How to Tell If Your HVAC Insulation Is Working Properly

Attic insulation isn't the only kind of insulation you need. In order to maintain home efficiency, you need HVAC insulation as well. Specifically, insulation for your ductwork. Without proper insulation, hot air will gradually cool down and cold air will heat up as they make the journey through your ducts, losing a significant amount of energy by the time they reach your rooms. How can you tell if your HVAC insulation is working properly? Here are a few things to look for.

The Importance of HVAC Insulation

A significant portion of your ductwork goes through your attic. Your attic retains a lot of heat in summer and gets very cold in the winter. Your ducts need to be insulated against those temperature fluctuations. Without proper insulation, cold air from your AC will absorb the heat as it flows through the ducts in your attic. Likewise in winter, warm furnace air will grow colder.

This is the first major sign that your HVAC insulation isn't working the way it should: If the air flowing into your home isn't as hot or as cold as it should be, this means you're losing energy, and in turn, your system needs to run longer in order to heat or cool your home properly, which drives up your bill.

HVAC Insulation Damage

Another way to tell if your ductwork insulation is adequate is to check it for damage, such as tears in the duct wrapping. In some cases, damaged insulation can also cause blockage in your ductwork, which restricts the airflow. In other cases, damage might include moisture around the ducts or even mold growth.

If the damage is minor, the insulation can probably be fixed using metal or foil tape. If it's more extensive, you may need to have your ducts rewrapped with new insulation. If you have mold, you'll need a ductwork cleaning in addition to any repairs. Whatever the damage, talk to your HVAC technician to see what needs to be done.

For more help maintaining proper HVAC insulation in your home, contact us at Air Assurance. We strive for excellence in meeting Broken Arrow's home-comfort needs.

Questions First-Time HVAC Purchasers Should Ask

Your HVAC system contains some of your home's most expensive and essential equipment, so making a first-time purchase when it needs replacement can be a daunting experience. You can make HVAC purchases less stressful and more successful by carefully choosing your installer and getting the right answers to some important questions.

What to Do and Ask Before an HVAC Purchase

There's more to a successful HVAC equipment purchase than just choosing between different models. Having the equipment installed properly makes a big difference in its energy consumption, performance and lifespan. To ensure a quality installation, you want to choose a reputable, well-established HVAC contractor with industry expertise. For peace of mind that you're hiring the right installer, consider the answers you get when you ask the following questions too:

How do you size my equipment?

Installing poorly-sized equipment can have long-term repercussions. Oversized HVAC with too much capacity will short-cycle, which wastes energy. Undersized equipment simply won't keep your home warm or cool enough. A knowledgeable installer will tell you they do a load calculation for accurate sizing, not just match the old equipment or use a “rule of thumb.”

Is my existing ductwork okay?

A contractor worth hiring will say they have to verify that the ductwork design provides balanced airflow and the ducts are free from damage and leaks before installing your new HVAC equipment.

How can I compare efficiency ratings?

A dependable HVAC pro knows that higher-rated equipment that's more efficient is less expensive to operate, but costs more upfront. They'll help you weigh the price tag vs. potential energy savings for different models so you can make an informed choice within your budget.

What equipment features are worthwhile?

Some HVAC equipment models have optional features that can enhance energy efficiency and your comfort. A good contractor should tell you about any beneficial features that match your home and budget, and may recommend options like a variable-speed compressor, air handler or furnace, or installing a zoning system or smart thermostat.

For personalized help making informed HVAC purchases for your Broken Arrow home, 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). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Inspect the Ducts Now and Then To Prevent Energy Loss

When northeastern Oklahoma gets mentioned, it's usually the tourist industry's “Green Country Region” label which comes to mind. While heavy industry seems a bit distant from the verdant images conjured up, airborne dust and pollution are a major cause of concern, particularly in the greater Tulsa metropolitan area, of which Broken Arrow is an integral part.Why Sealed Ducts Are ImportantIn one recent study, Tulsa County ranked as one of the “Dirtiest/Worst Counties in the U.S.” in six out of the 12 categories measured. With carbon monoxide  levels high outside, it's particularly important that our indoor air quality be kept as pristine as possible.Why Duct Inspections Are ImportantOur HVAC systems do more than simply cool and dehumidify the air circulating through our homes; they also filter the air our families breath. Ductwork is the typically-hidden system of conduits and joints, snaking through your home, that move treated air from the air conditioner – and from the furnace, during the heating season – to our living space. Aside from allowing out the conditioned air we've paid for, breaches in the ductwork can also allow contamination in, undermining the efficiency of even the best air filters.Keeping the ductwork working at its optimum is thus important to both moderating utility bills and to maintaining healthy indoor air quality.What the Homeowner Can DoThere are some things a homeowner can do to inspect the ducts:

• External Checks. When the air mover (blower) is running, look at your ducts. If you see dust or cobwebs moving, this is a sign of leakage.

• Internal Checks. Remove the registers (vents) where treated air enters your rooms, and look inside. The presence of dust or any sign of mice, bugs or mold suggests problems.

What an HVAC Pro Can DoAs noted, most ductwork is located out of view. This can make visual inspections difficult. Professional contractors have dedicated meters and machinery, and access to technical manuals specific to your installation, that make it possible to inspect the ducts remotely. Contact Air Assurance to learn more, or to schedule a free in-home consultation.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).

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How Well Does Your A/C Remove Humidity?

Oklahoma can get pretty humid over the summer, and everyone knows that the heat is harder to tolerate when there's a lot of moisture in the air. Extra moisture causes the air to become muggy and oppressive.  But did you know that you can use your A/C to remove humidity?How well your A/C removes the humidity can depend on a number of factors including, how strong the humidity is, how hot the day is, and how many moisture producing sources you have in your home at any given time.   Here are  a few tips on how to use the A/C to remove humidity.

• When your compressor runs, it automatically takes some humidity out of the air, but the more moisture it's condensing, the more of its energy is devoted to humidity control instead of cooling. If you turn the A/C on early in the morning before the heat of the day builds up, you can get a head start on dehumidifying the house before more energy needs to be devoted to cooling, helping it keep up.

• Check your home for air leaks in the doors, windows, or ductwork that may be letting humid air back into you home. Sealing these leaks with weatherstripping, caulking or duct tape can significantly change how hard your unit has to work to keep your home dehumidified.

• Turn on exhaust fans when using the stove or shower, to make sure that as much of moisture and heat gets vented before even making it into the rest of your home.

• Don't let the fan on the A/C run if the compressor isn't on. The fan doesn't dehumidify while the compressor is off, and can blow more moisture back into the house.

• Don't turn the thermostat down to dehumidify faster. Unless you have a two-stage cooling system, the compressor can only dehumidify so fast. Turning the thermostat down just causes it to run for longer, burning more energy for very little benefit.

For more information on using your A/C to remove humidity in your 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: GSPhotography/Shutterstock”

Two-Stage Cooling: How Another Speed Makes a Difference in Efficiency

Summer is here in full force in Broken Arrow, and with the temperatures on the rise and staying there, it may be time to look into replacing the old air conditioner. When looking at the new models, it's a great idea to check for a unit that has two-stage cooling options, since it controls comfort and humidity very well. What Is Two-Stage Cooling?The term two-stage cooling comes from adjustable settings on the compressor in the unit. The compressor is what generates the cool air in an A/C. Most compressors only have one setting-- on and running at full speed, or off.  In a two-stage system you have at least two settings on the compressor, often a low and high setting. In the high setting the A/C functions much like any other A/C, running the compressor at full capacity. But you also have the option to run the A/C at the low setting when less cooling is needed, saving energy and providing a low, comfortable output of cold air.What Are the Benefits?In most cases, the two-stage system can keep your home cool at the low setting for the majority of the time. This saves energy since it is using a fraction of the energy required to run at full-blast.The longer running times also allow it to draw more excess humidity out of your home, providing for even greater comfort. An A/C compressor automatically pulls moisture out of the air as it operates. Humidity makes your home feel warmer, even if the thermostat is at the right temperature. Since the two-stage system runs on low for long periods, you get the humidity fighting benefits all day instead of in the short bursts typical with standard A/C compressors.You also don't get the hot and cold extremes that can be common with a regular A/C that turns on and off all the time.For more information on two-stage cooling and how you can use it to increase your comfort and energy savings this summer, please contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, serving Broken Arrow and Tulsa.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).

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Maintenance Plan vs. Warranty: Which Offers the Advantage?

Our home HVAC installations are complex assemblies, and, as with all machines, there’s a potential for mechanical failure. Here in Broken Arrow, our average lows are well below freezing for four months every year, and are in the high 70s or above right through summer. Our HVAC systems see service pretty much year-round, so keeping them in optimal working condition is important.Presented with a choice between a warranty package and a maintenance plan, the most important question is “which offers the advantage?”Home Warranty CompaniesHome warranty companies are third-party providers. They work for the insurers, not for the homeowner. They are, then, contracted to deliver the minimum level of service they can get away with, protecting the interests of the company that sends them regular work. If a home warranty company can exclude an expensive service, or a costly component, from the bill they pass on to their employer, it stands to reason that they will.How Maintenance Plans DifferMaintenance plans are just that: plans. You know exactly what you’re going to get, up front, and what that service does for you.Maintenance plans aim to save you both money and headaches, in the same way as regular tune-ups keep your car engine running both longer and more reliably. By contracting with a trusted, expert HVAC company, you ensure the health of your equipment. This is intended to extend its service life, and thus obviate the need for warrantied repairs before any breakdown occurs.What to Expect of Your Maintenance PlanRepairs have the potential to cost more than your warranty covers. That’s why a maintenance plan, which aims to prevent problems rather than solve them, is by far the best bet. Other benefits include:

• Homeowners with scheduled plans are often offered discounts on repairs, and on parts

• Regular tune-ups should result in lower running costs

If, despite everyone’s best efforts, a breakdown does eventually occur, your contractor should guarantee same-day arrival to resolve the problem. For homeowners in the greater Tulsa metro area, a full service contract with Air Assurance brings just such peace of mind.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).

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Have an Older A/C? Why the R-22 Phaseout is Important To You

If you still have an older A/C unit, the R-22 phaseout is of concern. Because of depletion of the ozone layer, the federal government, in accordance with the Montreal Protocol of 1987, has cut the production of R-22, the refrigerant which most residential air conditioners have used for many years, to 25 percent of capacity. This has resulted in the cost of R-22 tripling in the last two years. Price will probably keep rising as production will be cut to 10 percent of capacity on Jan. 1, 2015. By 2020, R-22 will be phased out of production. The only remaining supply will be recaptured from existing units. 

What does this mean for you? Your Broken Arrow A/C unit could cost as much to recharge once as it would be to retrofit it. Retrofits can be made with parts that use R-410A, R-407C pure refrigerant or HFCF (hydrofluorocarbon) blends. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

R-410A is a cheaper, less efficient replacement refrigerant. It works in a higher pressure system than R-22 so several components in your unit would need to be replaced for it to work correctly. This makes it a mid-range expense and one that we suggest only if you cannot afford a new unit.

R-407C is another mid-priced option. This refrigerant requires the addition of a special lubricant to work in your older unit. It is nearly as efficient as R-22, but the cost to add the lubricant offsets some of the savings.

HFCF blends are considered only for units that are in extremely good condition. Those with leaky seals or broken gaskets cannot be retrofitted to this option. The refrigerants used (R-438A and R-422D) work with your existing gauges and offer comparable efficiency to R-22.

If you have the money, we suggest buying a new, more efficient air conditioner. The R-22 phaseout could be a catalyst for upgrading to a unit up to 50 percent more efficient than the one you are currently using.

For more information about the R-22 phaseout, contact the Broken Arrow heating and cooling experts 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). 

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Determine If Your Home's Water Hard or Soft and Learn to Balance

Hard water is an issue that can cause a variety of other problems. Learning to achieve the proper balance of minerals in your home's water is an important task, and can improve many different aspects of your life.

As water travels through the soil, it picks up minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This results in so-called hard water. Depending on where your water comes from and the type of treatment it undergoes at the water treatment center, it will be either hard or soft water. There are several signs that you have hard water:

• Clogged pipes

• A film on bathtub or shower tiles

• Build-up of minerals on faucets

There are several negative effects that hard water can have on your home and your daily activities. These include:

• Poor water flow and low efficiency

• Increase in plumbing repairs

• Dull and limp hair

• Reduced cleaning capabilities of soap

• Reduced clothing life

To combat these effects, you can have a water softener installed in your home. Cation exchange is one of the most common methods of water softening, and involves a process in which ions are exchanged. Water can be softened in a fully automatic process or with an electronic sensor that softens the water, depending on your use. Having the right size water softener is an important part of regulating the hardness of your water. It can make a big difference in how equipment, from your water heater to your washing machine, do their jobs. .

If you have hard or soft water issues, contact us at Air Assurance. We have been providing HVAC services to Broken Arrow and the surrounding 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). 

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Don't Just Let the Water Run -- Tips for Saving H2O

Clean, safe water is a finite resource, as many in the Tulsa area know all too well, and with the recent droughts it has become even more important to conserve water. By following these easy tips for saving H2O in your home, you can not only help maximize the community's water supply, but you can also save some money on your water bill:

• Repair Leaks: Even minor leaks can add up to a lot of water over a period of time, and they should be repaired immediately. Inspect your supply lines yearly for evidence of leaks such as water stains, mold growth or corrosion, especially around sections that have been repaired in the past. Repair or replace any dripping faucets and inspect the supply lines for washers, toilets and sinks for drips. If you have a sprinkler system, have it inspected if you notice pooling water on your lawn.

• Replace Shower Heads: Older shower heads can use well over five gallons of water per minute. New water-efficient versions can reduce that amount by at least half, saving H20 while still providing a comfortable shower.

• Install New Aerators: An aerator is the screw-on assembly at the end of the faucet, through which the water exits. Aerators help control the water flow and older models can allow well over two gallons per minute to escape the faucet. New ones can reduce this to under a gallon per minute. Another easy step towards saving H2O is to not let the faucet needlessly run while you are brushing your teeth, shaving or rinsing dishes.

• Upgrade Appliances: When your dishwasher or clothes washer are ready to be replaced, look for water-saving models. High-efficiency clothes washers, for example, can reduce water usage from 50 gallons to less than 25 per load.

• Replace the Toilet: Older toilets can use from five to seven gallons every time they are flushed, while new ones can use 1.6 gallons or less.

For more information about saving H2O in your home, talk to our plumbing experts at Air Assurance today. We serve Broken Arrow, as well as the entire Tulsa 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). 

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