Quality Repair vs. Replace in Tulsa?

Quality Heating & Cooling services in Tulsa

At Air Assurance, we undestand it's one of the most difficult decisions a homeowner will have to make — whether to have a quality repair on an old HVAC system or bite the bullet and replace it. But how do you decide the quality repair vs. replace dilemma, in the Tulsa Oklahoma market? Ask the following questions to determine whether to repair that old A/C or furnace one more time, or replace it entirely.

How old is your system?

Experts tend to agree that a combustion furnace reaches the end of its service life between 15–20 years, while an A/C or heat pump is closer to 10–15.

Are other factors affecting the longevity of your HVAC system?

Where you live and its climate will have a big effect on how many years you get out of a furnace or A/C. A furnace, for instance, will last longer in a Southern climate, while an A/C will last longer in a Northern climate where it's not running 24/7). Professional maintenance is another important factor. A well-maintained HVAC system can be expected to last longer than one that has been neglected. A system with proper air filter maintenance also will last longer.

Is your older system breaking down a lot?

This is usually a good sign that an "experienced" HVAC system is nearing the end of its service life. At a certain point, you'll have to decide whether it's time to quit throwing good money after bad, and go ahead and invest in a new high-efficiency furnace, A/C, or heat pump.

Are you energy bills going up?

If your utility bills are rising and there's no obvious reason, such as a more severe winter, utility rate increases, or some other household use that's consuming power, the culprit might be an older HVAC system that no longer operates as efficiently as it used to. Investing in a new high-efficiency furnace, A/C, or heat pump system, fortunately, can start a new era of lower energy costs, eventually reimbursing you for much of the cost of that new HVAC system.

To discuss the repair vs. replace question in your Broken Arrow home, please contact us at 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: “Geralt/Pixabay”

How to Tell If Your HVAC Unit Isn't Working at Peak Level

A complete HVAC breakdown is a frustrating experience. What's worse, it tends to happen when the weather is extreme. Fortunately, you can tell when you have an HVAC unit that's working inefficiently and make the necessary fixes before an expensive breakdown occurs. Be on the lookout for the following signs.

Low Airflow

Insufficient airflow indicates that your HVAC system isn't working properly or that there's a blockage preventing air from flowing through your ductwork. Clogged air filters are a common culprit. If the airflow problem persists after you've changed your filter, you may have a broken motor or a more serious problem.

Ineffective Cooling

If you're not getting cool air from your AC vents in the summer, you should check your thermostat. Confirm if you switched it to cooling mode. Try setting the temperature lower than the level your home is currently at. If the air blowing from the vents still isn't cool, a compressor problem or limited airflow could be responsible.

Frequent Cycling

Is your system constantly cycling on and off? Having a professional perform a quick tuneup could rectify the issue. Frequent cycles could also signal your HVAC system is on its last legs.

Leaks

If there seems to be water leaking around your AC unit, that's a clear sign of your system not working correctly. It could be leaking refrigerant or the condensation that's produced during normal operation.

Strange Sounds

It's normal for your HVAC system to produce a low-level sound when it's starting up and shutting down. Unusual sounds — such as whistling, grinding, buzzing, and rattling — during operation can be indicators of a problem with one or more system components.

Unpleasant Smells

Foul odors from your HVAC system could be a sign of mold growth inside your ducts or your unit, or an indicator of burned-out wiring.

The sooner you have repairs performed after discovering any of the signs above, the more money you'll save by avoiding bigger repairs and having to make a complete system replacement. Your HVAC system is complex, so it's best to leave repairs to professionals. If you need to get your HVAC working at peak performance and efficiency in the Broken Arrow area, contact the heating and cooling professionals at Air Assurance.

Indoor Air Quality Testing - Tulsa, OK

Indoor Air Quality Testing - Tulsa, OK

We spend a great deal of time in our indoor environment, whether it’s at home or at work in our place of business. Air Assurance provides many air quality services including air duct cleaning, air duct sealing, and indoor air quality testing. The professional at Air Assurance can also help correct and improve your indoor environment with a number of options. Call on Air Assurance when you need air quality testing - We service all of Greater Tulsa, including Jenks, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Sapulpa and more.

Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Maintaining indoor comfort involves more than keeping your home's living spaces warm or cool. Indoor air quality is also a major factor that affects how comfortable your home will be. When particulates and contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, and related materials get into your home's air, you can have problems such as allergy and asthma attacks, worsening of respiratory conditions, and the onset of physical discomforts such as irritated eyes and scratchy throats. Here are some suggestions for improving the indoor air quality in your home this fall and year-round.

• Change HVAC system filters: The air filters in your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump help remove particulates from your indoor air. They capture these materials as air from your home circulates through the system to be heated or cooled. Make sure these filters are kept clean and fresh. They should be checked at least once a month and changed when they get dirty.

• Maintain your HVAC equipment: Regular preventive maintenance will improve the function of your HVAC system and boost its ability to remove particulates, reduce humidity, and keep your indoor air cleaner.

• Clean, dust, and vacuum regularly: Keeping your indoor environment clean and free of dust, mold, and other contaminants can significantly improve indoor air quality. Dust and vacuum at least weekly.

• Increase ventilation: Ventilation keeps a steady flow of air moving through your home, which helps remove particulates and send them outside. When weather and outdoor conditions permit, open windows and doors to let breezes move through your indoor spaces. Install a whole-house ventilation system that provides effective airflow for your entire home. Turn your window air conditioner to fan-only to provide extra ventilation.

• Install air filtration and cleaning systems: Install high-efficiency air cleaning and filtration equipment that provides additional removal of particulates and indoor pollution. Use the highest-quality filters possible in these devices.

Air Assurance is a premier source for professional HVAC services in Tulsa and the surrounding Oklahoma communities. Contact us today for more information on indoor air quality and how to keep your home's air cleaner and fresher throughout the year.

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: “Zurijeta/Shutterstock”

Understanding Airflow in Your Home

Understanding Airflow in Your Home

Most of us don’t give airflow much thought, but it’s a physical phenomenon surrounding us every moment. Inside our homes, the movement of air, or lack thereof, drives its air quality and the costs for keeping it comfortable. Even though it’s largely intangible, air has some of the same physical qualities as water. Air moves just as easily as water does, but instead of being affected by gravity, it’s affected by pressure that’s always trying to equalize itself. Where positive pressure exists, it moves into a negative space and vice versa. 

Why It Matters

A home’s energy efficiency depends on a few important factors. Insulation in the attic and walls makes a big difference, as does its degree of air infiltration. A leaky home will be hard to heat and cool because air is either moving in or out. You’ve probably experienced how a drafty room feels on a cold day. The draft probably came from a window, exterior door, or around the floor. Another way to encourage the movement of air from positive to negative is to close off a room in a home that has a forced-air HVAC system. Closing off the duct without stopping the return airflow will create a negative pressure gradient that will pull unconditioned outdoor air inside. 

Air Infiltration and Quality

While homes with low air infiltration rates cost less to condition, they may have air quality issues. The U.S. EPA reports that the air quality in many homes is among the worst that people encounter. Pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from products made from hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and radon, dust, pollen and dander. All homes need some fresh air ventilation. The most energy efficient way to introduce fresh air without driving up energy costs is with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) that uses technology to capture the energy in the outgoing air and put it into the incoming air. If your home isn’t as comfortable as you’d like or your air quality is low, you may have airflow issues.

To learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing 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). For more information about other HVAC topics,download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 918-217-8273.

When Renting HVAC Equipment Makes Sense

When Renting HVAC Equipment Makes Sense

These days you can rent just about anything, including HVAC equipment. While renting HVAC equipment has been more common in industry than in residential settings, in recent years, the practice has grown.Here are some of the advantages of renting as opposed to purchasing HVAC equipment outright.

Renting Your Next HVAC System

Purchase of HVAC equipment is a major outlay. You will be deciding whether to plop down the cost of the system outright, or finance it. Financing will ease the pain of purchasing the system, but comes with interest payments. And it's not only the cost of the equipment you have to factor in. Choosing the right system can be daunting, as is the homeowner's responsibility to get it all right, from choosing the unit with the correct cooling and heating capacity, to making sure the warranty will provide you with comprehensive coverage. Plus, when you buy an HVAC system, you will be responsible for repairs and maintenance. You will not be able to choose just any HVAC contractor, but will be obligated to hire a company that will not invalidate the warranty.

When Renting HVAC Equipment Makes Sense

It can make sense to consider renting air conditioning and/or heating equipment, particularly if you plan to occupy the home for just a short time or if your budget simply won't stretch to cover another major purchase. After all, it's not just the cost of the equipment you're faced with, but also the installation costs, and down the line, maintenance and repairs. Generally when you rent a unit, the costs of installation, maintenance and repairs, replacement filters and the option to renew with perks are all included in the rental agreement. As a renter of HVAC equipment, you should have a clear understanding of what your rental fee includes. Also, what if you must get out of your contract early (perhaps you will have to move for a job)? Is there an early termination penalty? 

Talk to your HVAC consultant about the pros and cons of renting HVAC equipment. Call Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area. 

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). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Do You Need Climate Control in Your Garage?

It’s possible to make your garage usable year-round by installing climate control equipment for winter heating and summer cooling. Plenty of workable options are available that provide the comfort you want in the garage, whether it’s a hobby space or you use it as additional livable space.

Heaters

Ductless mini split heat pump.

This system tops the list because it provides both heating and cooling in one easy to maintain, affordable and energy efficient appliance. Unless the weather is exceptionally cold, a heat pump provides adequate warmth in the winter. Ductless systems are similar to central HVAC systems except they blow the air directly from an air handler and don’t need ductwork.

Electric heaters.

Whether they’re space or baseboard heaters, these kinds are better at spot heating than overall garage heating since they’re the most expensive kinds to use on an ongoing basis.

Vented gas heaters.

A gas heater that hangs from the ceiling and vents to the outdoors will provide comfortable heat for cool-season use. Your HVAC contractor will securely hang it and extend a gas line to the heater. Unvented heaters are available, as well, but aren’t considered completely safe. If you do use such a system for climate control, keep a window or door slightly open to pull in fresh air and don’t use it more than a few hours at a time.

Cooling Systems

If you opt for a ductless heat pump, you will have a high-efficiency cooling system. These appliances are also available as air conditioners that provide cooling only.

Portable, window and wall air conditioners will also provide cooled air for the garage. The size you need depends on the cubic footage in the garage and its insulation levels, along with the amount of air infiltration. These re the same factors that will impact the size of heating system you need as well.

Adding climate control equipment to the garage helps you enjoy your time with hobbies, lucrative work, or in an alternative living space. To learn more about any of these systems, contact Air Assurance, providing 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). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Pros and Cons of Skylights on Energy Efficiency

When most people think of skylights, they may not be focusing on energy efficiency. The most notable feature of a skylight is simply natural light. Technology still hasn’t provided an artificial equivalent for the aesthetic and mood-lifting benefits of sunlight streaming downward into living spaces from above. While windows allow indirect light into the house laterally, an overhead skylight provides the most direct way to gain the beneficial exposure to real sunlight indoors.When it comes to efficiency issues, however, a residential skylight presents both good news as well as downsides. Here are some skylight pros and cons:

Energy Efficiency Benefits

• Extra heat in winter. Sunlight passing through glass carries heat energy along with it that warms rooms and helps reduce furnace expenses during daylight hours. Energy costs can be reduced during the heating season.

• Free lighting. During daylight hours, a skylight reduces dependence on other electrical light sources.

• Passive ventilation in summer. Skylights that are openable permit enhanced cross-ventilation by letting out rising warm air that naturally accumulates at the ceiling. This upward flow of air creates a “stack effect” in a room that continuously exhausts heat through the open skylight while pulling in fresh air through open windows.

Energy Efficiency Drawbacks

• Heat gain on summer days. Solar heat entering through a skylight in summer may cause your air conditioner to run longer to compensate and increase energy costs. Placement of a skylight—such as selecting the north-facing side of the roof with less solar exposure—can reduce heat gain.

• Nighttime heat loss. Once the sun goes down, glass in a skylight may allow indoor heat to radiate out of the house into the colder outdoors. In winter, this may require more heat from your furnace to compensate and energy consumption may rise. Skylights that utilize glass with low-emissivity coating can help reduce heat loss in winter.

If you're considering installing a skylight, ask the professionals at Air Assurance for more information about the potential energy efficiency pros and cons.

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). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.