Are Your Ducts Tight Enough to Keep Heat Inside Your Home?

Most people know how to locate their furnace. Fewer people know where to find heating ducts or how to tell if they are working properly. Unfortunately, without basic knowledge about the HVAC system, recognizing problems can be difficult. Here are some signs that your ducts could be in need of routine care or repairs:

• Uneven heating or cooling

• Unexpected increases in heating costs

• Frequent shaking or rattling noises

• High-pitched or "whooshing" sound

When the HVAC system is working properly, cool air is brought to the furnace to be heated, then the warmed air is sent back through tight ducts to heat your home. However, if air is having trouble moving through the ductwork, the problems may be caused by blocked ducts. Blocked ductwork can also cause noises or create hot and cold spots. Leaks also make it hard to warm your home evenly.

If you suspect problems, first check that none of the registers are blocked by furniture, then move on to looking for a solution to your heating problems. While you can compare temperatures in different areas of the house or other very basic tests, a technician is required to perform most tests. HVAC experts look for air leaks, determine whether the ducts are the correct size for your living space, and check to see if you have tight ducts or if they need repair.Many people believe that repairs can easily be done with duct tape, but this does not give secure results. For reliable, long lasting repairs, a technician should always be consulted. Professionals replace unusable segments of ductwork and use high quality, durable supplies such as sheet metal screws, mastic, joint collars, metal tape, and fiberglass to repair less seriously damaged parts of the ductwork.

Air Assurance has been taking care of HVAC systems in homes and businesses in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma since 1985. If you have any concerns about whether your tight ducts will keep you warm this winter, call us today!

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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Kichigin/Shutterstock”

Keep Your Attic Ducts Free of Costly Leaks

According to Energy Star, leaky and poorly designed ducts account for as much as 30 percent of the energy lost in the average home. If you experience uneven temperatures in your home, or hear rattling noises caused by loose ducts, make sure to find and seal them so you can save more energy dollars and increase your home comfort.

Finding Attic Duct Leaks

Most attics are inhospitable, so make sure to dress appropriately by wearing goggles and a hard hat. For a basic duct leak evaluation, you only need a few simple tools: a flashlight, a grease pencil and a smoke pencil or incense stick. Here's what needs to be done:

• Turn on the HVAC system.

• Mark air leaks with a grease pencil.

• If your ducts are insulated, look for dirt streaks, which are a sign of air leaks.

• Inspect your ducts for obvious holes, damage, tangled ducts, disconnected ducts and loose ducts.

• Use the smoke pencil or incense stick to find smaller holes. Hold the smoke pencil or incense at each duct connection. If the smoke swirls, you’ve found a leak. Mark it with the grease pencil.

If your HVAC professional is evaluating your attic ducts, specialized equipment is used. A blower door test pressurizes your ducts to detect leaks, and airflow is measured across the blower (i.e. pressure drop). If you want the best duct sealing, or if you're upgrading your HVAC equipment, it’s wise to bring in the pros.

Sealing Duct Leaks

Sealing air ducts can be fairly simple, or get pretty messy. It depends how air-tight you want your ducts to be. At the very least, use foil-backed tape to wrap duct joints. For the best seal, use mastic paste first. Simply apply the paste with your gloved hands or a paintbrush. Wait a day to let it dry, and then wrap each area with the foil-backed tape.

For more information about locating and sealing leaks in your Broken Arrow or Tulsa home, contact 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Kichigin/Shutterstock”

Find Out How Sealing Your Ducts Can Save More Energy

Homes with forced-air heating and air conditioning systems use ductwork to distribute conditioned air. Unfortunately, a quarter to a third of heated and cooled air is commonly lost through leaks in the ductwork. Sealing your ducts can create obvious benefits in terms of greater comfort, higher efficiency and utility savings.

Why do ducts leak? For most of us who have never seen our ductwork, it's good to understand what's going on.

Poor Installation or Repair

The primary cause of leaking ductwork is poor installation. Joints, seams and fittings can and do fall apart. What's more, an unbalanced system can create high or low pressure that exacerbates this problem.Repairing or sealing with so-called duct tape is another issue. Duct tape deteriorates over time, particularly given the conditions that can prevail in a home's attic, crawlspace, garage or basement, where ducts are usually located. Mastic sealant or foil tape should be used instead. If your ductwork lies in an unconditioned area, consider wrapping ducts with insulation.

Leaks can occur anywhere, including where the main air supply meets the air handler, connections between bends and the main duct line and from smaller branches at the main supply line.

Benefits of Sealing Ducts

• Comfort. Your HVAC system will not have to work as hard to provide you with efficient heating or cooling if ducts are well sealed.

• Utility savings. Obviously, if your HVAC system isn't working as hard, the lower costs will be reflected on your bill.

• Efficiency. If you've invested in newer, more efficient equipment, you'll want to get the most out of them. Make your system even more efficient by preventing conditioned air from leaking into the attic, basement, crawlspace and garage.

• Better air quality. Sealing ducts can reduce the amount of pollutants circulating in your system.

• Reduced fossil fuel consumption. By reducing your use of fossil fuels, you're contributing less to carbon emissions.

For more information about sealing your ducts, contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow. We've been serving the Tulsa area since 1985.

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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Silroby80/Shutterstock”

Duct Sealing is Important to Maintain Efficiency in Your Home

When homeowners think about HVAC maintenance, it’s usually the obvious things like changing the air filter or cleaning your main appliances. The ductwork on the other hand, is out of sight for the most part and often neglected. Ducts can develop serious air leaks which will cost you both money and comfort.

Air Leaks and Your Ducts

All of the separate ducts in your ductwork are sealed together. As they age, this seal gets weaker and leaks can begin to develop. This has a few serious consequences:

• Air quality: When treated air gets out, untreated air gets into your ducts and circulated around your home. This is bad for your health and can also lead to mold in your ducts.

• Wear and tear: Since your HVAC system has to keep heating or cooling air to make up for lost air, it has to run more often and will be more prone to breaking down. It’s lifespan will also be shortened.

• Comfort: When you turn on the heat in your home, it’s to make it more comfortable. If you're leaking air, it will take a long time to reach your desired temperature.

Finding Leaks and Duct Sealing

You need to identify and fix air leaks before they become large issues. This is easier said than done, because other than in attics and crawl spaces, it is usually hard to inspect. You might find that you are unable to inspect for leaks yourself and may have to call in an HVAC professional.

If a professional also has a tough time inspecting your ducts and suspects you may have airflow issues, he will conduct a duct blower test. This test will help pinpoint the location of leaks as well as the severity.

Once a leak is found, it needs to be patched up. You can use metal tape to cover a small leak or mastic sealant. If it’s a big leak however, or your ducts seem deteriorated, your professional may recommend replacing the ductwork.

To get help with duct sealing in your Broken Arrow home, please contact 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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Do You Need To Seal Your Ducts? 5 Symptoms To Look For

Improving the efficiency of the ductwork in your home heating and cooling system is an easy and practical way to save money on your seasonal energy bills. All the conditioned air that heats or cools your house is distributed through your home’s ducts, which means that some level of energy loss in that air distribution network is almost a certainty. If you seal your ducts, you will reduce this air and energy loss, improve the unit’s operation, increase indoor comfort levels and save money on your monthly utility bills.There are five major symptoms of leaky, damaged, or inefficient ductwork:

1. Unusually high heating or cooling bills or cost spikes not associated with increased usage or outdoor temperature extremes

2. Difficulty heating or cooling particular rooms or areas appropriately

3. Rooms with unpleasant and uncomfortable conditions, such as stuffiness, too much or too little heating or cooling, or increased amounts of airborne dust and contaminants

4. Obvious damage or kinks to sections of the ductwork system

5. Ducts located in unconditioned or minimally conditioned areas, such as garages, unfinished basements or attics, or crawl spaces

If any of these conditions exist in your ductwork, you should consider having the entire air distribution network professionally sealed. By sealing your ductwork, you will:

• Reduce energy loss and waste of money: Leaky ducts can lose as much as 20 percent of the air flowing through them, which will make your monthly energy bills unnecessarily high. Sealed ducts lose much less air and energy.

• Improve indoor comfort: Sealed ductwork delivers greater amounts of conditioned air throughout your house, improving your HVAC system’s performance and providing better levels of indoor heating and cooling.

• Increase home safety: Sealed ducts leave no gaps, holes or openings where potentially harmful exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide can be pulled back into your home’s living spaces.

Air Assurance has more than 30 years of experience serving heating and air conditioning customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas. Contact us today for more information how to seal your ducts and how duct sealing can improve your indoor air quality and comfort while making your home a safer, more pleasant place to live.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     Sealing Air Leaks image via Shutterstock

Eighteen Ways To Get Your Home Ready For Cool Weather

With fall on the horizon for residents of Tulsa, it's time to start thinking about how to get your home ready for the cold weather.  Here are eighteen different ways to stay warm and energy efficient this winter.

• Stop Drafts: Drafts can waste up to 30 percent of your energy. There are various products that can be used to block drafts under doors and windows.

• Change Furnace Filter: Change, or at least check your filter each month. With heavy dirt, comes less airflow, which means higher bills.

• Run Fans in Reverse: Simply switching your fans to run clockwise will make your air warmer.

• Drain Hoses and Air Conditioner Pipes: This prevents dangerous freezing.

• Turn Down Your Water Heater: Lowering the temperature can reduce your water heating costs by 10 percent.

• Install Storm Windows and Doors: This reduces drafts and can increase energy efficiency by 45 percent. Be careful though, the ROI can take years to pay you back.

• Get a Tuneup: A preventive maintenance tuneup by a contractor will ensure that your heating system stays working efficiently, and most important, safely!

• Program Your Thermostat: Set it intelligently, so you aren't paying to warm an empty house.

• Use Plastic Insulation: Covering your windows adds a buffer against drafts.

• Use An Energy Monitor: These inform you when you have been using more energy than usual.

• Use Weatherstripping: This helps prevent air leaks.

• Add Insulation: This is particularly helpful in the attic and basement.

• Insulate Your Pipes: This will help decrease the chance of freezing pipes.

• Seal Ductwork: Up to 30 percent of your conditioned air can leak out of your ducts before it reaches its destination.

• Use Tax Credits to Your Advantage: These can make energy-efficient upgrades for your home more affordable.

• Be Wise When Selecting a Contractor: Hire an Energy Star home comfort contractor who is certified to help you make the right choices for your home.

• Use Alternative Energy Sources: These are often much more energy efficient than traditional methods.

• Upgrade Your Furnace: Newer models can save you up to 50 percent when compared to older models.

For more information on how to prepare your home for winter, contact Air Assurance. We can help you turn these ideas into concrete action.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems) .Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!      

Innovative Tips That Make Home Comfort And Savings A Priority

Home comfort and energy savings should be a priority in every Tulsa area household. To help you get optimal performance from your cooling system this summer, we’ve compiled this list of innovative energy-saving tips.

• Raising temperature settings at the thermostat is a surefire way to reduce monthly cooling bills. To maximize savings without sacrificing home comfort, try keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re in the home and raising thermostat settings as high as 85 degrees while you’re away. But don't do this when it's over 95 degrees outside. That can actually cause energy bills to rise while the unit tries to catch up.

• One way to take advantage of higher temperature settings without sacrificing home comfort is to utilize household ceiling fans. While ceiling fans don’t actually cool your home, running them while you're in the room can create a wind chill effect that will help you remain comfortable, even when thermostat settings are increased by as little as four degrees. Just remember to turn ceiling fans off when you’re not in the room.

• Clogged air filters are notorious for restricting airflow and putting unnecessary strain on your air conditioner. Inspect filters monthly, cleaning and replacing as necessary.

• Another cost-effective means of improving household energy efficiency is to address air leaks using caulking, seal and weather stripping. Common leakage points include areas around doors and windows, and gaps around lights, wiring, ductwork and plumbing.

• Inadequate attic insulation can be a major drain on monthly energy costs. For an additional 10 percent savings, try boosting attic insulation to a minimum R-value of 30. If you can see your attic rafters, you are wasting lots of money on energy.

• It also pays to properly seal ductwork. If your ducts leak, you could be losing as much as 20 percent of the air you pay to condition. While accessible ductwork can be addressed using metal tape or duct mastic, a professional can ensure that your entire duct system is sealed properly.

• If your air conditioner is over ten years old, upgrading to a high-efficiency Energy Star-qualified model could save you as much as 10 percent.

• In fact, Energy Star-qualified products are an ideal means of long-term energy savings. Look for products ranging from water heaters to light bulbs.

For a more customized assessment of your household energy efficiency, consult our NATE-certified technicians. Contact Air Assurance today!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Home Advisor's Tips For Oklahoma Homeowners Leads To Energy Savings

How would you like to increase your annual energy savings? By following these tips from Energy Star’s Home Advisor, Oklahoma homeowners in theTulsa area may be able to save an estimated 33 percent in annual energy costs.Suggestions include:

• Sealing air leaks – One of the most cost-effective ways to increase household energy savings is to seal off major air leaks commonly found in attics, basements or crawl spaces. Focus on leaks around wiring, plumbing, and ductwork. For optimal results, consult a professional.

• Duct sealing – With duct leaks responsible for an estimated 20 percent of conditioned air loss, duct sealing should be a priority. While you may be able to seal accessible ducts using mastic or metal tape and use at least R-6 insulation to shield exposed ductwork in unconditioned areas of the home, a professional can access those hard-to-reach areas and ensure that your entire system is properly sealed.

• Insulation – To prevent the unwanted exchange of heat and moisture, adequate insulation should be installed. Generally, residents of theTulsaarea should use R-30 to R-49 insulation for the attic, R-13 to R-19 for the exterior wall frame, and somewhere between R-5 and R-13 for crawlspaces.

• HVAC upgrades – Older heating and cooling components just aren’t as efficient as today’s high-efficiency options. If your HVAC system is nearing ten years old, it may be time for a replacement. To maximize long-term energy savings, look for a minimum 14.5 SEER on air conditioners and a minimum 80 percent AFUE on gas furnaces.

• Programmable thermostats – Take full control of your HVAC energy consumption by pre-programming household temperatures according to your family routine. Conserve energy without sacrificing household comfort.

• Energy Star – Products carrying the Energy Star label are designed to improve household energy savings. Consider over 60 types of Energy Star-qualified products, including water heaters, windows and light bulbs.

Depending on the unique needs of your household, you may be able to significantly increase your annual energy savings by implementing some of the strategies outlined by Energy Star’s Home Advisor. For a more personalized energy assessment, consult one of our trained technicians. Contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Air-Conditioning Factors That Determine Correct Sizing Procedures

If you want optimal performance from your new high-efficiency air conditioning system over the long-term, ask a comfort consultant to perform a proper load calculation. If your system is improperly sized, your household comfort and annual energy costs are bound to suffer.Indications of improper sizing include:

• Inconsistent temperatures.

• Humidity fluctuations due to improper system cycling.

• Spiking energy costs.

To ensure that your cooling system is properly sized, insist that your comfort consultant do more than simply look at the nameplate of your existing air conditioner. In most cases, older systems are oversized for your current home because its cooling demands have been reduced by improvements in household energy efficiency such as weatherproofing, duct sealing and insulation upgrades. Plus, these days a smaller A/C can cool more efficiently than a comparably sized unit a decade ago. Thus, attempting to size a new air conditioning system based on the old model in your home can be highly inaccurate.TulsaorBroken Arrowarea residents should ask their comfort consultant to perform a load calculation based on a nationally recognized sizing method such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J. Using this method, your comfort consultant will consider unique sizing factors such as:

• The climate of this part of Oklahoma.

• The size, layout, and orientation of your household.

• The adequacy of your insulation.

• Window location, type and size.

• Potential air leaks.

• Efficiency of ductwork design and installation.

• Duct sealing.

• Household occupancy.

• Family routine and comfort preferences.

• Efficiency ratings of light fixtures and major appliances.

These are just some of the factors your technician should consider when performing a proper load calculation.With every household being unique, checking the nameplate simply won’t cut it when it comes to the proper sizing of your new air conditioning system. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, let our trained comfort consultants personally assess the appropriate sizing needs of your household. For expert consultation, contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Take Advantage Of Two Rebate Programs To Drive Down The Final Cost Of Your High-Efficiency Air Conditioning

Over the past few years, the media has made a pretty big deal about government tax credits that have made upgrading to energy-efficient equipment a reality with increased savings. However, you may not have heard as much about other rebates from manufacturers and utility companies that you can access when upgrading to high-efficiency air-conditioning systems. For many homeowners, these combined rebates can often mean the difference between upgrading and maintaining the status quo.The Public Service Company of Oklahoma offers rebates of $100 to $600, depending on the size and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of your high-efficiency air conditioner or heat pump. Larger systems and higher SEER ratings get bigger incentives and rebates. The guidelines restrict the incentive to a replacement system that uses the same (current) energy source for residential (single or multi-family) homes and small commercial buildings.  They also offer incentives of up to $1500 for an entire home performance upgrades which include duct sealing, insulation, radiant barriers, home envelope sealing, etc.Lennox, a manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment, indoor air quality products, and comfort controls, also offers savings on energy-efficient products. High-efficiency air-conditioning or heat-pump systems qualify for up to $1,400 when combined with a thermostat and indoor air quality system.High-efficiency air conditioners make energy savings possible for Oklahoma homeowners. While they often cost more up-front, incentives make them more affordable. High-efficiency systems are rated SEER 16 to 23 and have a low lifetime cost. Lifetime cost takes into account the spending a system requires over the course of its life. This takes into account regular preventive maintenance costs, fuel costs, and repairs. With the energy savings that high-efficiency systems get, you get a relatively quick return on your investment and save on monthly utility bills long after you’ve paid for the system.Why not take advantage of combined rebates from every avenue possible, to drive down the cost and make your new system replacement happen? The experts at Air Assurance can assess your home’s needs, assist you in selecting an A/C, and help you take advantage of manufacturer and utility company incentives to get you the maximum savings possible. Call us today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.