak by entering the attic on a sunny day and looking for daylight. Wet insulation also indicates a roof leak. Look for compressed areas or darker areas.

Getting Rid of the Problem

Vinegar is one of the least toxic ways to get rid of mold and mildew. Pour it down the sink drains or add some to the washing machine. Washing or deep cleaning fabrics might remove the mildew odor. Having the HVAC thoroughly cleaned, including the ducts, can remove much of the smell as well. Putting UV (ultraviolet) lights in the HVAC system will also stop mold and mildew infestations.

For more information about getting rid of the musty smell, 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.

Puppy-Proof Your HVAC System

Owning a puppy is an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it can harm your HVAC equipment in more ways than one.Dogs come with dander that can pose a severe problem to the equipment. What's more, the notorious nature of young puppies to chew on just about anything can land them in lots of trouble while damaging your HVAC system. Use the HVAC protection tips below to keep both your system and four-legged friend safe.

Safeguard Your Outdoor Unit

The outdoor air conditioning unit is usually installed in the side yard or backyard. That means your pooch can easily access it when going outside to play or for bathroom breaks. The unit's wires, sharp edges, and metal pieces can create perilous situations for your dog.On the other hand, your furry child can damage the unit by scratching or chewing on it. Dog urine can also be extremely harmful to the unit. Consistent urination will degrade your unit and cause problems like erosion of fins and refrigerant leaks, forcing you to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for repairs.You can prevent accidents by putting up a reasonable barrier like a small fence around the outdoor condenser to prevent the puppy from accessing it. Just make sure you leave at least three feet between the barrier and the unit.

Control Hair and Dander

Dander and hair from your puppy can quickly become airborne and get into your HVAC system. Besides clogging up your filter, they can wrap around critical parts like the coils and cause severe damage. You can prevent such issues by:

• Replacing your filter frequently

• Cleaning your entire home including the air intakes regularly

• Washing and brushing your furry friend often to keep the dander and hair it sheds to a minimum

Remember, having a puppy requires you to make an extra effort toward HVAC protection. Don't forget to schedule a furnace or A/C tuneup regularly to ensure reliable performance and efficiency even if you have a furry friend. If you need dependable HVAC maintenance or repair in the Broken Arrow area, 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.

Pros and Cons of Skylights on Energy Efficiency

When most people think of skylights, they may not be focusing on energy efficiency. The most notable feature of a skylight is simply natural light. Technology still hasn’t provided an artificial equivalent for the aesthetic and mood-lifting benefits of sunlight streaming downward into living spaces from above. While windows allow indirect light into the house laterally, an overhead skylight provides the most direct way to gain the beneficial exposure to real sunlight indoors.When it comes to efficiency issues, however, a residential skylight presents both good news as well as downsides. Here are some skylight pros and cons:

Energy Efficiency Benefits

• Extra heat in winter. Sunlight passing through glass carries heat energy along with it that warms rooms and helps reduce furnace expenses during daylight hours. Energy costs can be reduced during the heating season.

• Free lighting. During daylight hours, a skylight reduces dependence on other electrical light sources.

• Passive ventilation in summer. Skylights that are openable permit enhanced cross-ventilation by letting out rising warm air that naturally accumulates at the ceiling. This upward flow of air creates a “stack effect” in a room that continuously exhausts heat through the open skylight while pulling in fresh air through open windows.

Energy Efficiency Drawbacks

• Heat gain on summer days. Solar heat entering through a skylight in summer may cause your air conditioner to run longer to compensate and increase energy costs. Placement of a skylight—such as selecting the north-facing side of the roof with less solar exposure—can reduce heat gain.

• Nighttime heat loss. Once the sun goes down, glass in a skylight may allow indoor heat to radiate out of the house into the colder outdoors. In winter, this may require more heat from your furnace to compensate and energy consumption may rise. Skylights that utilize glass with low-emissivity coating can help reduce heat loss in winter.

If you're considering installing a skylight, ask the professionals at Air Assurance for more information about the potential energy efficiency pros and cons.

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.

Why Is My Heat Pump So Loud?

When your heat pump suddenly becomes noisy, the first thing that may come to your mind is that it's about to break down. But don't panic just yet. Loud heat pumps could be just that — loud. At times, the loud noise could be a sign of a problem. So how can you tell the difference? Read on to find out the common noises that heat pumps make and what they indicate.

Normal Noises

Heat pumps usually make some strange sounds while they operate. For instance, those that have a Scroll-type compressor make clicking and tapping sounds as they shut down. When coming on, they make rickety sounds. Swooshing sounds are also to be expected when heat pumps go into defrost mode. Shifting valves are responsible for the sounds, which shouldn't be a cause for concern. Rattling sounds at startup or shutdown that resemble an unbalanced washing machine are also typical.

Unsettling Noises

Some loud noises can be signs of trouble. They include:

• Gurgling — Low refrigerant charge often causes gurgling noises. It can severely downgrade your heat pump's performance.

• Rattling — Frequent rattling or vibration-like sounds could be caused by loose components or unsecured ducts.

• Metal-to-metal noises — At times, a heat pump can make banging or clanging sounds like metal hitting against metal. The fan blades could be hitting a chunk of ice or other components. The contact could damage the fan or the parts that the fan blades are hitting. To avoid costly repairs, turn the unit off as soon as you hear these noises.

• Popping — This sound could be as a result of liquid refrigerant entering the compressor. You should have it fixed soonest possible.

• Squealing — A high-pitched squealing sound could indicate your unit's motor is going bad. It could also be due to your compressor putting too much pressure on the refrigerant.

If your heat pump is making any of these worrisome sounds, call in an HVAC professional to examine it. If you need help with a noisy unit in the Broken Arrow area, contact the heat pump specialists 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.