How to Keep the Temperature in Your Home From Fluctuating Too Wildly

While it's expected that outdoor temperatures will fluctuate depending on the weather, fluctuating temperatures inside your home can make it terribly uncomfortable. However, there is something you can do about those temperature swings from room to room. We've put together a list of the top reasons temperatures inside Broken Arrow homes fluctuate so wildly and what to do about it.

Thermostat Issues

If you are like many homeowners, you adjust the thermostat going to and from work and at bedtime to save energy. However, this can result in very uncomfortable temperature fluctuations, especially when you arrive home or wake up to a cool home.

A programmable, Wi-Fi, or smart thermostat is a great solution to fluctuating temperatures, striking a balance between comfort and energy savings. Simply program your comfort and energy-saving settings on your new thermostat and — voila! — problem solved.

Air Leaks and Fluctuating Temperatures

Another common culprit for fluctuating temperatures inside homes is air leaks around windows and doors. You've felt it before: You walk into a room and feel a draft. The reason could be leaky windows and doors.

This cause of fluctuating temperatures is easily remedied by installing caulking of various materials around the leaky windows and doors in your home. For example, rope caulk can be used to seal leaky window frames, and it's easily removed in the spring when you want to let in fresh air.

Ductwork and Fluctuating Temperatures

Evenly distributed airflow is needed in your home to maintain stable temperatures from room to room. However, ductwork issues such as blocked air vents, dirty ducts, and duct leaks often hinder your furnace from heating your home comfortably and evenly.

Make sure air vents are free from obstructions, such as furniture blocking airflow or dust and dirt buildup. If your ductwork hasn't been inspected in quite some time, call your HVAC technician for a preventive maintenance inspection to ensure your furnace and air ducts are operating efficiently. Sometimes, your HVAC system just needs a little TLC to make your home as comfortable as possible.

If you need assistance with fluctuating temperatures, please contact Air Assurance today.

January HVAC Maintenance To-Dos

Now that the new year is upon us, it's time to start thinking about January HVAC maintenance that will help improve your household. To help you out, we've compiled some quick tasks that you can add to your to-do list:

Replace the Air Filter

Now that the holidays are over and your guests have returned home, there's a good chance that your air filter has become a bit clogged and needs to be replaced. Some models can be cleaned instead, but the main point is to get an operational filter in your system so that it runs more smoothly. This will save you both energy and money on your monthly utility bill.

Contact an HVAC Technician

January is a great month to hire a qualified technician for the annual HVAC maintenance of your system. He or she will perform a tune-up of the system and pinpoint any problems that currently exist or could be an issue later on down the road. This maintenance will keep the unit running smoothly and efficiently. Plus, it will prolong the system's operational longevity.

Seal Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks throughout your home force your HVAC system to work harder in order to maintain a good comfort level. Find these air leaks and get them sealed with either weather stripping, caulk, or spray foam depending on the location and size. Around the edges of your doors and windows are a great place to start, and checking for tears in your home's ductwork is a good idea, too.

Check Your Registers

If you had a bunch of activity in your home over the holidays, there's a good chance that your registers have become blocked by furniture or simply gotten clogged up with dirt or debris. Make sure that the registers are clean and unobstructed to ensure proper airflow throughout your home.

For more expert advice on January HVAC maintenance or any other issues related to home comfort, reach out to the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding area for over 30 years.

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.

How to Locate Cold Air Leaks Around the House

Air leaks allow cold outside air to sneak into your home and steal your comfort and money. As the cold air gets into your home, your heating system is forced to work harder to deliver more hot air continuously, driving up your energy bills. The first step to winning the fight against cold air leaks is finding out where exactly the leakage is occurring. Here are some useful tips to help you achieve that.

Visual Inspection

The most common place for warm air to leak out of your home is around doors and windows. You can spot existing gaps by simply looking over door and window frames. If you see daylight around the frame, that's a sign of a leak. Having someone go outside at night and shine a flashlight over window and door frames will also reveal locations of large air leaks. If you observe from inside dark rooms, you'll see the light in the areas where the leaks are taking place.Also check for gaps and cracks around:

• electrical outlets

• baseboards

• switch plates

• light fixtures

• attic hatches

• vents and fans

Smoke Test

You can locate the leaks that are less easily visible by conducting a smoke test.

1. Turn off your furnace and any other combustion appliances on a cool, windy day.

2. Walk around the potential leak sites with a lit incense stick. You'll know you have a leak if the smoke wavers or is blown back into the room.

Call in a Pro

If you want an accurate gauge of your home's cold air leaks, hire a technician to conduct a professional energy audit. He or she can perform a thermal infrared scan or a blower door test to measure your home's airtightness and locate sources of air leaks.

The energy you lose through cold air leaks can be equivalent to leaving a window open throughout the winter, so locating and sealing these leaks is well worth the time and effort. If you want to truly maximize your Broken Arrow home's energy efficiency by scheduling an energy audit, contact the professionals 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.

Checking for Air Leaks Before it Warms Up

Air leaks are at the top of the list when it comes to reasons why homeowners aren't enjoying maximum efficiency from their HVAC systems. Minute cracks throughout your home can let your conditioned air leak out, while allowing unconditioned air inside, compromising your heating and cooling efforts and boosting your utility bills.Learn how to deal with leaking air, and improve your home's efficiency before cooling season arrives.

Where Most Air Leaks Are Found

Cracks in your home can develop anywhere but are most common in these locations:

• around doors and windows

• between the exterior doors and the floor

• around baseboards

• around attic hatch doors (if your attic is unconditioned)

• around openings for wires, cables and pipes in exterior walls

• electric switches

• recessed lighting (again, if the attic is unconditioned)

You can find leaks by lighting an incense stick and waving it in front of these places. If the smoke wavers, you have a leak.

Fixing Air Leaks

1. Fix air leaks around doors and windows by applying weatherstripping, caulk or insulation.2. Apply a door sweeper to the bottom of exterior doors. Make sure the door moves freely along the floor without hanging up.3. Apply thin beads of caulk between baseboards and drywall.4. For attic hatches, attach foam board to the door, and weatherstripping around the opening perimeter.5. Use weatherstripping or insulation around wires, cables and pipes running through exterior walls.6. Install foam gaskets inside switch boxes.7. Install fire-rated, insulated covers over recessed lighting canisters.

Don't Forget the Ducts

If you can access your ductwork, check it for leaks, particularly if it is located in an unconditioned space such as the attic or basement. Fix leaks or disconnected segments with metal screws, foil tape (no duct tape -- it won't hold up) and mastic sealant.You might also think about insulating your ducts to stop heat or cooling loss in the unconditioned spaces.Boost your home's efficiency by fixing air leaks. Then, how about putting the money you save on utilities toward an upgraded HVAC system from Air Assurance of Broken Arrow?

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 air leaks and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Tight Ductwork: Why it's Important

To keep your HVAC system working at its most efficient level, you must have tight ducts. Leaks in your ducts allow energy loss as heated or cooled air leaves the system before it's delivered where it's needed. Uneven or overly high energy bills are a clear sign of leaking ducts. Here's why it's important to keep your ducts tight, and what you can do if you suspect you have an issue.

Tight Ducts Keep Your Home More Efficient and Comfortable

Tight ductwork is crucial for two reasons. First, it keeps your home more comfortable. Leaky ducts can allow heated or cooled energy to escape before it reaches areas of your home, and this can hurt the overall comfort of your home.Second, ducts that leak allow energy to leave the system, and with it the money you've worked hard for. Leaky ducts make your energy bills higher than they should be.

Signs of Ductwork Leaks

So beyond the discomfort or high energy bills, are there any signs that indicate you have a problem with your ducts? These can be signs of ductwork issues that need to be addressed:

• Rattling noises from the ducts

• Uneven heating and cooling throughout the home

• Loud "swoosh" of air flow

While these may or may not indicate a leak, if you're noticing them, you need to talk to a qualified HVAC professional to ensure you don't have a serious problem brewing.

How to Fix a Leak

Fixing a ductwork leak requires the right knowledge and understandings about how these systems work. Duct tape, unfortunately, is all-too-common of a solution, but one that does little real good. Instead, you need to seal leaks with mastic sealant or a quality metal tape designed for the purpose. However, finding the leaks is not always easy, so it's always best to consult with a qualified HVAC professional.

Of you suspect that you might have a leaky duct problem in your Broken Arrow home, contact the Air Assurance team for an evaluation and workable solution. With tighter ducts, you will enjoy a more comfortable and more efficient home.

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 tight ductwork and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “byrev/Pixabay”

Ways to Detect Air Leaks

Air sealing your home's shell is one of the most practical and cost-effective home efficiency upgrades you can do. When you consider all of the potential benefits -- better comfort, improved IAQ, energy savings and less HVAC wear -- put a star next to it on the top of your home improvement to-do list! Read through the following tips to get started.

Ways to Detect Air Leaks

Air bypass and leaks may occur anywhere two (or more) different home building materials meet. So, that's a lot of ground to cover.

• Outside your home: Note any gaps between the materials of your home's exterior, such as walls to foundation, walls to windows and doors and cladding to cladding. Note any pipes, cables and vents that protrude the walls.

• Inside your home: Use a smoke pencil or incense stick to detect air movement by wavering smoke. Check around windows, all entry doors to the living spaces, wall switch plates, electrical outlets and your attic hatch.

• Basement: Note cracks and gaps in the floor, walls and ceiling of your unconditioned basement. Check for gaps around pipes, ducts and cables.

• Attic: Look for dirt marks on insulation. Note gaps around pipes, ducts, cables and the flue. Does the attic door seal tightly? It should.

• Garage: Sealing off an attached garage is a matter of safety and health.

Sealing Up Your Home

• Outside your home: Potential air leaks through gaps and cracks can be sealed with silicone caulk or a can of expanding spray-on foam.

• Inside your home: Replace brittle, damaged or missing door weatherstripping with silicone tubing. Caulk of various types, such as squeeze tube and rope, is great for sealing windows. Foam strips generally work well for sealing off your attic door. Gaskets are used to seal wall switch plates and outlets.

• Basement and attic: Use caulk and expanding spray-on for gaps and cracks in your attic and basement. Seal loose ductwork with metal tape.

• Garage: Finish, seal and paint unfinished walls.

If you need a professional's touch detecting and sealing air leaks in your Broken Arrow area 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). For more information about air leaks and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

Lowering Your Heating Load For Your Home

You might be surprised to hear how much control you have over the amount you pay in heating bills, as well as how big a furnace or heat pump is required to heat your home. Furnace sizing is directly related to your home's heating load, as is the amount you pay in monthly energy bills. If you lower the heating load, you can get away with a smaller furnace and lower heating bills.Following are some effective ways to reduce the heating load of your home:

• Seal air leaks. When warm air is escaping your home via gaps in the outer envelope, the furnace has to work harder to replace that warm air. In the summer, when warm air is infiltrating your home through the same openings, your A/C has to work harder. Using caulk, weatherstripping or spray foam (depending on the location and size of air leak), seal your house so it's as airtight as possible.

• Upgrade insulation. Without adequate insulation in walls, foundation, ceilings and attic, heat energy has an easier time transferring to the outside in winter and inside in the summer. As with air leaks, this forces your furnace to work harder, wasting energy and stressing parts. Attic insulation especially is important to keep heat inside.

• Get a programmable thermostat. These devices allow you to set energy-saving programs to match your daily schedule. The thermostat will lower heating when nobody's home or when everybody's asleep at night, and return it to your comfort level shortly before home occupants are expected to awaken or return home from work or school.

• Use ceiling fans. In the winter, set the fan blade rotation to clockwise. This blows air upward, where it displaces warm air that collects near the ceiling, pushing it down into the room where people can feel it.

• Schedule preventive maintenance. Make sure you schedule a maintenance tuneup on your furnace once a year, to ensure it's operating effectively, efficiently and safely.

More more information on how to lower the heating load in your Broken Arrow area home, please call 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 heating loads and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “OpenClipart-Vectors/Pixabay”

How to Perform Your Own Energy Tests

How's your home doing, energy-wise? If you're like most Americans, you probably don't know how efficient it is at using energy. A professional energy audit could probably enlighten you, but maybe that's an expense you're not quite ready to tackle. Until that day comes, you might perform some energy tests of your own and see what you can find out.

Air Leaks

Air leaks are one of the easiest energy wasters to locate, and correcting them can help you save 10-20 percent on your utility bill each year.Locate air leaks by waving a lit incense stick near obvious places for leaking air, such as around door and window frames, the edge of the floor, along baseboard gaps and where the walls and ceiling meet. Also check around plumbing and light fixtures, switch plates and electrical outlets. Places where two different types of building materials meet on the outside of your home are also likely places for air leaks.When you locate air leaks, repair them with caulk and insulation. Put door sweeps under doors and foam gaskets under the plastic covers of switch plates.

Insulation

Most homes, whether old or new, are insulation deficient and need a boost. Cover the attic floor with enough insulation to reach over the rafters. Make sure the attic door is insulated and weather stripped. Insulate ductwork in unconditioned spaces.You can blow in wall insulation this way: locate studs with a stud finder, cut out 2-inch holes in the drywall (saving the sections), then aim the applicator hose in the holes and blow in the insulation. You will have to reinsert the drywall hole sections and patch and paint.

Check Your Equipment

Check the efficiency of your HVAC system. If it's an older model, it could be time for replacement. Choose a more efficient Energy Star model.

Change to Efficient Lighting

Switch to efficient incandescent, fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs to save on electricity.Want to learn more about do-it-yourself energy tests? Contact Air Assurance. We provide safe, effective and efficient service and installations in Broken Arrow.

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 energy tests and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

How to Increase Air Conditioner Efficiency

A high-efficiency air conditioner keeps your home cool while at the same time using less energy and costing you less money. Over time, however, issues can develop that decrease air conditioner efficiency and drive up your cooling costs. Here are a few steps you can take to boost A/C efficiency, reduce energy usage, and trim your monthly bills.

• Have preventive maintenance performed — A preventive maintenance check-up gives your trusted HVAC professional to opportunity to inspect your cooling system from end to end. He will make adjustments and minor repairs that will increase efficiency and performance quality. Maintenance should be done at least once a year, usually in the springtime before cooling season sets in.

• Change air filters — Dirty, clogged air filters can restrict the air flow your cooling system needs to work properly and at its best level of efficiency. Check filter condition at least once a month. Put new, fresh filters in when the old ones get dirty.

• Cut down on heat gain — Heat gain is the accumulation of heat inside your home from external sources. These include sunshine coming through windows, heat from appliances, and heat radiating downward from a hot attic. To avoid sunshine, close drapes and curtains. Avoid running ovens and clothes dryers at the hottest times of day. Make sure your attic is well ventilated and insulated to keep it cool.

• Use a programmable thermostat — Programmable thermostats help you get the best efficiency from your air conditioner. Use pre-programmed set points to control when the air conditioner turns off and on. Program the thermostat to reduce cooling when you're not at home, such as during the workday, then automatically increase cooling to make your living spaces comfortable when you get back.

• Seal ductwork to stop air leaks — Make sure ductwork connections are fitted tightly together and that they are sealed with mastic or metal tape.

Air Assurance is Tulsa's leading choice for professional HVAC sales, installation, maintenance, and repair. Contact us today for more information on air conditioner efficiency and how to keep your cooling system working at its best throughout the summer and beyond.

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: “Juergen-Faelchle/Shutterstock”

Find and Seal Air Leaks in Your Home Envelope

Your home's envelope is what separates your indoor living space from the outdoor elements. Since the envelope is made up of many different building components, there are lots of places where air can infiltrate. Finding and fixing air leaks is an effective way to curb your energy costs and increase your comfort.

Tips for Finding Air Leaks

You can find many leak sources on the exterior by thoroughly inspecting it for obvious cracks, gaps and holes. Be sure to check these leak-prone areas:

• Around punctures through the shell, such as plumbing lines, outdoor spigots, wiring, exhaust and HVAC vents.

• At the juncture of two different building materials.

• Along the foundation where it meets the siding.

• In exterior corners, and around window and door frames.

Inside in your living areas and attic, you can use a burning stick of incense or a smoke pencil to help locate leaks. Common problem areas include:

• Attic knee walls and floor penetrations such as recessed lights, plumbing pipes, wiring, the flue or chimney and the access hatch.

• Exterior wall light switches and electrical outlets.

• The fireplace damper.

• Baseboard moldings, and exterior-wall window and door trim.

Tips for Sealing Sources of Air Leaks

Air sealing your entire home can be a lengthy process, but you can make the task more manageable by focusing on one problem area at a time. You'll find a variety of fairly inexpensive sealing products available at most building supply stores, including:

• Weather stripping — Self-adhesive foam weather stripping is available in different widths to suit most needs. It's the best choice for stopping leaks around movable components like doors, window sashes and attic hatches.

• Caulk — Available for both indoor and outdoor applications, caulk works well for sealing narrow gaps and cracks around window frames and other stationary components.

• Spray foam — This foam expands to fill holes and gaps wider a 1/4 inch, so it's well suited for sealing leaks around penetrations through the exterior walls or attic floor.

For expert advice about how to find and seal air leaks in the envelope of your Broken Arrow home, contact us today 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: “Norman Pogson/Shutterstock”

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”

Not Detecting Air Leaks Can Cost You

Winter is coming, and with it the promise of yet another stretch of cold Oklahoma weather. So what is a homeowner to do when they feel as though their furnace isn't heating their home as well as it should? There's increasing the amount and quality of insulation, for starters. But homes can lose heat in a number of ways without us even realizing it. One of those sources of heat loss is air leaks.Detecting air leaks can go a long way toward improving your home's energy efficiency. There are well-known ways for air to leak, of course, such as under-door drafts. But air leaks occur in many other places than that. There are steps you can take in detecting air leaks yourself:Conduct a visual inspection outside your home. Keep an eye out for gaps or cracks in any of the following areas:

• Outdoor water faucets

• Where the siding or brickwork and foundation meet

• The area where the siding and chimney meet

• Exterior corners

Then take a look around your home's interior, again watching for gaps and cracks in the following:

• Window and door frames

• Air conditioners mounted in walls or windows

• Baseboards

• Switch plates

• Electrical outlets

• The area where your dryer vent meets the wall

• Fans and vents

• Weather stripping around doors

• Areas where cable and phone lines enter the house

Pay special attention to windows. If storm windows rattle, there are possible air leaks. Air leaks are also possible if light can be seen coming through around the frame. Check the condition of caulking and weather stripping both inside and outside, and repair if necessary. Check, too, to be sure that all doors seal properly.Detecting air leaks can take time, but it is time well spent. Sealing these leaks can go a long way toward increasing your comfort as well as lowering your energy bills in both winter and summer.Since 1985, Air Assurance has been making sure customers in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area are more comfortable in their homes. If you have questions about air leaks or any other HVAC concerns, please contact us.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: “dny3d/Shutterstock”

Home Winterizing Tips for the Savvy Homeowner

Cold weather is one the way for many people since fall is pretty much upon us. However, that doesn’t mean that you just need to stop running the A/C and crank up the heat. There are some things you can do to make sure that your home stays as comfortable as possible without running up your heating bill. Use these home winterizing tips to keep your family comfortable without spending an arm and a leg on heating this fall and winter season.

• Find areas around your home where drafts and air leaks are a common problem. You can do this on pretty much any day when there’s some wind outside or the temperature outside is different from your home’s interior temperature. The most common culprits for air leaks are old doors and windows, though attics can be a source of unpleasant outside air entering your home too.

• Check your insulation in the attic to make sure it’s up to snuff. Homes in cold weather climates really need a minimum of 12 inches of quality insulation to keep cold air from entering the home and running up the heating bill. While rating numbers may not make much sense to you, here’s a good rule to go by for average homeowners: if the ceiling joists are visible in your attic you don’t have enough insulation. Installing more will help keep your house much more comfortable year round.

• Have your furnace inspected by a professional before you need to turn your heat on. Ideally, you want to have a furnace inspection toward the end of summer. Problems can arise with your furnace even when it isn’t running, and turning it on with a minor issue could result in the need for major repairs down the road. Having your furnace inspected will also make sure that it’s running as efficiently as possible, which will save you money on your heating bill.

Contact Air Assurance for more home winterizing tips you can use this fall. We proudly serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities and we can’t wait to service your home as well.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: “Cranach/Shutterstock”

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”

Tips on Stopping Air Leaks in Your Home

Your Broken Arrow home may be plagued with air leaks, which can lead to a wide array of unpleasant problems. Poor indoor air quality, reduced home comfort, and increase in energy bills are just a few of the troubles that air leaks can cause. Fortunately, the following tips on stopping air leaks can increase your home’s energy efficiency, improve your indoor air and save you money on your heating and cooling costs.

Locating Air Leaks

Before you can stop the air leaks, you must first find them. Homes typically have leaks near windows, doors, floors, ductwork, baseboards, fireplaces, walls, outlets, rim and floor joints, ceilings, switch plates and the home’s foundation. Air leaks can also occur near pipes and vents that exit through basements and attics.

Stopping Air Leaks

Depending on where the air leak is located, it may only require a simple fix. For example, leaks around doors and windows can usually be fixed by installing inexpensive weather stripping available at hardware stores and home improvement centers. Expanding foam can fill in small holes and cracks in your foundation.

Homes with forced air heating and cooling often experience leaks due to damaged ductwork. If the problem area is located at an easy-to-reach location, you may be able to fix the problem with duct sealant. For areas that you cannot get to, such as behind walls and under floors, you will need the help of a professional to repair the damaged.

Energy Audit

Obtaining a whole-house energy audit from a respectable HVAC company is the first step in ensuring your home is running at maximum energy efficiency. During the audit, a highly trained technician will use the latest equipment to test your home’s efficient level. These tests will determine exactly where you are wasting energy and provide you with the information to go about stopping air leaks.

For more information about stopping air leaks, contact the experts at Air Assurance. We are a family-owned business providing heating, cooling, plumbing and air quality services to the Broken Arrow 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). 

Image courtesy of 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

Why Your A/C's SEER Isn't Being Reached

Why Your A/C's SEER Isn't Being Reached

The SEER rating on an air conditioning system stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. SEER measures how many units of energy are expended by the air conditioner to generate one unit of cooling. Modern units are required to have a rating of at least 13 and some are much higher. You can achieve a lot of savings on your utility bill when you replace your old inefficient unit. However, poor conditions can lower an A/C's SEER so much that you won’t even see an improvement.

First, your house should be well insulated to keep hot air out and cool air in. Leaky ducts are another factor that can mean poor energy efficiency. Have your technician check ductwork to make sure it's the right size, tight and leak-free. Leaks can be sealed by a trained professional.

Make sure you choose the right size unit for your home. An oversized unit won’t deliver more cool air, but will run in shorter, inefficient cycles that never achieve the right level of cooling and dehumidification -- especially in places like Broken Arrow, where summers are hot. Your HVAC technician should use Manuals J and S to find the unit that is just the right size and is compatible with your ductwork.

Inefficient airflow can increase energy costs by up to 10 percent, so it’s important to take care of any issues during installation. Airflow can be obstructed by damaged ducts or grilles or obstructions like debris in the ducts. An improperly sized air handler is another cause of improper airflow. Your technician should measure the air handler to make sure it's the right size for your A/C unit.

Refrigerant charge is another important component on the installation checklist. Most systems are either undercharged or overcharged. Your technician will do a careful measurement of the line set to get the right charge.

If your A/C's SEER isn't being reached, call Air Assurance. With more than 20 years experience and the largest fleet team in the area, we can find and eliminate the factors that lower your A/C's SEER.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

Boost Home Energy Efficiency With Easy Fall Projects

Boost Home Energy Efficiency With Easy Fall Projects

With winter just around the corner, it's time to turn your attention to boosting home energy efficiency. This will not only increase your comfort when colder weather comes calling, but it will also help you save on heating costs. With that in mind, here are several easy fall projects that will help boost the energy efficiency in your Broken Arrow area home.  

• Clean your gutters – It’s easy to forget about your gutters since they're not always in your direct line of sight. As such, they can often fill up with leaves, dirt and debris. You’ll want to clean all of this out before winter arrives to ensure that water from rain and melting ice and snow can flow and drain freely. Without this drainage, the water remain in the gutters until it freezes over. This adds weight to the gutters and can damage them, as well as your roof.

• Check for air leaks – You can lose a lot of warm air through air leaks, which results in higher energy costs as your heater attempts to replace this loss of warm air by working more than it should. Check your windows and doors for drafts, and plug any holes or cracks by using caulking or weatherstripping.

• Add insulation – Adding insulation to your attic will not only cut down on your heating bill, it will also add comfort to your home during the winter. Heat rises, which means that if your attic is not properly insulated, your home's heat will rise right through the ceiling, and your system will have to work even harder to provide comfort.

• Inspect the fireplace – Have a professional contractor come to inspect the fireplace and chimney to make sure that there are no cracks or leaks in the gas lines that lead to it. You’ll also want to make sure that any leaves that gathered around the chimney during the fall season are cleared away.

Follow these suggestions in order to improve your home energy efficiency before winter arrives. Contact Air Assurance for the highest-quality customer service in Broken Arrow.

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

After The Long, Hot Summer, Seal Air Leaks And Save This Winter

With the winter months around the corner you will want to keep your home as energy efficient as possible. One way to do this is to seal air leaks around your home and keep warm air inside. Not only does this create a more comfortable environment, it will save you money on your heating costs. Some air leaks are obvious and present at the usual problem areas, like window and door frames. You can easily seal air leaks in these areas yourself with caulk or weatherstripping which can be purchased at your local home improvement store. When purchasing caulk, make sure you select the correct formula for either indoor or outdoor application. You will also want to measure the length and width of weatherstripping to ensure that you get a good seal when replacing.Less obvious air leaks are found around outdoor water faucets, air vents and ducts, electrical outlets, and outlets for cable and telephone lines. Make sure you check these areas, and create an airtight seal to keep the warmth in and the cold out.If you have a home with a forced-air heating and cooling system you will also want to check ducts for leaks. Some of the ducts may be in the walls or floors making them difficult to access; however, you can check ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces and garages. You can seal air leaks with duct sealant and wrap ducts with additional insulation, especially if they are in areas that are not climate controlled for increased energy efficiency.If you are concerned that you have several small leaks or the repairs will be overwhelming, you should contact a heating and cooling professional to run an energy audit and conduct a blower door test. The blower door test will depressurize the home and detect the majority of small leaks. The energy audit will also let you know if areas of your home require additional insulation to assist in maintaining comfortable temperatures and reduce energy consumption.For more information on how to seal air leaks and create a more energy-efficient home, contact Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow 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).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Does The Ductwork In Your Oklahoma Home Need Attention? The Telltale Signs

Without ducts, your furnace or air conditioner would be practically useless. The heated and cooled air produced by these systems could not be sent to any locations within your home. If something goes wrong within that air distribution network, your indoor comfort will suffer, energy will be wasted and you'll spend more than necessary on your utility bills. Here are some things to look for that will help you determine if the ductwork in your home needs attention.

• Air and energy leaks: When air and energy escape from your ducts, you'll experience reduced levels of home comfort. Turning your furnace or air conditioner up to compensate will only waste more energy and cause your energy expenditures to increase. Check ductwork for loose sections; all sections must fit tightly together and be properly sealed to prevent air leaks. Reseat any loose sections and seal connections with mastic or metal tape. Standard duct tape is not recommended because the adhesive can dry out and let leaks reopen.

• Damaged or disconnected ducts: Damaged, disconnected or missing sections of ductwork can cause major air and energy leaks. Call your local trusted HVAC contractor to inspect your ducts and repair or replace any problems areas.

• Use of house cavities instead of actual ductwork: In some situations, crawl spaces, areas between joists and similar cavities have been used to channel airflow from the HVAC system. Doing so allows large amounts of air and energy to be lost. Actual ducts must be used to ensure conditioned air is directed into your home with the greatest efficiency and the least possible waste.

• Uninsulated ducts: Ductwork material is relatively thin, so the chance of energy loss through the metal of the ducts themselves is high. Insulate ducts with rigid fiber board insulation, and make sure ducts are routed so that they do not travel through unconditioned areas such as garages, crawl spaces or unfinished basements or attics.

Air Assurance is a longtime provider of HVAC sales, installation and maintenance for customers in and around Tulsa. Contact us today for more information on ductwork efficiency and for expert help finding and solving problems with your ducts.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