What is an Air Handler's Exact Purpose and How Does It Work?

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The term “air handler” may sound like a job description with no heavy lifting. Actually, it’s a vital component in your air-conditioning system. Most central AC systems incorporate two units: the indoor air handler and the outdoor condenser.

An air conditioner is essentially a heat mover. It takes heat from the indoors and disperses it outside. What’s left behind after heat energy is removed from indoor air is simply cool comfort.

How Air Gets Handled

The air handler inside the house — typically located in the attic, basement, or a small closet enclosure — is the component that extracts heat. Here’s how the cooling sequence proceeds:

• Warm air is drawn out of rooms in the house by the system blower, which is located in the air handler.

• Return ductwork conveys the warm air to the air handler, directing the flow of air through the air filter that removes particles like dust and lint.

• Filtered air passes through the evaporator coil inside the air handler. Frigid refrigerant circulating through the coil chills the evaporator passages and extracts heat from the warmer airflow.

• Because dry air cools more effectively and efficiently, a dehumidification process also occurs as the warm, moist air contacts cold coil surfaces and liquid condensation occurs.

• At this point, the airflow temperature as it leaves the indoor air handler will typically be somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees.

• The blower pushes cooled air out of the air handler and into the supply ducts that extend to all rooms in the house.

What Can Go Wrong

Potential problems occurring inside an AC indoor air handler include:

• Refrigerant leaks. Often through tiny pinholes in the evaporator coil that can only be detected and repaired by a qualified, licensed technician.

• Ice obstructing coil airflow. Frequently a symptom of low refrigerant charge caused by leaks.

• Clogged air filter. For efficient, effective cooling, change the air filter monthly all summer long.

• Blower malfunction. System airflow volume declines and eventually ceases.

• Condensate drain pan overflow. Usually due to a clogged condensate drain line.

For more about air handler functions and possible issues that may arise, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

What Exactly Is a BTU and How Does It Affect Your AC's Performance?

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BTU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, but what does it have to do with keeping you cool this summer? The BTU is also the standard specification for the heat that an air conditioner extracts from a house in a certain time frame. A higher BTU rating means the air conditioner moves more heat faster out of the house.

Sizing Up Your Home

Calculating the precise BTU capacity of an air conditioner for efficient, effective cooling is called sizing. It takes into account the total square footage of a house, as well as factors such as daily exposure to sun, insulation type, and the number of doors and windows. Performed by a professional HVAC contractor, the sizing calculation uses industry-standard software to determine the home’s cooling load. The cooling load is the air conditioner BTU capacity required to cool the home in typical summer conditions.

BTUs By the Ton

Residential central air conditioners are typically rated from 1.5 tons up to 5 tons of cooling capacity. One ton in HVAC terms equals 12,000 BTUs of heat removed from the house every hour by the air conditioner.

Not Too Much, Not Too Little

Accurate BTU sizing is critical for both optimum cooling in the house as well as the lowest operating costs. If the house isn’t properly sized, AC performance and efficiency suffers. Consider the following two scenarios:

• Undersizing. An AC unit with insufficient BTU capacity comes with a less-expensive price tag, yet it can be costly to operate. Struggling to meet thermostat settings, the unit will run very long cooling cycles, consuming excess energy and raising monthly operating costs. It will also incur more wear and tear and have shorter service life.

• Oversizing. An AC with excessive BTU capacity tends to “short cycle,” — turning on and off rapidly — which accelerates wear on components. Temperature control is then uneven, with some rooms too warm and others overly cool. Because the unit cycles off rapidly, the AC dehumidifying function is not fully functional and the home feels humid and clammy.

Get more facts and figures about the BTU capacity of air conditioners by contacting the professionals at Air Assurance.

How to Conserve AC Energy During the Summer

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With the cost of so many things having risen recently, we're all concerned about saving money wherever we can, and one way to do this is to conserve AC energy. Since the cost of energy to run your air conditioner is probably your greatest energy expense, it makes sense to conserve AC energy and keep your utility bill in check.

Here are some tips for how to conserve AC energy in your home this summer.

1. Air seal your home. When your home is not airtight, conditioned air can leak out and unconditioned air can make its way inside the house. If you have an older home or a home where the construction is not that tight, you may need to go around the house and look for air leaks. Leaks are typically found around baseboards, around door and window frames, around electric switches, near recessed lighting, and linked to your HVAC ductwork. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping.

2. Close out solar radiation. You can lower your energy bill significantly by keeping solar radiation from penetrating windows. Close drapes, blinds, and shades in the daytime.

3. Schedule AC maintenance. Every spring, it's a good idea to schedule AC maintenance to ensure your equipment is running as efficiently as it can. Your tech can find problems that may lead your AC to labor to cool and correct them.

4. Change your filter regularly. A dirty filter will impede airflow, causing the air conditioner to struggle to meet thermostat set points. A clean filter allows air to flow freely through your system so that it cools as expected.

5. Insulate the home as needed. Adding insulation at key sites around the home will help it stay cooler and keep out intrusive hot air. Look into adding a layer of insulation on the ceiling floor of your attic. This layer will help keep cool air from migrating into a hot attic, increasing the efficiency of your air conditioner. You may also need to insulate air ducts so your system's conditioned air is not subject to compromise from heat or humidity.

For more on how to conserve AC energy, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

Is It Possible to Have a Too Cold AC?

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A too cold AC might seem like a blessing on one of our hot Oklahoma summer days. However, things aren't always what they seem. Setting the home’s thermostat excessively low isn’t good for your air conditioner or your monthly energy budget.

The 78-Degree Sweet Spot

According to research by the Environmental Protection Agency, 78 degrees is the optimum thermostat setting at which a typical AC cools most effectively and economically. A residential air conditioner’s capacity to cool the indoor environment is generally limited to 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature. For example, if it’s 95 degrees outside, you shouldn’t expect the AC to maintain inside temperatures below 75 degrees no matter how low you set the thermostat. Attempting to maintain a too cold AC thermostat setting can impose excess stress on HVAC components and may eventually cause expensive damage too.

Here are some examples of what may happen when homeowners expect too much cool on too-hot days via a too cold AC:

• Cooling costs rise sharply. For every degree you lower the thermostat setting below the 78-degree standard, energy consumption climbs, causing the air conditioner’s contribution to the monthly electricity bill to increase by 1% to 3%.

• Longer cycles cause more wear and tear. An excessively low thermostat setting will cause the air conditioner to run longer and longer cooling cycles, perhaps eventually running nonstop. This overheats the AC compressor, which may lead to an automatic system shutdown — not a welcome event on a hot summer day. Permanent damage to the compressor, which is typically the most costly component in the system, may also occur.

• Evaporator icing. A too-cold thermostat setting may cause layers of ice formation on the air conditioner’s indoor evaporator coil, eventually totally blocking airflow through the coil. This can be another potential cause of a system shutdown, as well as permanent damage to the compressor.

Talk to the experts at Air Assurance for more information about the drawbacks of a too cold AC in hot summer weather.

Why Small AC Systems May Be Better for Today's Homes

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Small AC systems have long been considered to be underpowered. However, technological advancements have significantly improved the performance of these systems. Certain circumstances may make it better for you to invest in one of the small AC systems. Here's more on why small AC systems may be better.

Oversized Units

When it comes to AC units, bigger isn't always better. An AC unit that's too big for your home will use more power to deliver cooling. It will cool your home quickly and then turn itself off. The compressor will turn on and off in fast intervals, making the system more inefficient.

An oversized AC unit won't stay on long enough to remove moisture, dust, and other particles from your home's air. As a result, your home will have high humidity levels and bad air quality.

To avoid the problems that come with oversized units, seek professional advice to ensure the new air conditioner you purchase is the perfect size for your house.

Positioning Flexibility

A small AC system will be right for you if you need a unit that you can move in and out of storage or from one room to another. Portable air conditioners have roll-on casters that make them easy to transport.

You can take a portable unit to the room where you need it the most and even store it easily when there's mild weather and you want to open the window. With a small unit, you can point the cool air in different directions.

Supplement Your Central AC System

You can use a small portable unit or ductless mini-split system to cool off rooms that don't get conditioned air from your central AC system, such as the sunroom, attic space, or garage workshop. A small unit can also be useful for cooling a space where you'll be spending lots of time, such as the bedroom at night, to avoid blasting your whole home for that period.

Portable units provide a short-term fix when your existing AC system requires service at the height of summer.

If you need help choosing an ideal AC system for your home, don't hesitate to contact a professional to avoid making a costly mistake. To learn more about small AC systems, contact us at Air Assurance. Since 1985, we've been handling all the air-conditioning needs of Broken Arrow homeowners.

How Do You Decide Between HEPA and MERV Filters for Your AC Unit?

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When you’re thinking about HVAC air filtration, there are basically two main options: HEPA and MERV filters. These terms differ in both filtration media and efficiency rating. During an average day, the entire air volume inside your home circulates through the system filter many times. The type and quality of your system's air filter directly affects the health and comfort of your indoor environment. It also impacts system energy efficiency as well as monthly operating costs.

Here are some facts about HEPA and MERV filters to help you make an informed decision about which is most suitable for your home.

HEPA

Short for High Efficiency Particulate Air, HEPA filtration removes more than 99.97% of airborne dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, smoke, and other particulates. However, the drawback of HEPA filtration is airflow restriction. In a typical residential HVAC system, installing the thick HEPA filter in the standard duct-filter mount will reduce system airflow excessively. However, two HEPA alternatives are available for consideration:

• Alteration of the home’s return ductwork to include a duct-bypass loop that diverts only a portion of airflow through the HEPA filter at any given time.

• For limited spaces such as single rooms, stand-alone HEPA filtration units incorporating powered fans are widely available.

MERV

HEPA and MERV filters do differ, and MERV filters are the most common type for residential HVAC use. Filtration is rated according to the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) numeral—a number between 1 and 20. Here are some facts about MERV filters to help you make an informed choice.

• MERV ratings below 5 are usually inexpensive fiberglass filters that trap only the largest visible particles of dust. They are not ideal to support optimum indoor air quality.

• Filters with MERV ratings of at least 8 provide the best balance between cost, filtration efficiency, and airflow. These are typically pleated cotton or polyester filters which provide increasing efficiency up to MERV 13.

• Filters rated MERV 14 and above may not be appropriate for standard residential use due to excessive airflow restriction.

For more information about the pros and cons of HEPA and MERV filters, talk to the professionals at Air Assurance.

What is the Best AC Temperature as the Weather Gets Warmer?

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As the temperatures get warmer outside this spring and we start using the air conditioner in earnest, what is the best AC temperature to set the thermostat at?

Setting the Thermostat to the Best AC Temperature

Programmable and Wi-Fi thermostats offer possibilities for increasing comfort in the home while simultaneously saving a bit on energy. Typically, this is accomplished by setting the thermostat up a few degrees at night and in the day when everyone's out of the home. The temperature resumes a more comfortable setting in the morning and evening, when, presumably, the home's occupants are present and active.

People vary as to what they feel is a comfortable temperature, but for most, it's around 72 degrees. This setting doesn't usually cause the unit to run without stopping, and it's a temperature at which most people feel moderately comfortable. For those who feel warm at 72 degrees, turning on a fan can help. For those who feel chilly, they can put on a sweater.

Another common set point is 78 degrees. While this may be on the warm side for some, it's generally agreed that this set point offers considerable savings on energy. However, a 78-degree room will likely require that some individuals augment the cooling with a fan. In fact, you might experiment by setting the thermostat at 75 degrees. You'll save some money on energy, but folks will be a little cooler than they will at 78 degrees, and fans will make the temperature bearable to the hot-natured.

Keeping a Home's Occupants Cool and Happy with the Best AC Temperature

In addition to fans, there are a few other things you can do to ensure even the warm-tempered folks in your household feel comfortable if you set the thermostat between 72 and 80 degrees.

• Close blinds, curtains, and shades to keep out solar radiation.

• Look into installing a zoned system, where individuals can control temperatures with their own thermostat in their zone by closing and opening dampers in ducts.

• Control humidity in the house so that people do not feel as warm and so they won't require lower set points.

For more on the best AC temperature, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding community.

Does the Fan Brand You Get Affect How Your Home Is Cooled?

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Fans can help you reduce your AC costs while keeping you cool and comfortable. While cheap brands can deliver a cool breeze to make you feel more comfortable, top fan brands offer more than just cooling to transform your indoor environment into a healthier and more restful space at the height of the summer heat.

The top brands manufacture modern fans that are sleek, silent, and adequately powerful to cool your home down quickly. With these fans, you also get additional helpful features like various energy-efficient modes, height and speed settings, smart controls, and purifying technology.

Below are some of the top fan brands available.

Lasko Ultra Air Performance

This Lasko oscillating tower fan delivers steady streams of clean and cool air quietly and quickly. It has a built-in ionizer and three speed settings. Its height lets you send cool air over chairs and beds. The fan also has an energy-efficient timer, carrying handle, and remote control.

Dyson Pure Air Purifier

The Dyson Pure Air Purifier is a combination of a cooling fan and air purifier that delivers purified, cooled air to your room with via 350-degree oscillation. Its built-in sensors monitor environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and air pollution and provide purification automatically. A HEPA filter inside the fan captures common allergens.

Honeywell Quietset Tower Fan

The Honeywell fan brand provides power and customizability to cool an entire room. Auto shut-off timers and dimming features let you control when and how the fan delivers cool air to your room. The fan has eight speed settings.

Vornado VFAN Air Circulator

If you like a mix of retro aesthetic and modern features, the Vornado fan may suit you nicely. The retro-style fan features three-speed power, adjustable height, swift air circulation, and multidirectional airflow. It comes with a five-year warranty.

These top fan brands will cool you off effectively and efficiently. For more advice on home cooling and energy efficiency, contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve the heating and cooling needs of residents in the Broken Arrow area.

How to Ensure Your HVAC System Gives You the Best Ventilation in Your Home

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When homeowners think about their HVAC systems, they usually only worry about whether their heating or air conditioning is working correctly. They often forget the V in HVAC: ventilation. Problems with your home's ventilation will lead to poor distribution of heated or cooled air, indoor air pollution, humidity swings, and reduced HVAC efficiency. The following tips will help you get the best ventilation in your house.

Ensure All Registers Are Open

Blocked vents interfere with air circulation and the best ventilation, and they could damage your ductwork as the air pressure increases. Ensure the registers in all your rooms are unblocked and open. Move any rugs, furniture, and other household items that may be blocking the vents.

Change Your HVAC Filter Regularly

A clogged air filter restricts the best ventilation through your HVAC system. Check your filter regularly and change it if it's dirty.

Invest in a Ventilator

You can improve the ventilation in your house by installing a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV). These ventilators pull in fresh air from outside into your HVAC system and use your indoor air to precool or preheat the incoming air. Using ventilators is similar to opening your windows without allowing the cold temperatures or the heat from outside to enter with the incoming air.

Duct Testing and Sealing

Problems with your ductwork will cause a drop in ventilation. Symptoms of bad ductwork include:

• Odors from vents

• Hot or cold spots

• Low airflow

• Rattling noises

• Higher utility bills

The best way to find out if leaks and broken ductwork are compromising your ventilation system is to schedule duct testing. HVAC technicians will use specialized equipment to find out if your ducts have problems and, if so, where the problems are located. They can then seal your ducts to enable your ventilation system to provide improved air circulation and avoid energy loss, humidity changes, and infiltration of outdoor pollutants.

Ventilation is crucial to home comfort and indoor air quality. For more information on the best ventilation, contact Air Assurance. Homeowners in the Broken Arrow area have relied on us for all their HVAC needs since 1985.