Air Duct Cleaning in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, OK

Looking inside a floor supply air duct by Air Assurance - Tulsa, OK

Duct Cleaning Services - Tulsa, OK

Dust and dirt continually accumulate on the inside surfaces of your ductwork. This environment provides the nutrients for molds, bacteria, allergens and fungi to reproduce and grow. Every time your system’s fan goes on, it forces this contaminated mixture into the air you breathe. When done correctly and duct work problems resolved, air duct cleaning should not be something that is needed every year. At best, with properly sealed ductwork, and filter changed and maintained - you should be able to go many years between cleanings. If you are cleaning your ductwork every year because of excessive dust, then give Air Assurance a call today!

Duct Cleaning Process

The duct cleaning process is called “Source Removal Process” and is the highest standard in the duct cleaning industry. Debris is loosened with special agitation tools inserted into each vent opening. All vent covers and interior surfaces of your ductwork are then “air-washed” utilizing many pounds per square inch of air pressure and special air tools to reach normally inaccessible areas. The large diameter vacuum hose attached to your ductwork assures that loosened debris is auctioned out of your home and not discharged into your living environment. Plus, your ducts will be sanitized.

Duct Cleaning Tulsa, ok

We generate a great deal of dust just through our regular daily activities. While the filters in your heating and air conditioning systems are meant to prevent most of that dust from entering into your ductwork, some of it will get through when ducts are not sealed properly. Other pollutants, like pet dander or chemicals can also enter the ductwork. Help prevent the spread of this dust and mildew throughout your home by having your ducts cleaned professionally. Air Assurance provides heat, air, and plumbing services for all of Greater Tulsa, OK.

Choose Air Assurance

With over 35 years in business, you can count on Air Assurance for heating, air conditioning and plumbing service. We provide everything from maintenance, to HVAC replacement estimates and installations services. When indoor air quality is a concern - Call on Air Assurance day or night. We would be delighted to be your heating and air conditioning company.

What to Know About Bathroom Heater, Fan & Light Combos

Bathroom-fan combos add three vital conveniences to daily living: adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Bathrooms are ground zero for high levels of moisture and odors. From the standpoint of comfort, the bathroom’s often not a cozy room, either, especially on a cold winter morning. A bathroom-fan combo integrates an exhaust fan, electric heating, and bright illumination into one overhead unit installed in the ceiling. Here are some of the factors involved in choosing the right unit and getting proper installation:

• To fully remove humidity and odors from the bathroom rapidly, the exhaust fan should provide at least one cubic foot per minute of airflow for each square foot of bathroom space. A dedicated duct must be installed to exhaust bathroom air all the way to the exterior of the house. Exhausting directly into the attic is not acceptable, as high moisture content in bathroom air will cause expensive structural damage, ruin insulation, and also promote mold growth.

• Bathroom combo units may be activated by a timer switch instead of a standard on/off switch. This ensures that the unit runs long enough — usually 15 minutes — to fully exhaust moisture in the air after activity such as a shower or bath, then turns off automatically.

• The lamp function in the combo may utilize a 100-watt incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, or an LED array. LED lighting typically provides longer service before replacement is needed. Most units also include a night light that is 5 to 7 watts.

• A bathroom-fan combo sized for a typical medium bathroom — between 50 and 100 square feet—usually includes an electric heat element ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 watts. The heating unit incorporates an internal thermostat to keep the temperature consistent.

• To ensure safe operation in a moist and misty bathroom, installation of bathroom-fan combos should be performed by a qualified HVAC contractor or a licensed electrician. Units will typically require a dedicated circuit, which also includes GFCI (ground fault interrupter circuit) protection.

For more information about the selection and installation of bathroom-fan combos, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

Air Duct Cleaning & Sealing - Tulsa

AIR DUCT CLEANING - TULSA

At Air Assurance, we provide many indoor air quality solutions. Many homeowners have dealt with allergies, dust, or other problems in their home never realizing that the indoor air quality can be improved. If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants such as dust, mold, bacteria, fungi, and other contaminates can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Health concerns, such as allergies, asthma or the hazards of carbon monoxide can often be attributed to a poorly maintained, designed, or installed heating and air conditioning system.

AIR DUCT CLEANING IN TULSA REQUIRED?

Indoor Air Quality is important. Air duct cleaning helps maintain the hygiene of your household. Unclean ducts make the air unfit for breathing. Bad indoor air quality is one of the major causes of many respiratory problems like asthma and allergies. But did you know, you don't always need a duct cleaning? Often times we can help elimnate the source of the duct problem.

The system cleans your air ducts by brushing and removing debris and dirt directly out of your HVAC system and into our hepa filtration silencing box. We can then apply an anti-microbial protectant inside your duct work that kills most germs and microbes on contact for up to an entire year, greatly reducing or eliminating air-borne pathogens.

An HVAC air filter captures only about 7 percent of airborne debris in the average home. That means that roughly 93 percent of the dust in your air keeps circulating through the heat vents and HVAC system. To improve your air quality and protect your costly HVAC equipment from damage, it's wise to have the condition of your ducts checked every two years. When duct cleaning is needed, make sure you hire an experienced professional who adheres to standards established by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and uses the correct cleaning procedures to safeguard your home and HVAC system.In between checkups, watch for these telltale signs that your ducts need cleaning.

Excessive Amounts of Debris and Dust

If your heating vents are covered with soot, dust or cobwebs and particles are sent floating through the air when the blower is running, there's likely a considerable buildup deep inside the duct system that should be removed. If your home is newly built or you've recently had remodeling done in your older home, you may need the ducts cleaned to clear out any leftover construction debris.

Signs of Pests

When pests invade the ductwork, contaminants like insect parts and rodent droppings can make the air circulating through your home unhealthy to breathe. If you hear to see evidence of insects or vermin in the heating vents, call in an exterminator. Once the infestation has been eradicated, have the duct system professionally sanitized.To learn whether cleaning the heat vents is necessary 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 heat vents and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-615-4677. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “matius/Shutterstock”

Indoor Air Quality in Your Tulsa Home - Ways You Can Improve It

How's the Indoor Air Quality in Your Tulsa Home? 3 Ways You Can Improve It

AIR DUCT CLEANING - Broken Arrow

At Air Assurance, we provide many indoor air quality solutions. Many homeowners have dealt with allergies, dust, or other problems in their home never realizing that the indoor air quality can be improved. If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants such as dust, mold, bacteria, fungi, and other contaminates can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Health concerns, such as allergies, asthma or the hazards of carbon monoxide can often be attributed to a poorly maintained, designed, or installed heating and air conditioning system. We provide duct cleaning service in Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Coweta, Tulsa and more!

AIR DUCT CLEANING REQUIRED?

Indoor Air Quality is important. Air duct cleaning helps maintain the hygiene of your household. Unclean ducts make the air unfit for breathing. Bad indoor air quality is one of the major causes of many respiratory problems like asthma and allergies. But did you know, you don't always need a duct cleaning? Often times we can help elimnate the source of the duct problem.

The system cleans your air ducts by brushing and removing debris and dirt directly out of your HVAC system and into our hepa filtration silencing box. We can then apply an anti-microbial protectant inside your duct work that kills most germs and microbes on contact for up to an entire year, greatly reducing or eliminating air-borne pathogens.

An HVAC air filter captures only about 7 percent of airborne debris in the average home. That means that roughly 93 percent of the dust in your air keeps circulating through the heat vents and HVAC system. To improve your air quality and protect your costly HVAC equipment from damage, it's wise to have the condition of your ducts checked every two years. When duct cleaning is needed, make sure you hire an experienced professional who adheres to standards established by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and uses the correct cleaning procedures to safeguard your home and HVAC system.In between checkups, watch for these telltale signs that your ducts need cleaning.

About indoor air quality

Everyone deserves to breathe healthful air, especially at home. Doing so can be a challenge in today’s modern world, however, when homes are well insulated for energy efficiency. Airtight homes have a downside: They trap contaminated air inside. Many products that we use daily at home contribute to bad indoor air quality, too. Cleaning fluids, pesticides, hobby materials, home improvement dust and even wet carpets emit harmful particles, polluting your air supply. Combustion debris and gases from cooking/home heating float through our indoor air along with pet dander, dust and bacteria. Here in the Tulsa area, we have the added challenge of a humid climate, which encourages mold growth.  

Safeguarding indoor air quality: the three ways 

• Source control: Your goal is to eliminate or minimize sources of poor indoor air quality. Limit the use of harmful chemicals in your home and ensure proper storage. When cooking or showering, use your exhaust fans (properly vented to the outdoors) to clear out cooking odors and humid, moist air. Schedule preventive maintenance to ensure your appliances and HVAC system work properly, limiting the possibility of gas leaks. For safety, install CO (carbon monoxide) monitors/detectors near sleeping areas and test regularly.

• Ventilation: Proper, balanced airflow throughout the home depends on a properly designed, sized and maintained duct system. Have your ductwork sealed to prevent energy loss and maintain air quality. Duct cleaning is advisable in some cases. Since A/C systems can’t provide adequate ventilation, whole-house mechanical ventilation is recommended.

• Air cleaning: No one air sanitizing method is perfect, but using a few specialized tools in combination can provide greatly improved IAQ. Whole-house air cleaning with UV lighting, when incorporated into your home’s air cleaning, heating and cooling system, helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Consider asking your home comfort contractor to apply broad-spectrum antimicrobial microbiocide to further inhibit harmful bacteria. For the best air quality, include a whole-home air cleaner with an advanced filtration system and highly effective air filter.

Concerned about indoor air quality? Contact the experts at Air Assurance. Visit our website to learn more or give us a call.

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). 

Best Frozen Pipe Prevention Methods

Winters in Broken Arrow are relatively mild, but there are still some cold days. That means you still need to take steps to prepare your home for lower temperatures. In particular, you need to protect your pipes. Anytime the temperature drops below 32 degrees, they're in danger of freezing. Here are three of the best methods of frozen-pipe prevention you can use.

Insulation

Any exposed pipes, both indoors and outdoors, should be insulated. There are insulating sleeves you can put on them, which prevent the cold from getting in, or you can wrap them in heat cables or heat tape, which actively warm the pipes to prevent freezing.

Regulate Your Home Temperature

Perhaps the best method of frozen-pipe prevention is keeping your home warm enough. As long as it's kept above 32 degrees, there shouldn't be any problem.

Weatherstrip your home to keep heat in. Seal any air leaks that could cause warm air to leak out or cold air to leak in, making your house colder. Make sure there's enough insulation in your attic as well, to keep the heat in your home.

Finally, open the doors to any cabinets that have pipes in them: in the bathroom, below the kitchen sink, etc. This will help make sure warm air reaches them and keeps the water flowing.

Focus on Water

Being aware of the water is a good step toward preventing freezing. When the temperature starts to drop, drain any hoses outdoors that might have water in them. Then, turn on each of your faucets just slightly, until there's a small but steady trickle of water coming from them. As long as the water is moving, it will be more difficult to freeze.

If your pipes do freeze, wrap them in a heating pad or other heat source. Leave the faucet on, as once the water starts flowing again, it will help the ice to melt faster. If it still won't thaw, call a plumber.

For more tips on frozen-pipe prevention, contact us at Air Assurance. Broken Arrow's home-comfort needs are our No. 1 priority.

The Best Ways to Keep Outside Pets Warm in the Winter Season

Winter has arrived, and that's great news for millions of people across the country, but sometimes our pets need a little extra care to make sure they stay warm. Here are a few quick tips that will make keeping pets warm in the winter an easy task:

Don't Turn Off the Thermostat When You Leave

If you were home during the day, you most likely wouldn't turn your thermostat off, so don't do this to your pets either. That being said, since their acceptable range for temperatures is wider than people, you can lower the temperature down to 60 to 70 degrees while you're away and they will be fine.

Supply a Shelter and a Feeding Station

If you have an outdoor dog or cat, he or she may want to stay indoors more often, but there's still a good chance that they'll go outside too. Make sure that you've set up a shelter outside to help them stay warm, along with a feeding station so they don't get hungry.

Pick Up Some Pet Clothing

You may think that pet clothing, such as sweaters, looks a little silly, but it keeps them quite warm. In addition to the standard pet sweater, you may also want to consider some doggie booties so that ice doesn't collect on the bottoms of their paws.

Use Caution with De-Icing Chemicals

If you're planning on using antifreeze or another type of de-icing chemical, then be very wary about using them where pets might have access to the toxic substance. Also, keep the container in a place that your pets can't get to, and if a spill occurs, wipe it up immediately.

Pay Special Attention to Older Pets

Elderly animals can suffer from arthritic aches and pains just like we do. If your older pets seem to be uncomfortable, consider contacting your vet and getting him or her some pain medication.

If you'd like more expert advice on keeping pets warm in winter or have other HVAC issues that you need to discuss, please reach out to the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas for more than 35 years.

How to Check Your Home Insulation Levels

On cold winter nights, people start thinking a lot more about proper home insulation levels. Insulation installed in the attic and often inside walls prevents both heat loss from the house during winter and heat gain in the summer. Most homes are insulated by either fiberglass batts or cellulose loose-fill.

How Much Is Enough?

Insulation is rated according to its R-value per inch. The higher the R-value, the more effectively the material inhibits the movement of heat.

In our Oklahoma climate zone, current standards recommend insulating the attic to a level of R38 to R60. For fiberglass batts, this translates to 12 to 18 inches. For cellulose, the depth should be 10 to 16 inches.

Wall cavities should be insulated to at least R13. The material should fill the cavity from top to bottom.

Checking Your Level

As the prime location for heat loss and heat gain, the attic is the most important part of the house to insulate adequately. Here's how to measure the level in the attic:

• Wear a long-sleeve shirt and long pants. A face mask to prevent inhalation of insulation fibers or other airborne particulates is a good idea too.

• Take a yardstick with you.

• Stay safe. Make sure you step only on the center walkway boards. Don’t step on insulation, as the ceiling below may collapse.

• To measure fiberglass batts, insert the yardstick down between the edge of the batt and the adjacent attic joist until it stops.

• Measure cellulose loose-fill by pushing the yardstick down into the mound of material until you feel it contact the ceiling below. Because cellulose depth may vary across the attic, take several measurements at different spots to arrive at an average.

Wall Insulation

If your home has insulated wall cavities, measuring isn’t a practical option for the do-it-yourselfer. Manual measurements would require opening up walls to access the enclosed insulation. A better alternative is to have a qualified HVAC contractor utilize thermal imaging to verify the amount and type of insulation inside the wall.

For professional advice and service to determine your home-insulation levels, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

5 Signs a New HVAC System Should Be On Your Christmas List

Finding a Christmas gift for that special someone in your life is often very difficult, but it's easy to find the perfect present for your home. A new HVAC system for your household will look great on Santa's list this year. Let's take a look at a few signs that might point to a new system this holiday.

The System Is Aging

HVAC systems are built to last for several years, but nothing stays functional forever. If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old or your furnace is more than 15 years old, then it's a good idea to begin thinking of a replacement.

Repair Costs Are Too High

You'll probably need to have your system repaired once several years have gone by, but there will come a point when it's just not feasible to keep fixing it. A good rule of thumb: If a repair is going to cost more than half of what a new unit will cost, then pick up a new one.

Increasing Energy Bills

There are numerous reasons why your energy bills could be rising, and an aging or malfunctioning HVAC system could be the culprit. Installing a new unit will help solve that problem. Plus, newer models are a lot more energy-efficient than previous ones, so you'll save money there too.

Strange Sounds or Odors

If you've been hearing strange noises or smelling strange odors coming from your equipment, these are signs that the system is in disrepair. Have a professional HVAC technician check it out and then decide if a replacement is necessary.

Poor Indoor Air Quality

Your HVAC system has a lot to do with the quality of the air in your home. If you've been noticing a drop in quality and a routine maintenance check doesn't solve the issue, then it could be time to put new equipment on your list.

If you'd like more expert advice on replacing your HVAC system or any other home comfort topic, reach out to the professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities since 1985.