If your home is plagued with poor water quality, a whole-home filtration system can offer a solution. There are three main technologies used today to improve water quality: a chemical process, UV light or a filtering medium. These methods are effective at addressing specific issues such as hard water, excessive sediment, bacteria and other biological contaminants, or chemical additives like chlorine.
Owning a Water Filtration System Offers Numerous Benefits
A big benefit of installing this kind of system is that it ensures better quality water in every area of your home. The unit is installed on the main water line where it enters the building, so the incoming supply gets sent through it before flowing along to your fixtures, faucets and appliances.
When you have a whole-home system in place, you'll reap other benefits too, including:
Safer water with no unpleasant smell or taste: When bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants are killed, and added chemicals like chlorine removed, you'll have a clean, healthy water supply that smells and tastes good.
Extended life for your plumbing system and appliances: Eliminating minerals that cause scale buildup lengthens the service life of your water-using appliances and plumbing system and preserves good water pressure.
A hedge against municipal supply problems: You can rest easy knowing you have safe, clean water when a municipal supply contamination, broken main or other such problem occurs.
Choosing the Right System is Essential
Before you decide on a type of system, get your water tested to pinpoint the exact quality issues you need to address. Then, talk to an experienced professional plumber who can recommend the right solution to match your needs.
To clear out sediment, a reverse osmosis system is best.
For softening hard water, you need an ion exchange unit.
A UV light is used to kill bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants.
To eliminate odors and improve taste, activated-carbon or oxidizing units are recommended.
For multiple issues, there are multi-stage systems that combine different technologies.
For expert advice about installing a water filtration system in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance 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: “ronymichaud/Pixabay”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, homes are among the five worst environmental hazards many people encounter, largely because of indoor pollutants. The combination of manufactured products and tighter homes concentrates gases and increases the toxicity of many common products and biological agents found indoors.
Minimizing Pollutants
Pay attention to what you bring home, especially when buying:
Cleaning products
Makeup
Air fresheners
Remodeling materials, including paint, flooring, wall coverings, new flooring, caulk and adhesives
Candles
Plastics, especially vinyl shower curtains
Unless they're labeled otherwise, these products probably contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause minor to severe health problems. Look for alternatives that state they're low in VOCs or have none.Dust mite waste is one of the most common allergens and it's present in household dust. Control it by:
Changing the air filter for your HVAC system whenever it's covered with dust.
Vacuuming instead of sweeping hard-surface floors.
Washing bedding in hot water and drying in the dryer.
Managing Pollutants
Besides minimizing particulate pollutants by changing your air filter, you can use your HVAC system to manage the pollutant load indoors with:
A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) — Both of these devices remove stale air and replace it with an equal amount of fresh air. HRVs and ERVs make a minimal impact on heating or cooling costs by extracting the heat energy leaving the home and putting it back into the incoming air.
UV (ultraviolet) lights — When placed in the air handler or ductwork, UV lights improve air quality by neutralizing VOCs and lowering the population of mold spores, viruses and bacteria in the air. The lights alter the structure of these compounds, leaving them harmless or unable to reproduce.
Annual professional HVAC maintenance — Regular maintenance reduces the risk of toxic gas emissions from furnaces and mold growth inside the A/C. Tight ducts won't circulate polluting airborne particulates.
Controlling the pollutants in your home promotes better health and indoor comfort. To learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.
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: “Jana Guothova/Shutterstock”
Taking steps to prevent air infiltration helps your energy bills -- and home comfort. But when you’re undertaking this kind of project, if you neglect to address your home’s attic hatch, you’ll likely counteract any measures that you take to keep heated air inside of your home.When sealing air leaks in your home, it’s important to evaluate the outer perimeter of your home, such as its walls, an area where air typically enters the home. You can use caulk to seal areas around window frames, doors, electrical outlets and plumbing protrusions.However, one of the main ways that homes lose conditioned air is through the attic, or crawl space, so you’ll also want to pay attention to these spaces. Seal air leaks that exist in the attic where walls abut other walls, the ceiling and floor. Pay close attention to plumbing and electrical elements that penetrate the attic floor. Canned lights are a huge area where improvements can be made.If your home has an attic hatch, efforts to seal this access point will pay off. An attic hatch is generally constructed from a flat piece of plywood, which doesn’t offer much by way of protection.Here’s what you can do to prevent air infiltration into the attic via the attic hatch:
Apply insulation to the door. Make sure it adheres by using duct or foam tape.
The ideal insulation material to use is something durable and rigid, since you’ll be accessing the attic through the hatch. Rigid foam insulation works well.
Seal air leaks that may occur around the frame of the attic itself.
If your home has stairs that you can pull down from the attic, you can purchase an attic tent to do seal off the space, generally installed on the attic side of the home.Ensure that your home can resist the movement of heated air out of your home, and be sure to pay attention to your attic hatch as well. For help with this project, or any other heating and cooling needs, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality -- serving homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.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!
Finding a MERV filter that works for your family, and helps your furnace to function efficiently, is actually a rather simple process. All you need to know is how MERV, minimum efficiency reporting value, works, and which MERV filter will work with your system.A MERV rating, developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), is designed to show how well a filter traps particles, and the size of particle it can trap. Higher-rated MERV filters will trap smaller particles. Low-efficiency filters Rated MERV 1-4, these filters offer the most basic level of protection for your furnace and your home’s air. They aren’t able to trap smaller particles very well, but do a decent job of capturing larger particles. If you’ve never evaluated your furnace filter before, it’s likely that its MERV rating is within this range. Mid-efficiency filters These filters, rated MERV 5-13, generally have an expanded surface, either through a pleated design or some other technology that increases the filter space, so they can trap more particles. The density of the filter’s surface is also critical to efficiency, and mid-range filters have denser fibers. Overall, these filters are the best choice for residential use because they allow enough air to flow through the filter, while balancing the capacity to trap particles of both small and large sizes. High-efficiency filters -- including HEPA It's possible to purchase a higher-efficiency filter, rated MERV 14-16, or a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, rated MERV 17-20; however, both types of filters greatly restrict airflow and are not recommended for use with residential systems. For the ultimate in indoor air quality, you can opt to purchase an air-cleaning device that can be used alongside your HVAC system, which will use a higher-efficiency filter without affecting airflow.If you suspect that your furnace’s MERV filter could use an upgrade, or for any other heating and cooling questions, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality today! We've been serving homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years. 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 and get started today! Maintenance Checklist image via Shutterstock
Replacing your furnace filter is a practical way to efficiently get the most from your furnace. Buildup occurs when your filters accumulate dirt and other particles, resulting in clogs that don't allow for proper airflow. To compensate, your furnace must waste more energy, costing you more money. By replacing your filters on a regular basis, you can improve your home's comfort, reduce fuel use and even reduce wear and tear on the furnace blowers.Some things that you will need to do in order to guarantee your furnace runs at optimum efficiency are:
Check your furnace filter - You should change your filter at least once every six months, with the actual frequency of changes depending on the dust and dirt conditions of your household.
Replace your furnace filter - This easy enough that you can do it, but if you are not comfortable doing it, a furnace technician can do it for you. Before you replace the filter, be sure to turn off the power to prevent the possibility of electric shock. Be sure to sweep and vacuum out all of the accumulated dust. Change out the filter, and you are done!
Check the MERV filter rating - The higher the rating, the more efficient the filter. Always check the owners manual, or ask a technician, before adjusting the MERV filter. If you adjust it too much in one direction, you could reduce airflow to the furnace, damaging equipment that is not capable of handling abrupt changes to the system.
When it comes time to handle all of your furnace filter needs, Air Assurance can help. In fact, Air Assurance has designed their own filter to accomodate the needs of getting the most out of filtering dust, while not sacrificing air flow. Serving the Broken Arrow area, we offer the best products on the market, special promotions and customer financing. Our goal is to not only provide home comfort and energy savings, but to educate our customers about these issues as well. For more information on how Air Assurance can help you with your furnace and other HVAC needs, contact us, and one of our friendly, professional technicians will assist you.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! Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.
If you’re looking for the right air filter, understanding MERV can be to your advantage. MERV is a rating given to air filters based on their minimum efficiency reporting value; in other words, it's a rating of their capacity to efficiently remove airborne particulates down to 0.3 microns. This value can range from 1 to 20, with higher MERV ratings indicating a higher-efficiency air filter.With regards to shopping for air filters, MERV can be broken down as follows:
For use in residential settings, air filters with a MERV between 1 and 4 are often lower-quality, disposable filters.
A MERV between 5 and 8 would represent a better variety of residential air filter.
A MERV between 9 and 12 might be found in superior residential settings or commercial buildings.
In hospital settings and superior commercial settings, air filters will likely carry a MERV between 13 and 16.
Capable of removing 99.97 percent of airborne particulates down to 0.3 microns, True HEPA filters carry a MERV between 17 and 20 and are used in applications such as laboratory clean rooms and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
What's surprising is that there is really no mandate set on how a MERV rating is performed. Therefore, it's highly likely that MERV ratings on a filter may be tested at levels that don't work with the amount of air your comfort system produces. In other words, a higher MERV rating could be a marketing ploy, and actually damage your system or it's performance.When choosing an air filter, you have to take the specifics of your system into account. Filters may not fit your system, or in some cases may be entirely too powerful for practical use in your home. With those things in mind, MERV should be used as one reference point for filter comparison, but not as the sole reason for your filter decision.That's why Air Assurance has tested all of the filters we offer to our customers with the air flo commonly used by the comfort systems we service and install. To ensure that the air filters you choose are the most efficient and system-appropriate available today, let our trained technicians guide you through the process. For expert consultation, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 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.
A mechanical air filtration system can remove particles of dust, animal dander and dust mites from the air you breathe at home or work, improving your comfort and health. Here's how the filters work:Basic air filtration systems consist of simple panels that cover the intake of furnaces or air vents. The most basic ones are made of fiberglass or polyester and allow air to pass through but trap large particles. Depending on the filter, it is meant to be either replaced or washed periodically.Though these basic filters are effective against dust, smoke and pollen, they don't work to trap harmful molds, bacteria or viruses, which are much smaller and can seep through. This is where High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters can come in. HEPA filters more efficiently capture spores and viruses, filtering out nearly all airborne particulates. Despite one drawback -- motorized fans blow the air through HEPA filters, which can be a bit noisy -- they are the most widely used filters on the market.However, technology is advancing every day, and there are some filtration devices that approach HEPA filtration levels, but allow the filtration to happen without the fans and noise. You can visit www.IQAIR.com to find out more. We are the only IQAIR dealer in Oklahoma! They've been featured on Extreme Makeover, as filtration devices used for people with hyper-sensitivity, allergies, or problematic lung and heart patients.Another option: UV filters, which can be combined with HEPA filters to make them even more efficient. HEPA filters catch the harmful pollutants in the air, but UV filters neutralize them. They release short-wave ultraviolet light that breaks down the particulates on a molecular level, altering their DNA and killing them.Air Assurance has been servicing the Broken Arrow and Tulsa region for over 30 years. Please feel free to contact us to ask about air filtration systems or any other heating and cooling questions.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
When deciding what kind of HVAC air filter you want to use, there are a number of factors to consider. Some are designed to be cleaned more frequently than others while some are more efficient. Here are five of the most common types of air filters for use in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow region.Disposable FiltersThese are the most common air filters that are used because of their economical pricing and ease of use. They should be replaced every six to eight weeks for maximum efficiency. They are not designed to be washed. This will only create holes which will make them less efficient. As for efficiency, these are what is described as "boulder catchers". They can only filter the extremely large particles flowing throughout your system, for instance, many can't stop salt when sprinkled on top of them.Permanent FiltersThese come in various sizes to fit your needs and do not need to be replaced. They are easily removable to allow the user to clean them. It is recommended that you clean them every 30 to 60 days to keep them operating at full power. These are normally the most restrictive type air filters due to the long lasting fiber the filter is made out of. This can put a major strain on airflow, causing increased dust, reduced comfort, and potential harm to the system.Hammock FiltersThese come in a 20-foot roll, allowing you to cut the filter to the appropriate size for a your hammock frame. Once cut, you simply place them in the frame and trim any excess. They should be disposed and replaced every 60 days. This is similair to the disposable in efficiency. Most homeowners are bothered by the time it takes to maintain these.Electrostatic Air CleanerThese use electrostatic attraction to trap charged particles in the air and are very efficient at arresting dust, pollen, bacteria and other airborne pollutants. They are permanent and can be easily washed every month. Again, these type of filters are extremely restrictive to air flow.Large Pleated Media FiltersThis type of filter is popular because of the low maintenance required to keep them lasting for at least five years. They tend to have very high efficiency levels and use a media cartridge that has to be replaced only every six months. There are several different "levels" of pleated media. You don't have to get the most expensive! Usually those are very restrictive as well.If you are wondering what type of filtration system is best for your and your family, just ask your technician. And by the way, Air Assurance has designed their own filters. They're called Clean-Climate and we've tested them to make sure you get the optimum value of low resistance, high efficiency cleaning, as well as economic pricing.Air Assurance has been serving Oklahoma residents for more than 30 years. Experts are available to answer any questions you may have and provide any services you may need.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
When hiring an HVAC contractor, there are a number of choices in the Tulsa, Broken Arrow region. There are a few things you should know and look for before making your decision.Know Your NeedsBefore you contact an HVAC contractor, have some idea of your needs. Take note of the model you are currently using for your heating and cooling system and its maintenance history. If it is not properly cooling certain rooms, be sure to mention these specific problems when you call the contractors.Check CredentialsBe sure any contractor you may hire is licensed and insured in Oklahoma. Go ahead and investigate how much they are insured as well. Requirements in Oklahoma for insurance are low, and may not secure you in case of a problem.Home EvaluationsThis is an essential part of an HVAC contractor’s job and they should spend a significant amount of time inspecting your current system and your home to make sure all of your needs are being met. And they are not there to just check your system. They should be looking at your insulation and windows to make sure your heating and cooling system is running as efficiently as possible without any air leaks that could cause your energy bill to spike. Anyone can replace a "box", but if they are looking at the whole home's comfort system, you know they have your best interest in mind.ReferralsMany of your neighbors and friends have used HVAC contractors before, so it would be smart to get some recommendations from them. They will also be sure to tell you who to stay away from if they have had some negative experiences in the past. Ask for testimonials.You should also get a written price and description of services signed by both parties before work begins. This will make sure you are protected by specifying various costs. Understand the warranties of not only the equipment or repaired parts, but also about the company warranties as well including labor.If you have any other questions, contact Air Assurance, and we will be glad to share our expert advice.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.
Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of factors such as airborne particles, chemical vapors and unwanted odors. And every family has different air quality needs depending on allergies, asthma or other sensitivities. Electronic air cleaners can address most of the problems you may be faced with, but different models offer different features. It is important to know what features an air cleaner has before you make a purchase to ensure that it meets your specific needs.Electronic air cleaners offer a number of different features, including:
Specific contaminanttargets - Not all air cleaners address the same type of indoor air pollutants. Some only target certain contaminants while others tackle multiple issues. Dirt, dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, chemicals, bacteria and viruses are all removed in different ways. Find out which of these is addressed by your air cleaner.
Efficiency - Energy efficiency is a factor to consider, but air cleaner efficiency typically refers to the percentage of contaminants that can be removed from the air. Higher percentages indicate higher efficiency.
Range - Portable electronic air cleaners only cover a small area, usually limited to one room in your home. Whole-house air cleaners work with your existing heating and cooling equipment to provide clean air in every room of the house.
Ozone - Some air cleaners produce ozone, a known lung irritant, as a byproduct. If this is a concern for you, make sure that you purchase equipment that does not produce ozone.
Bringing fresh air into your home is one way to improve indoor air quality, but this is not always possible when your air conditioning is running for most of the hot Tampa Bay summer. Installing an air cleaner is an excellent alternative that will keep your indoor air clean and fresh all year long.Narrowing your choices can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure what you need. The professionals at ABS Air Conditioning will work with you to determine your air-cleaning needs and identify systems that will work best in your home. Call us today to learn more about what electronic air cleaners can do for you.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.
Furnace and air conditioning filters are your first point of attack against indoor air pollution. Filters that claim to efficiently remove allergens are not all the same. Do you have to pay more for an allergy-filtering product?HEPA Air Filters In order to qualify as HEPA, filters must catch 99.97% of particles that are at least 0.3 micrometers in size. This means the particles are much smaller than anything we can see. HEPA filters catch mold, pollen, dander, dust and other household allergens, and they are used in environments where clean air is a must for those with allergies or asthma. Because of the restricition they cause on air, most of these filters are free standing, and not available for whole-home use. In recent years, regular furnace filters have began to reach to higher and higher efficiency levels because of the demand by homeowners to better clean the entire indoor air environment more efficiently, but by doing so, they have made some sacrifices.Filter QualityWhile filters that restrict allergens from indoor air are a great idea, these types of filters can sometimes damage heating and cooling equipment. Often, such filters have a thick material that restricts those allergens; at the same time, this means air flow is restricted. This is a tightrope act: there needs to be enough air flow to maintain the equipment while still catching allergens. When there is not enough air flow, the unit works harder, uses more energy and breaks down.CLIMATE-CLEANAir Assurance has created a custom filter that uniquely solves this problem. Our CLIMATE-CLEAN filters creatively work to filter allergens, while air flow restriction is cut by half. It also lasts twice as long.Air filters are typically given a MERV rating, which tests efficiency, but filters are not required to test at the same rate of cubic feet per minute (CFM). Therefore, if a filter is tested at 600 CFM, the filter would get a good rating at this CFM. However, that same filter, if used on a 2000 CFM unit, would not operate correctly. All of Air Assurance’s air filters are tested at 2000 CFM.Quality does not always mean higher cost, especially with Air Assurance’s CLIMATE-CLEAN air filters. Visit our website to learn more.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
As we all know, our winters can be damp and miserable. But, here in Broken Arrow, you can save money on heating while still keeping your home warm and comfortable. You can reduce your heating bill without compromising your family's comfort by taking a few simple steps to use your heating system more efficiently. You can do many things that will cost you little or no money, then you can consider some larger investments that will give you a great return on your money.1. The first thing you can do to save money on heating is to manage your thermostat wisely. If you and your family are out working during the day, set your thermostat down five to eight degrees below where you prefer to keep it when people are home. You can turn up the heat as soon as you get home and your house will heat right back up in short order, but you will have cut your heating bill significantly by letting it cool down during the day.You can cut your heating bill even more by turning your thermostat down at night when everyone is sleeping. Put extra blankets on your beds and you will never notice the difference. Many people prefer sleeping in a slightly cooler room.2. Another good way to save money on heating is to not let the warm air escape from your house. Be sure the weatherstripping is in good shape around all of your windows and doors. Use caulking around window and door trim. Check for gaps where ducts and piping go from heated areas to unheated spaces and plug them with insulation. If you don't use your fireplace every day, be sure the damper is closed and seals tightly to keep cold air from falling down your chimney.3. Inspect your home's insulation levels. By simply looking in your attic, if you can see the rafters, you are in need of more insulation, and could be losing as much as 30% of the heat you're paying for. The Department of Energy recommends at least R-30 to R39 (or up to 19") for the state of Oklahoma.4. While you're in the attic, inspect your ductwork for damaged areas. Look for cracks or leaks around where the ductwork connects to your furnace. There's no sense in heating your attic right?Once you have done all of the free and inexpensive things you can to save money on heating, consider investing in a more efficient furnace or installing a solar or even a geothermal heating system.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 the Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
Today, everyone is looking for energy saving tips; the state of the economy has left many people without work and money is tight. Part of your effort to save money should include making sure that your HVAC system is operating efficiently.If your system is in good working order, there are other steps you can take to make sure that your home is comfortable while still saving a bundle on monthly energy costs.No other system or appliance in your home consumes as much energy as your HVAC system. At Air Assurance, we want to help homeowners in the Tulsa Metropolitan area put more money in their bank account and spend less on utility costs. A good place to start is with these 6 energy saving tips:1. Use your ceiling fans, or have some installed. During warmer months the circulated air helps cool you; during the colder months, warm air is pushed down and circulated keeping you warmer.2. Consider the windows. In warmer months, close curtains or blinds to help block out the hot sun. In winter months, open up the drapes on the south side of your home to warm the room. Also, make sure areas around the windows are sealed or caulked to ensure cold/hot air remains outside, not inside.3. Exhaust fans pull air out of your home. Turn your exhaust fans off within a few minutes after cooking or showering.4. Check the thermostat. Lower it a degree or two in winter, raise it by the same amount in the summer. Your energy bills will lower dramatically, and you will remain comfortable.5. Check your air filters and replace on a consistent basis. Dirty filters create air flow restrictions and make your unit work harder. This can also make your system pull air from leaky ductwork which can allow cold/hot air into the home, as well as other unwanted pollutants.6. Have an HVAC certified contractor check out your system on a regular basis. Just like an automobile, a finely tuned piece of machinery works better and more efficiently!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy saving tips and other HVAC topics, click here. Air Assurance services the Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
