How to Keep a Garage Warm in the Winter

An unheated garage is suitable for very little beyond storing your vehicles, your yard equipment and whatever else you can't stow away in the house.

But what if you'd like to make better use of that garage space? Maybe you'd like to create a workshop where you can do projects, for instance. Winters here in Broken Arrow can make that problematic.

The solution is to heat the garage. Read on for suggestions on creating a warm garage.

First, Insulate

Before you start shopping for heating equipment, do make sure your garage is air sealed and insulated. That can be a big project in itself, because some garage doors tend to fit loosely around the edges.

Finish the garage with drywall and don't stint on the insulation. Choose from these types of insulation: fiberglass batts or rolls; wet applied or blown-in cellulose; spray foam or injection foam.

Types of Heating for the Garage

Electric space heater: Electric space heaters are the simplest solution, but they are not necessarily the most efficient. While newer models cost less to run than in former days, they don't heat up the space as quickly as other types of heating.

Combustion space heater: These are inexpensive to run and do an adequate job of heating a small space, but a major concern is that they give off carbon monoxide. You will have to make sure the garage is well vented and that you are running a CO detector if using these.

Ceramic heater: These require electricity to run, but the heating element is ceramic instead of metal. Similar to the metal element heaters, they use a fan to distribute the heat.

Ductless mini split: These systems can provide cool air and/or heating. They are a type of heat pump, consisting of an outdoor condenser and an indoor air handler. They can be small and compact and are ideal for conditioning the air in a smaller space. They can be somewhat expensive but are efficient to run.

For more information on how to attain a warm garage, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

How to Get Energy Efficiency Improvement Rebates

Rebates offered by utilities and other public sources can help reduce the up-front expense of making energy efficiency upgrades to your home. Though most federal rebates expired by 2018, here in Broken Arrow, both Oklahoma Natural Gas and PSO (Power Service Company of Oklahoma) still sponsor rebate programs for local residents who make these energy efficiency upgrades. More information, as well as applications, are available at the utility websites.

Oklahoma Natural Gas

• $1,950 rebate for upgrading from an electric resistance furnace to a standard-efficiency, gas-fired furnace. If you upgrade to a high-efficiency gas furnace with 95%+ AFUE rating, the rebate increases to $2,500.

• A $400 rebate is available for purchasing a new natural gas-fired clothes dryer. If the dryer is a more efficient Energy Star-certified unit, the available rebate is $450. The plan also offers a $100 rebate on the cost of installing or extending natural gas piping necessary to connect the dryer.

• $250 rebates are offered for two types of water heater upgrades: a natural gas tankless water heater with an energy-factor rating of at least .82 or a natural gas-condensing water heater with a .82 energy-factor rating.

PSO

• Purchasing an Energy Star central air conditioner or heat pump with an efficiency rating of SEER 16 up to SEER 20 qualifies for a rebate ranging from $500 to $800, depending on the SEER rating of the unit.

• Replacing a standard HVAC blower with an efficient ECM blower qualifies for $25.

• Upgrading attic insulation above an R-22 rating can be eligible for a $400 rebate.

• Depending on your HVAC system capacity, rebates for ductwork sealing can range from $500 up to $800.

• Upgrade to a Honeywell Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat and receive a $110 rebate.

• Get $500 back on an Energy Star-certified heat pump water heater.

• $50 rebates are available on each of the following Energy Star certified upgrades: electric clothes dryer, refrigerator, and clothes washer.

For more information about energy-efficiency upgrades available from local utilities, contact Air Assurance.

Best Heating and Air Company Tulsa

Air Assurance #1 in Tulsa OK

Best Heating and Air Company Tulsa - Air Assurance

For over 35 years, Air Assurance has been serving the Broken Arrow, and Greater Tulsa OK community by providing best in service for heating, air conditioning, and plumbing services. Air Assurance in Tulsa has had the honor to be named Best in Tulsa, for many categories of service, serving, and customer service. We’re not perfect, and at times we fall short of our own goals to serve our amazing community and clients. But when we have the opportunity to learn, be humble, and better our processes - we know you will be delighted with our services too. Give us the chance to serve you, whether it’s home or business, we would be delighted.

Our Services Include

Heating, Air Conditioning, & Plumbing Services

• Maintenance Services

• Diagnostic Repair Services

• New Installation

• Design Build

• Replacement Estimates

Just to list the highlights! When it comes to repair service for your heating and air conditioning system, we can service any brand like Lennox, Trane, Carrier, Goodman, American Standard, Rheem just to name a few. And when it comes to water heater repairs we can service your brand too, like Rheem, Standard, A. O. Smith Water Heaters, Rinnai Water Heaters, Eemax Water Heaters, Bosch Water Heatersd and more. Experience a company with a trained and skilled workforce - Air Assurance.

All About Backflow Prevention & Installation

Backflow prevention helps prevent contamination if the municipal water supply flows in the wrong direction. We’re all accustomed to expecting fresh water to flow in one direction only: into the home. However, certain events can actually reverse that flow. These include a system water main break, fire hydrants suddenly opened, or another occurrence that causes the municipal water pressure to plunge rapidly. This effect may reverse proper normal water flow, pulling water from various undesirable sources back into the system. Polluted or otherwise unsanitary water may therefore potentially contaminate the home water supply.

Safeguarding Your Water

A single device to prevent backflow installed at the water meter is often required by municipal codes. However, this may not adequately protect your individual home if the house includes cross-connections where tainted water can be siphoned backward into household water-supply pipes. Common home cross-connections that could potentially threaten your fresh water include: home sprinkler systems, swimming pools, boilers, fire sprinklers, outdoor fountains, or even something as simple as a handheld shower spray or a garden hose that might be immersed in tainted water.

Home backflow-prevention devices are essentially one-way valves that do not allow water to flow backward and enter the home supply lines. In typical residential applications, these devices may be installed at:

• Each outdoor hose bib or connection

• Lawn-sprinkler supply pipe

• Fire sprinkler supply pipe

• Heating system boiler

• Individual devices such as handheld shower sprayers

Getting The Job Done

An inspection by a qualified professional plumber is required to identify any parts of your plumbing system that may require backflow prevention. Devices are available in several different types, which are designed to adapt to a particular installation or requirement. Because events that trigger backflow generally occur without notice and may happen at any time, backflow devices function automatically.

For more about the benefits of home backflow prevention devices, contact the plumbing pros at Air Assurance.

Your Guide to Bathroom Ventilation

Effective bathroom ventilation is important for reasons including excessive humidity, potential mold contamination, odor control, and basic comfort issues. Bathrooms are generally the wettest room in the house and may affect general air quality throughout the entire home. In many locales, building codes today require some form of mechanical bathroom ventilation — beyond simply opening a window — to prevent these issues.

Bathroom exhaust fans are the most common method to ventilate bathrooms. Installed in the bathroom ceiling or in a bathroom wall, these electric units remove water vapor and odors rapidly, before damage or mold contamination is triggered. Here are some basics of bathroom fans:

• CFM capacity. The air-moving capacity of a bathroom fan is rated by its cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) capacity. While the proper size can vary according to the number and size of bathroom fixtures like the bathtub, shower, and sinks; generally speaking, a bathroom exhaust fan should provide at least 1 CFM of ventilation per square foot of bathroom size (length x width.)

• Exterior venting. Venting bathroom fans directly into the attic is a terrible option. Moist bathroom air in the attic space triggers toxic mold growth and accelerates deterioration of exposed wooden attic structure. Bathroom fans should be connected to a dedicated duct that extends all the way to the exterior of the house. Vent fans installed in the wall must likewise exhaust outside, not into the wall cavity.

• Timer operation. A bathroom fan should run long enough to effectively exhaust water vapor and odors, but not too long, so as to avoid excessive loss of heat or cooling as well as wasted electricity. Bathroom fans should be connected to a timer switch to automatically shut off the unit after a preset duration. For best results, the fan should run for at least 15 minutes following a shower or bathing.

• Safety factors. Bathroom fans should be wired to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) circuit to prevent electrical hazards in the wet environment.

For more about the benefits of exhaust fans for adequate bathroom ventilation, contact the air-quality professionals at Air Assurance.

Lingering Smoke Smell Solution

There's nothing worse than a house that smells like smoke. It doesn't just come from smoking, either. Maybe you burned something while cooking. Maybe you just lit a few candles. Whatever the reason, here are a few ways to get the smoke smell out of your home.

Immediate Solutions

Say the smoke smell came from something fairly recent. Maybe your kitchen isn't well ventilated, or you lit a fire in the fireplace while the flue was closed. Getting rid of the lingering smoke isn't too difficult. Open a window, turn on a fan in the area where the smoke is, and wait.

You could try to use your HVAC system to filter the smoke out, but it might not be as effective as you'd like. To remove smoke from the air, you'd need a high-efficiency air filter, which won't fit in a regular HVAC system without damaging it. There are, however, certain special air filters designed to fit your HVAC unit, which claim to be able to remove smoke. Or, you could invest in a dedicated air purifier for your home that uses high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

Long-Term Solutions

If the smoke smell has been building up in your home for years, such as from someone smoking, then you'll need to take more drastic measures. First, air out your home completely. Use your dedicated air purifier with HEPA filter, if you have it. Next, clean the carpets, drapes, and furniture. You can do it yourself, but if you want to be thorough, you're better off calling a professional.

Have your HVAC contractor examine your evaporator coil, as smoke can accumulate there. Finally, clean your ducts. This is another place where smoke residue can build up over time. As air flows through both the evaporator and your ductwork, it can then pick up that smoke residue and bring the smell right back into your home. Have them both thoroughly cleaned so your house can be smoke free.

For more tips on improving ventilation in your home, contact us at Air Assurance today. We provide the best home comfort solutions in Broken Arrow.

Do Your High Ceilings Affect HVAC Efficiency?

High ceilings add a soaring, spacious feel that expands the enclosed indoor environment. While the standard 8-foot ceiling has been the norm for decades, increasingly, homeowners are opting for a high ceiling in at least one central area of the home.

However, a ceiling 4 feet or more above standard height may alter heating and cooling dynamics in a room. Here are some ways that high ceilings may affect HVAC performance and efficiency:

Heating

In a room with a vaulted ceiling, naturally rising heat collects much higher above floor level. Occupants of a high-ceilinged room may be more likely to feel heat-deprived in winter.

Cooling

A room with a high ceiling contains a greater volume of air that must be kept cool during summer. While rooms with standard ceilings may receive sufficient circulating cool air, a coolness deficit can occur in rooms with a high ceiling.

Strategies to resolve comfort issues in rooms with a high ceiling include:

• Install a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan mounted in a room with a vaulted ceiling can be set to continuously blow air downward. In winter, the fan gently circulates heat accumulating at the ceiling back down into the living area to optimize comfort.

• Run the system fan. Most central HVAC systems provide the option to run the system fan continuously, even when the furnace or air conditioner function cycles off. This continuous air circulation helps mix cool and warm air more effectively and tends to keep temperatures in rooms with a high ceiling more consistent.

• Make sure your air conditioner capacity is properly sized. Air conditioner cooling performance is rated by BTU capacity. If one or more rooms in the house has a high ceiling, however, an air conditioner with insufficient BTU capacity may not produce sufficient cooling power to accommodate the substantially larger air volume in the room. Higher cooling costs and a lower comfort level may result.

For professional advice about effective, efficient cooling and heating in homes with high ceilings, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

Hydrostatic Sewer Pipe Testing - Tulsa, OK

Hydrostatic Sewer Pipe Testing - Tulsa, OK

Hydrostatic test is a process performed by an experienced plumber to locate any breaks or leaks that may exist in a sealed sewer pipe system. An inflatable test device is inserted into building or home main line sewer cleanout and is then inflated in order to block or plug the main sewer line. The plumbing professionals at Air Assurance can provide a hydrostatic pressure test for your home or business if you believe a sewer line leak may exist. If your property has any foundation issues, foundation cracks or changes, these often can lead to a sewer pipe break in the foundation.

Air Assurance Hyrdostatic Services

Air Assurance Plumbing Division will not only determine the existence of a sewer leak with Hydrostatic Sewer Testing, but also determines the leak’s exact location and source. Pinpoint the leak’s source is critical because any intrusion into your home’s or business’s foundation needs to be kept to an absolute minimum. The sewer line professionals at Air Assurance are experts at determining the existence and location of sewer line problems, so you can rest assured the job will be done correctly with adherence to best plumbing standards and practices.

Leak Detection and Pipe Inspection – Process:

1. Hydrostatic Pressure Test

A hydrostatic pressure test is performed on a home or building’s sanitary sewer system to determine if there are water leaks present in the plumbing system. An inflatable test ball is inserted into building or home main line sewer cleanout and is then inflated in order to block or plug the main sewer line. The sewer system is then filled with water up to slab level, where the water level is observed for up to 15 minutes. If the system does not fill to slab level, or if the water level begins to drop, water leaks are present in the sanitary sewer system. The next phase of leak detection to identify these leaking sewer lines involves a combination of video camera pipe inspection and static leak isolation testing of pvc or cast iron sewer system.

2. Video Camera Pipe Inspection and Leak Location

State of the art in-line sewer or drain video camera equipment is used to perform sewer pipe or drain line camera inspection of a sanitary sewer system. The infrared camera is inserted into system through existing cleanouts, roof vents, or toilet drains to observe and analyze the condition of a sub-slab drain system. Exact locations of obstructions, breaks, stoppages or deteriorated pipes can be determined with sewer camera inspection along with approximate depth of the sewer pipe.

3. Static Leak Isolation Testing

Static leak isolation testing is the leak detection process in which we use a combination of sewer video camera pipe inspection and hydrostatic pressure testing to isolate and test different sections or areas of an under slab sanitary sewer system to pinpoint exact locations of water leaks in the system. Inflatable test devices are inserted into system through existing cleanouts, roof vents, and exposed toilet drains to perform hydrostatic test on an isolated portions of the sewer system. An in-line sewer video camera is used in the process to assist with the placement of test balls throughout the system and to map out the layout of the sanitary sewer system.

If you think you have a sewer leak, water line leak, or any other leak - you can count on the plumbing professionals at Air Assurance. Our plumbing service areas include Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Coweta and more. Call us today!

The Right Home Temperature for Elderly Adults

Taking care of yourself as you get older becomes more difficult every year. There are a thousand different things you have to think about when it comes to your health and general well-being. The last thing on your mind is your home temperature. However, it's a more important issue than you think. Here's what you need to know:

Aging and Hypothermia

As you get older, you're more prone to a variety of different health issues, including some you might not realize, such as hypothermia. If you're over 65 and your internal body temperature drops below 95 degrees, it can cause problems with your heart, liver, kidneys, and more.

It's important to understand the signs of hypothermia. If you see someone is constantly shivering, their breathing is shallow, they have a weak pulse, their coordination is poor, they're slurring their speech, or they seem confused, disoriented, or low on energy, there could very well be a problem with their internal body temperature.

Avoiding Hypothermia

The best way to prevent hypothermia when you get older is to make sure your environment stays warm enough. Keep your home temperature at around 68 to 70 degrees. Then, seal all air leaks to make sure that heat isn't escaping. Consider a home energy audit to find out where in your home air is leaking out and then hire an HVAC contractor to seal them up. Common places for leaks include around windows, under doors, along your baseboards, and behind outlets and light switches.

You could use a space heater to warm up your bedroom, but be careful. Heaters can be a fire hazard if they're not used properly. If you're going to use one, be sure you do it safely. If you're not comfortable using a heater in your home, a better option is to add another blanket or two to the bed when it gets cold and dress in a couple more layers. Not only is it safer, it uses less energy.

For more help achieving your ideal home temperature, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide top-quality heating and cooling solutions to Broken Arrow.