Is Ductless HVAC a Good Product for Your Home?

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In Broken Arrow's continental climate, efficient HVAC equipment is a must. A ductless HVAC system helps you heat and cool your home more efficiently by giving you more control over your indoor temperatures.

How Ductless HVAC Systems Work

Ductless systems, also known as ductless mini-splits, consist of three main elements: the outdoor compressor/condenser unit, the indoor air-handling units, and a conduit line that holds refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring and which connects the indoor units to the outdoor units. Many work like traditional heat pumps, providing both cooling and heating. The indoor units can be mounted on the wall or ceiling or be free-standing on the floor. Many models can accommodate up to four air handlers on one outdoor unit. Each unit is controlled individually by a remote control.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ductless HVAC

Flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of ductless systems. They can heat and cool just one room or a whole house. Even if you already have a ducted system, they're ideal for heating places your existing system doesn't reach, such as a finished basement, attic, or room addition. You can place the indoor units where it's most convenient and control the temperatures in different rooms or parts of your home individually. If you need extra heating in one room, you can turn up the temperature there without overheating the rest of your home — and its occupants. Because there are no ducts to waste heat and air, these systems are more energy efficient than ducted systems.

Installation is simple too. All these systems need is a 3-inch hole through the wall to run the conduit line. They're ideal if you don't want to go through the hassle of installing or extending your ducts or you live in a historic home that you don't want to alter significantly.

The main downside is the upfront cost, which can be 30% higher than a ducted system. In addition, the visible air handlers are aesthetically unappealing to some.

If you're considering a ductless HVAC system for your home, contact us at Air Assurance from anywhere around Broken Arrow.

What Is the Potential Future of Solar Power and HVAC?

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Given Broken Arrow's hot, sunny summers, solar power and HVAC are a natural pairing for keeping cool in our area. While air conditioners powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most common now, the future holds much more.

Cooling From the Sun

The solar market has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by homeowners' desire for lower energy bills and interest in sustainable living, as well as by federal tax credits for new solar PV systems, which produce electricity that can power most brands of air conditioners, heat pumps, and other HVAC equipment. It's possible to power your existing AC or heat pump with solar, but this route works best with high-efficiency systems. As systems that are more energy efficient enter the market, combining solar power and HVAC becomes increasingly practical.

Hybrid systems, which rely primarily on solar DC electricity and use AC grid electricity when necessary, offer another option. Thermal air conditioners combine solar power and HVAC in yet another way: Instead of using electricity converted from the sun's energy, they use the sun's energy directly to heat water. The hot water boils a solution containing refrigerant. When the refrigerant gas is recombined with the solution, its temperature is lower and can be used for cooling. These systems tend to work best in dry climates, but advances in technology may make them more practical for our area.

Warmth in Winter

Radiant-floor heating systems are another part of the future of solar-powered HVAC systems. The efficiency of underfloor heating makes it ideal for use with solar energy. You can use solar PV panels to convert the sun's energy to electricity to power your electric underfloor heating system or use a solar thermal store cylinder combined with a boiler for a hydronic (water) system. Solar-evacuated tubes, a relatively new technology, make hydronic systems even more efficient, particularly on cold, cloudy days.

If you're looking for new ways to combine solar power and HVAC in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

The Most Important HVAC Features of Your System

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Even the best-maintained HVAC system will require replacement. If your HVAC system is aging and not providing the levels of service you expect (or needs consistent repairs), replacing it may be the best solution. When selecting a new HVAC system, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the HVAC features of the unit you’re considering for your home.

Three HVAC Features to Look For

1. A High Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) Rating

Efficiency is an important consideration for your future HVAC purchase. A high SEER rating indicates that a particular HVAC unit provides high-efficiency performance. A more efficient HVAC unit providers better cooling and can also save on cooling costs over the years. Inefficient units use more power, thus increasing costs, and they don’t provide the level of cooling a higher-efficiency unit provides.

2. Air Filter Location

Changing the air filter is one of the most important HVAC features and upkeep items. When updating your overall HVAC system, note the air-filter locations. As a common household task, you should change your filter every three months or so, so you want to ensure the filters are accessible.

3. Zoning System

If you have a large home or a home with multiple floors, a zoning system may be the best solution for effectively cooling your home. Zoning divides your home into separate areas, each with its own temperature settings. Zoning keeps your home more comfortable and can also save money as it makes use of cooling more effectively.

When You Need Care for Important HVAC Features

At Air Assurance, we pride ourselves on providing homeowners in the greater Tulsa area with the best in customer care, HVAC service, repairs, and assistance with your heating and cooling needs. If you need a new HVAC system, we can help. If you need a new system installed or advice on what system would work best for your home, we invite you to contact us today.

How Does a Furnace Flame Sensor Work?

Furnace flame sensors are a critical heating safety component. This device verifies that the main furnace-burner flame has ignited properly after the thermostat signals for heat. The electrical signal from the thermostat opens the gas valve and an electronic igniter lights the burner. If every step in this process functions correctly, then the furnace produces heat safely.

However, if something goes wrong and the burner fails to ignite, unburned natural gas could continue to flow, escaping into the house and posing a serious safety hazard due to potential fire or explosion. Read on to learn how flame sensors prevent that from happening to keep you safe.

Flame Sensor Basics

• The flame-sensing rod that reacts to heat extends into the furnace burner. The sensing rod is connected to the furnace's electronic control board.

• The control board receives a signal from the thermostat and opens the main gas valve, then actuates the electronic igniter that lights gas flowing into the burner.

• If the burner flame ignites, heat produced by the flame is detected by the sensing rod. The control board allows the gas valve to remain open, and heat is produced safely.

• If the sensor does not detect the burner flame, the furnace control board shuts off the gas valve immediately.

Potential Flame Sensor Issues

Sensor-detection function can be affected by a number of issues, most of which are related to the age of the component. A frequent telltale symptom of a failing sensor is that the furnace "short cycles." It starts up properly when signaled by the thermostat but then almost immediately shuts down again. The furnace will not continue running beyond a very short time.

Common causes of sensor failure include:

• Cracked, bent, or broken sensor rods

• A dislodged sensor rod

• Carbon residue on the sensor that is degrading heat-sensing capabilities

Annual furnace maintenance by a certified HVAC technician helps prevent sensor problems, as well as detect and diagnose a failing sensor.

For experienced service to diagnose and repair flame-sensor problems, contact the heating professionals at Air Assurance.

What Is the Best Kind of Bathroom Heater You Can Use This Winter?

No matter how warm your house is, it's always nice to have a little added warmth in the bathroom. Bathroom heaters feel good when you're getting out of the shower or during one of those middle-of-the-night calls to parental duty when the house may be slightly chilly. 

If you're thinking about what type of auxiliary bathroom heaters you'd like, read on and consider the choices. 

• Wall-Mounted Electric Fan. Similar to space heaters, these fans are permanently installed. They generally can be 12o or 240 volts and should be installed by a licensed electrician. Most models will feature thermostat controls and timers. Since these are likely spot heaters, you may have to let it generate more heat than needed at one end of the room to adequately heat the entire bathroom.

• Heat Lamps. Heat lamps use infrared radiation — usually a kind of bulb sold in a 100- or 250-watt size — to heat people beneath the lamp. This is a relatively inexpensive way to heat the bathroom. An electrician may need to add a circuit so that you can use a 250-watt bulb. You might also consider a heat lamp and vent fan. One drawback of these is that the heat is mostly available beneath the bulb, so it will have to be close to the shower and vanity area.

• Radiant Floor Heating. Radiant floor heating is a great option when you want to spread warmth over the entire bathroom. Heat goes from the floor on up and is located below the floor, out of sight. It can be powered by electricity or hot water. Radiant floor heating is considered an efficient way to heat.

• Convection Heater. Convection heaters pull in cold air and then heat it with a heating coil. Or, it might draw the air over an oil-filled element, then blow it back into the room. You have a wide range of choices as to shape and size, from a small ceramic tile heater to a larger, oil-filled, fan-driven mode. These bathroom heaters can be wall mounted or portable.

For more on bathroom heaters, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. 

indoor Air Quality testing?

Indoor air quality has a significant impact on health. Exposure to the pollutants in indoor air has been associated with sneezing, coughing, respiratory irritation, and more-severe long-term health issues like cancer and lung disease. High-quality air filters can improve the quality of your home's air. Call Air Assurance Co if you would like a no costs assessment and report of your indoor air quality, including VOCS, particulate count, CO2 and more.

How Air Filters Affect Air Quality

The air that your HVAC system circulates throughout your home passes through an air filter before it's distributed. The air filter captures large dirt particles, dust bunnies, hair, and lint. If you have a high-quality filter, it will also capture microscopic allergens. As a result, the high-quality filter leaves the air that's circulated throughout your home cleaner, healthier, and better for breathing.

Cheap fiberglass air filters only trap large particles. As a result, they don't boost your home's air quality. High-quality filters that also capture microscopic particles (helping improve indoor air quality) include:

• Pleated electrostatic filters. Electrostatic filters consist of charged material that attracts oppositely charged particles. These filters capture tiny pollutants like smoke, bacteria, and allergens. Pleats improve their filtering performance.

• HEPA filters. These utilize specially formulated filtration technology that captures up to 99.97% of airborne particles equal to or greater than 0.3 microns in diameter. As a result, they capture a wide variety of microscopic particles like mold spores, tobacco smoke, pollen grains, pet dander, bacteria, and some viruses.

• Carbon filters. Carbon filters are specifically made to remove odors. They also remove gaseous vapors, smoke, and certain chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Air purifiers. Air purifiers use the same filtration types as HVAC air filters. They pull air from a room, pass it through a filter, and send purified air back to the room. Modern purifiers typically use a multilayer filter system comprising prefilters, carbon filters, antibacterial filters, and HEPA filters.

Considering the large volume of indoor air that passes through an air filter, well-maintained filters can have a significant positive impact on your home's air quality. Make sure you replace your filters regularly to keep them working efficiently. For the best indoor air-quality solutions in the Broken Arrow area, don't hesitate to contact us at Air Assurance.

Which Immediate Plumbing Issues Could Come Up This Winter?

Winter is the busiest period of the year for many plumbing companies. The challenges that the season poses to plumbing systems usually lead to certain household plumbing emergencies. Below are the immediate plumbing issues that commonly come up in the winter, along with what you can do to avoid them.

Frozen Pipes

The cold temperatures outside can make unprotected pipes freeze easily, one of many troubling and immediate plumbing issues. Frozen pipes are one of the most serious plumbing issues. Frozen pipes can crack or burst and lead to thousands of dollars' worth of damage in just minutes. You can avoid this issue by adding insulation to your pipes, especially those in uninsulated areas and on exterior walls.

Water-Heater Failure

Your water heater works its hardest in the winter, which increases its likelihood of breaking down. If your unit fails to deliver hot water or struggles to meet demand, it may be necessary to repair or replace it.

Having your water heater serviced every year is essential to keeping it performing as expected. Nevertheless, water heaters function optimally for around 10 years. If your water heater is on its last legs, consider scheduling a replacement.

Clogged Kitchen Drains

With low temperatures, kitchens, and kitchen sinks get a workout as people cook more. More fat, grease, and bits of food are sent down the drain. Clogs occur more often, as the food waste clumps, congeals, and freezes in the cold.

You can prevent your kitchen drains from clogging — one of many immediate plumbing issues — by avoiding putting any grease or fat down the drains and not grinding fibrous, sticky, or extremely hard objects in the garbage disposal.

Frozen Septic or Sewer Lines

The waste inside sewer lines can freeze as the ground around the lines freezes. The waste expands gradually as it freezes and may eventually burst a line or the septic tank. Have your tank pumped before the cold winter months to remove waste and prevent this problem. Schedule a comprehensive plumbing inspection if your sewer system has had any issues during the year.

Proactive maintenance goes a long way toward preventing plumbing emergencies. For assistance with any immediate plumbing issues or maintenance in the Broken Arrow area, contact us at Air Assurance.

Know the Common HVAC Acronyms and What They Mean

The HVAC industry has plenty of acronyms. You may hear about them when you're in the market for a new heating or cooling system or see them on stickers or units and have a hard time figuring out what they mean. Let's decode some commonly used HVAC acronyms.

BTU

In the HVAC industry, the British Thermal Unit (BTU) is one of the most common HVAC acronyms, and it's a measure of the amount of heat that an HVAC unit can remove from or add to the air in an hour. Knowing a building's BTU requirements ensures you have the right HVAC system installed.

ACH

Air changes per hour (ACH) is the rate that air enters and leaves a room in an hour. It's obtained by dividing the air volume flowing into or out of a room by the room's volume. A higher ACH value implies better ventilation.

SEER

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) defines the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air-conditioning system. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the cooling system.

HSPF

Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) measures a heat pump's overall heating efficiency during the heating season. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat-pump system.

FCU

A fan coil unit (FCU) is a device that uses a fan and a coil to cool or heat a room. It can heat or cool without ductwork. FCUs can be free-standing, ceiling, or floor-mounted to control a room's temperature.

VAV

A Variable Air Volume (VAV) system is an HVAC system that varies the quantity of air it supplies at constant temperatures. VAV systems enable precise control of temperature and lower fan noise and energy use.

Understanding HVAC acronyms can make shopping for an HVAC unit and dealing with HVAC issues less confusing. If you have any HVAC-related questions about HVAC acronyms or anything else, please get in touch with us at Air Assurance. We've served the HVAC needs of residents in the Broken Arrow area for more than 35 years.