Hidden Ways Your HVAC Bill Can Cost You

What if you could give yourself a little financial boost every month by cutting down on your electricity bill? It's possible by addressing certain hidden electricity costs around your home. What could be better than avoiding the monthly dread most of us feel when we look at the electricity bill and see how much more energy we've used than we calculated? You can do that by eliminating the hidden costs associated with electricity.

What Are Some Hidden Energy Costs?

Your energy bill can be reduced in many ways. Here are some top suggestions for reducing hidden costs.

1. Run energy-gobbling appliances at off-peak hours. Electricity generally costs more when it's being consumed at peak hours, such as between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Make a point of washing and drying clothes or running the dishwasher at off-peak hours, when demand is less, so that you are paying less for energy. Some homeowners with well-insulated homes make a practice of running the air conditioner at a colder temperature at night so they don't have to turn it up so high during the day while the house is still holding cool air.

2. Eliminate energy vampires. All over your house, you may have appliances and devices that are consuming energy while they are supposedly "off," such as DVD players, VCRs, cable and satellite boxes, digital TV converters, video game consoles, standby coffeemakers, and many other appliances, which may continue to draw energy when you think they are off. Plug all these devices into a power strip and turn the strip off when the appliances are not in use. 

3. Choose more efficient appliances. As your appliances age and wear out, be sure you replace them with models that are more efficient and that use less energy, such as those rated by the government's Energy Star program. 

4. When replacing your HVAC system, make sure the new system is sized correctly. Calculate the right size with industry software rather than going by square footage and guesswork. The wrong-size HVAC system will result in greater hidden costs.

For more on the hidden costs of running your HVAC system, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

How Room Design Can Affect Airflow in Your Home

Did you know that your room designs could be hurting your health and your home's energy efficiency? Some designs allow rooms to get more airflow. Good airflow helps prevent the buildup of pollutants and stagnant moisture. As a result, indoor air becomes healthier and feels more comfortable. Additionally, regulating the temperature of your rooms gets much easier and doesn't require you to run your heating or cooling system as often. Let's look at some of the ways a room's design can improve or impede airflow.

Unnecessary Walls

The air current within a room can be stopped quickly if it runs into an unnecessary wall. The fewer walls you have, the better the flow of air will be in your home. While walls are necessary for support and privacy, consider designing your house without the walls that aren't really necessary for your home's structural integrity, especially in the common areas.

Improper Placement of Vents

Vent placement is a critical aspect of room design. Positioning vents correctly ensures that they're not in an area where items like furniture and interior design elements can easily cover them. Closed or blocked vents cause airflow restrictions.

An HVAC company can help you position your vents correctly. For rooms that are already ventilated, try rearranging the furniture to enable smooth airflow and ventilation.

Multiple Windows

Having just a single window in a room will allow you to get a good amount of fresh air. However, if you want to increase airflow in the room, you'll need at least two windows.

In a room with two windows, air flows in through one of the windows and leaves through the other window as a result of convection. This movement of air naturally creates a breeze and allows the room's air to be replaced continuously, making the addition of windows an excellent option for any of your rooms.

Logically placed windows, vents, and walls will facilitate increased airflow in your home. For more information on room design and improvement of airflow, contact us at Air Assurance, proudly serving Broken Arrow's heating, air-conditioning, and indoor-environmental needs.

Have an Accessory Structure on Your Property? Make Sure Its HVAC Health is Maintained

It's tempting to save money by not cooling or heating accessory structures on your property, which could be anything from a storage shed to a detached apartment or cabin — even another unoccupied property you may own in another location. It stands to reason that the less energy you use, the lower your bill will be. However, there are some things to consider when letting unoccupied accessory structures go without heating or cooling.

Mold.

The climate in Oklahoma can be humid enough to generate mold indoors. Leaving a structure shut up for long periods without running an air conditioner to reduce moisture can result in mold, mildew, and fungus, leaving a damp and unpleasant smell in the building and on furnishings. At the very least, you may want to run a portable dehumidifier during periods of high humidity.

Broken pipes.

When there is plumbing in accessory structures, you will of course want to protect the pipes during the winter, especially when it freezes. That might be accomplished merely by keeping the thermostat in the low 50s or by placing a space heater near the pipes during the hours when freezing temperatures are expected. Draining pipes and wrapping them in heat tape might also prevent freezing. You may also want to turn off the main water supply if the building will be unoccupied for long periods. Even if there is no plumbing in the accessory structures, think about any items that are stored there that might be damaged by freezing temperatures. 

Add some ductless HVAC.

There are a couple of ways to add a simple HVAC system to help mitigate moisture and to maintain a proper temperature in your accessory structures. The simplest solution is to add a window unit. You can also install a window unit heat pump that both cools and heats, or a ductless mini split heat pump. The ductless minis have air handlers that you can mount on walls, ceilings, floors, and shelves.

For more on heating and cooling accessory structures, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Which HVAC Repairs Are Most Urgent?

What’s the difference between routine fixes and urgent HVAC repairs? Some cooling and heating issues are minor nuisances that can be resolved whenever it’s convenient. On the other hand, certain circumstances demand prompt attention by a qualified HVAC technician ASAP. 

Delaying proper service may compromise home safety as well as inflict costly damage on expensive HVAC components. The bottom line is this: When certain circumstances occur, urgent HVAC repairs shouldn’t be postponed. Here are some signs and symptoms to be aware of.

Natural Gas Leakage

The odor of natural gas in the house is always an emergency. If the smell seems to originate from the furnace area or is coming from heating vents in rooms, go to the thermostat and turn off the furnace immediately. Get all occupants out of the house and call 911 or the gas company. Once qualified emergency responders are on the scene, call your HVAC contractor and report the situation. 

Air Conditioner Short-Cycling

If you notice the AC turning on and then turning off again almost immediately, consider it a warning sign that may require urgent HVAC repairs to prevent costly damage. Short-cycling may be a simple matter of a clogged air filter. However, it’s also a symptom of critical issues like a refrigerant leak or a compressor motor running too hot. Shut off the AC at the thermostat to prevent further damage and contact your HVAC contractor for emergency service.

Furnace Auto-Shutdown

A heating system turning itself off automatically is usually indicative of a furnace safety issue that warrants urgent HVAC repairs. The unit may be overheating dangerously and triggering a high-limit shutdown switch. An airflow blockage somewhere in the system may also generate excess heat and cause a shutdown. Don’t continue restarting the furnace. Instead, call for qualified HVAC service right away.

Unexplained Cost Increases

If monthly gas or electric bills suddenly spike and there's no obvious explanation (like rate hikes), don't just keep paying higher bills. Get the system checked out and have any urgent HVAC repairs made now, before more unnecessary expense is incurred.

For qualified professional service when urgent HVAC repairs are needed (and any time), contact Air Assurance.

Does Your Local Climate Impact the Kind of HVAC Equipment You Should Buy?

Choosing the right HVAC equipment is crucial for your comfort and for keeping your energy bills in check. Not all HVAC systems are created equal, and it's important to get the right one for the climate you live in, for both comfort and efficiency. Let's have a look at the climate's impact on your HVAC system. 

Climate and HVAC

The average summer or winter temperature of a region should always be considered when choosing an air conditioner or a furnace. For instance, if you live in Miami or along the Gulf Coast, you will not need the most efficient furnace. Likewise, those in the northern climes, where summers are not as long or as hot as in the South, won't need an air conditioner with top efficiency. In fact, today's extremely efficient HVAC systems feature a number of bells and whistles that may be superfluous for your climate.

Talk about climate impact with your HVAC consultant. Our Broken Arrow climate isn't the coldest or the warmest, although temperatures can occasionally plunge or peak. Your consultant can advise you about the level of efficiency that's best for your home. When shopping, look at the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings) for furnaces, and the SEER, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the AC. Because our summers are generally not that long or that hot, you may not need a top SEER. Likewise with furnaces. AFUEs of 80% to 85% are mid-efficiency ratings, while high-efficiency units rate between 90% and 97% AFUE. Obviously, the more efficient the unit, the more you will pay when you buy it.

Humidity

High humidity also affects comfort and efficiency, and Oklahoma can be very humid during the summer, when the south wind brings moisture in from Texas. Remember that high humidity is a factor in climate impact in that it makes your AC work harder to cool your home. When discussing climate impact during your next HVAC installation, ask about how to compensate for excessive moisture.

To learn more about climate's impact on HVAC equipment, contact Air Assurance.

How to Keep the Most Vulnerable Members of Your Household Comfortable

A variety of factors can cause some of us to feel the heat or the cold more acutely than others. Sometimes it's age; other times it's illness. For still others, it's just how we are. We each tend to have an internal thermometer that tells us our optimum temperature.

But for some vulnerable household members, their health may depend on maintaining a certain temperature. Fortunately, there are ways to do this without sacrificing efficiency or comfort for other members of the household.

Why Too Cold or Too Hot?

Vulnerable household members may suffer from being too hot or too cold for a variety of reasons. When people are too cold, it might be because of:

• Poor circulation. This is often due to age.

• Low body fat. Fat insulates.

• Low muscle tone. Muscles also help insulate the body.

• Tall people are often colder because circulating blood has more area to cover.

• Dehydration can make us feel colder. 

• Gender can have an effect, with women feeling colder (in general) than men because of genetic factors that make it harder to regulate body temperatures.

• Illnesses including thyroid problems, diabetes, and iron deficiency may make people feel cold.

Vulnerable household members who feel too hot may experience these conditions: being overweight; hyperthyroidism; and taking medications such as certain antidepressants, hormonal medications, antibiotics, pain relievers, and/or heart and blood pressure drugs. They might also suffer from diabetes or fibromyalgia.

How to Regulate the Temperature for Vulnerable Household Members

Any home may have hot or cold spots, inspiring requests to raise or lower the thermostat. One way to help vulnerable household members is to install a zoned system so that these individuals can control the temperature in the area of the home they live in. Other solutions include:

• Repairing faulty ductwork.

• Inspecting vents to make sure they work properly.

• Insulating rooms to help hold in the heat or AC.

• Adding window treatments to block sun in rooms that are too hot.

• Fixing leaks around windows with caulk and weatherstripping. 

For more on helping vulnerable household members feel more comfortable without sacrificing HVAC efficiency, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

The Most Common External Threats to Your HVAC System

External HVAC threats can turn into significant expenses and interrupt household comfort. While today’s HVAC systems provide a long, expected service life, specific hazards affect certain outdoor system parts. For example, central air conditioner components including the compressor and condenser coil, which are installed in an outdoor unit behind or beside the house. The critical furnace vent, meanwhile, terminates on the roof, where it’s exposed to weather and wildlife. Here’s a rundown of external HVAC threats to outdoor cooling and heating components.

Weather Extremes

Heavy rain and associated roof runoff may cause pooling of water around the outdoor AC unit. While the unit is water-resistant, it is not waterproof against prolonged immersion. Deep standing water inundating the outdoor unit can damage sensitive electrical circuits, as well as the compressor motor. 

Falling Limbs

Heavy tree limbs broken by wind or an ice storm pose external HVAC threats if they impact the outdoor AC housing and damage the upper fan grille and/or the condenser fan itself. Falling leaves may also clog the fan grille and obstruct exhaust airflow, reducing cooling efficiency. 

Nesting Wildlife

The interior of the outdoor AC unit provides an attractive nesting spot for birds, possums, raccoons, and other animals. Nests can block proper condenser coil airflow. 

The gas furnace vent pipe terminating on the roof exhausts toxic combustion byproducts, including dangerous carbon monoxide. If the vent cap is missing or loose, the open pipe may attract birds and other animals. Nesting material such as leaves may block exhaust and cause dangerous fumes to enter the house.

To Reduce External HVAC Threats:

• Mount the outdoor AC unit on a solid pad, several inches above ground level to keep out water.

• Cut back overhanging limbs that may break and impact the unit.

• Install a commercially available cover on the AC unit during the winter to keep out leaves and heavy snow accumulation. 

• Secure side panels and the top grille to exclude animals.

• Annually check the furnace vent cap and inspect the vent pipe for obstructions.

For professional help to identify and eliminate external HVAC threats, contact Air Assurance.

The Top Three Links between Plumbing and HVAC

Certain HVAC and plumbing links are built into most homes. While we tend to think of these as distinct, separate systems, cooling and heating may interact with plumbing at several points inside your house. Defects can cause problems in either system, including indoor water damage and potential damage to connected HVAC units. Here are some points where HVAC and plumbing links converge inside your home — and what could go wrong. 

AC Overflow

Humidity reduction is a vital part of air conditioning. As the indoor evaporator coil condenses water vapor, it is collected in a condensate drip pan beneath the indoor air handler. This liquid flows through a line that's connected to the household drain system. Problems that occur with HVAC and plumbing links include algae growth in the condensate drip pan clogging the drain line. If this happens, the drip pan will overflow every time the AC cycles on.

Annual preventive maintenance of HVAC and plumbing links by a qualified professional contractor includes an inspection and cleaning of the drip pan and drain line. Biocide tablets may be added to the drip pan to inhibit algae growth and prevent future clogs.

A High-Efficiency Furnace

Furnaces with high AFUE efficiency ratings condense water vapor present in exhaust gases. This condensate flows through typical HVAC and plumbing links, including a drain line that extends to the outdoors or into the home's drain system. A clog anywhere can cause condensate to back up into the furnace, triggering an automatic safety switch that shuts down the furnace. Professional HVAC service is required to clear the clog and then restart the furnace. 

Home Dehumidifiers

A whole-home dehumidifier that's installed inside home ductwork may produce more than 10 gallons of condensate daily. A blockage anywhere in the common HVAC and plumbing links may cause leakage or overflow and resulting water damage where the dehumidifier is located — usually in the attic. Most manufacturers recommend annual dehumidifier preventative maintenance by a qualified professional to avoid clogs and overflow.

For more about potential problems with HVAC and plumbing links — as well as effective solutions — talk to the professionals at Air Assurance.

What Are the Best Brands of Dehumidifiers on the Market?

Dehumidifiers pull excess moisture from the air, removing that uncomfortable, damp feeling from your home as well as helping to prevent allergy triggers. With so many product manufacturers to choose from, it can be challenging to know which is the most reliable model for your home. Let's save your time by telling you some of the top-rated dehumidifier brands currently available.

Frigidaire

Frigidaire is one of the most widely sold dehumidifier brands. Its dehumidifiers range from 35 to 70 pints. Many of its new units meet the current Department of Energy (DOE) standards, making them highly energy-efficient. They often feature digital controls. Frigidaire dehumidifiers are exclusively refrigerant-based.

Lennox

Lennox is a premium brand that places a huge focus on quality and user safety. Lennox dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes and control indoor moisture levels without producing ozone. Some models are designed to work with any central cooling brand, and some are specially engineered to work with Lennox cooling equipment and, as a result, don't require water-collection tanks.

GE (General Electric)

GE is also a widely sold dehumidifier brand. Many of its products have received numerous positive reviews from customers. GE manufactures large-, medium-, and small-capacity units. The dehumidifiers have elegant designs.

Keystone

Keystone is a major manufacturer of dehumidifiers, with its units being available in capacities varying from 30 to 95 pints. You can choose between desiccant and refrigerant models. Keystone is a great brand to consider if you want myriad options.

Ivation

The designs of Ivation dehumidifiers are known to be smart and innovative. Whether you want minimalist or contemporary, the brand offers a variety of styles to suit your needs. Ivation high-capacity and small, mini dehumidifiers are available at pocket-friendly prices.

A high-quality unit from one of these reliable dehumidifier brands will help you enjoy a healthier and more comfortable home without having to worry much about the dehumidifier breaking down prematurely. For more information on dehumidifiers, contact us at Air Assurance. We offer Broken Arrow-area homeowners reliable installations and repairs of dehumidifiers and other HVAC equipment.