airflow

Furnaces

Furnace Not heating Up?

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If your furnace isn't warming your home as it should, there may be a simple solution that doesn't require the assistance of an HVAC pro. The following tips can help you troubleshoot the problem.

  • Make sure that the thermostat is set correctly. It should be in "heat" mode, and the temperature called for must be above the room temperature that's displayed. Also check that the fan is in the "auto" position so that it only operates when the furnace is running.

  • Check the thermostat itself. If you have a digital thermostat, replacing the batteries may solve the problem. With an older, manual unit, remove the cover and clean the contacts.

  • Examine the furnace filter. If the filter's clogged with dirt, it can adversely affect the flow of warm air that arrives at your registers. To maximize your furnace's efficiency during the heating season, clean or replace the filter once a month.

  • Check the gas shutoff position. The shutoff is located along the gas line that runs from your furnace, and the handle must be set parallel to the pipe so that fuel reaches the burner.

  • Look inside your breaker box. Is the furnace not warming your home at all? A tripped breaker could be the reason why. If everything looks fine inside your main electrical service box, check for a blown fuse and/or flipped breaker in the furnace's blower compartment.

  • Check your pilot light. If the pilot light has gone out on your older furnace, look for instructions on how to relight it right on the unit, next to the pilot light opening. Alternately, they should be in your owner's manual.

If the above tips don't help, or if you have a newer heating system with an intermittent or hot surface ignition, give your HVAC professional a call. He or she may diagnose another common problem such as inadequate airflow to the combustion chamber, or a dirty gas burner.

Is your furnace not warming your home and you need expert help? Contact us today at Air Assurance. We've provided outstanding service to Broken Arrow area homeowners for more than 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). 

IAQ – Indoor Air Quality

Should You Be Sleeping with the Window Open in Winter?

No doubt you've tried sleeping with your window open when the weather allows, either in spring or fall, when it's not too cold or so hot you need the air conditioning. So have you ever noted during these occasions whether or not you seem to sleep better with the window open than you do when it's closed? Some sleep researchers maintain that sleeping with window a open in winter has some benefits, including getting a better rest. Let's take a look at them.

Benefits of Sleeping With the Window Open in Winter

  1. Helps to exhaust CO and CO2. Although your carbon monoxide monitor may not be alarming you, there may be small levels of poisonous CO in your home, given off by gas-burning appliances such as the furnace or pilot lights. Cracking a window can help dispel some of this CO, which, though not significant enough to trip an alarm, might give sensitive individuals a headache. Further, there can be a buildup of CO2 or carbon dioxide which can occur when we close the bedroom door. It seems we give off CO2 when we exhale and our oxygen is converted. CO2 can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

    Opening a window can relieve the stuffiness that is likely to occur when our doors and the house in general is all closed up because it's chilly outside.

  2. Better sleep with lower temperatures. Sleep researchers in recent years have maintained that we may sleep better when temperatures are lower. It seems we produce more melatonin (the chemical in our brains that helps us sleep) when it's chillier. During cold spells, try cracking the window an inch or so to lower your bedroom temperature.

  3. Outside noises may promote sleep. As long as your outdoor noises don't include parties, traffic, and midnight street construction, some nocturnal noises may help you sleep. If by opening your window a bit you can hear crickets and the sighing of gentle winds, you may find the white noise you need to help you sleep.

For more on sleeping with a window open in winter, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. 

Insulation

What Is the Best Window Draft Blocker as the Weather Cools Off?

Think back to last winter in your Broken Arrow home. Can you remember areas in your home that had uncomfortably cool drafts? Do any of your windows whistle, howl, or rattle on windy days? Those noisy and drafty windows are telling you something. Those windows are making your home less comfortable and increasing your energy costs.

Losing heating dollars and putting up with drafty spots in your home is probably unacceptable now that you know the source of those problems. Keep reading and you'll find out how a window draft blocker can be your solution to these comfort and efficiency problems just in time for cooler weather.

Understanding Window Draft Blockers

Window draft blockers (also called window draft stoppers) are literally many different devices, features, coverings, and treatments for windows that do exactly what their name implies. They block drafts. If you have drafty windows, discovering draft blockers is a big deal! Consider which draft blockers will work well in your home.

Window Draft Blockers for Your Home

Window draft blockers are available as draperies, solar shades and blinds, caulking, and many more materials and devices. What follows are some popular choices:

  • Door sweeps and snakes. Door sweeps use some type of material, such as foam, on both sides of the door. Door snakes are used on one side of the door.

  • Removable caulk. Removable caulk is a great solution to stopping air leaks around windows.

  • Permanent caulk. Permanent caulk is used to seal cracks at the juncture of window frames and exterior walls. Use a water-resistant caulk that can take paint.

  • Thermal drapes. Thermal drapes use multiple layers and thickness to block drafts and also to block light.

  • Weatherstripping. V-strips work great for sealing long gaps in window sills and between doors and door jams. Do you have an attic hatch or door? Stop drafts and air leaks using foam tape.

Could a plan to install a window draft blocker at each drafty window and door make a difference for the better in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact the HVAC and indoor-air quality pros at Air Assurance to find out.

Energy Savings

What is the Two Way Pipe System for High Efficiency Services?

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When it comes to heating and cooling your home, there are all sorts of ways to save energy. One of the best ways is to invest in a high-efficiency HVAC system. For high-efficiency furnaces, one method worth considering is the two way pipe system. It not only heats your home using less energy, it also improves indoor air quality and saves wear and tear on the unit. Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Two Way Pipe System?

Most ordinary furnaces draw air from inside your home. They heat that air and recirculate it back into your home. Exhaust is then vented out of the chimney.

A two way pipe system has a pipe connected to the outdoors, which leads directly to the furnace. That pipe draws in fresh, outdoor air, which is heated and circulated through your home. Then another pipe takes the exhaust and vents it back to the outside.

Benefits of a Two Way Pipe System

When air is drawn from inside your home, it creates extra pressure within your system. This makes it easier for cold air to get drawn into the house through cracks, gaps, and leaks. A two-pipe system creates a better pressure balance, which helps keep cold air from getting in, thus saving energy. The pressure relief also keeps your furnace from working as hard so it can last longer and not break down as often.

Finally, a two-pipe system provides better indoor air quality. In winter, the same, stale air tends to circulate through your HVAC system over and over again, becoming more polluted over time. By drawing air in from the outside, then exhausting it out of the house again, you can break the cycle and ensure you always have clean, fresh air in your home. (Remember that outdoor air tends to be much cleaner than the air in your home.) This way, you can eliminate those contaminants and breathe easier all season.

If you're considering a two way pipe system for your heating needs, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to the Broken Arrow area.

Air Conditioning

If You Find Your AC Not Blowing Air, What Do You Do?

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It's the middle of a hot, Oklahoma summer when suddenly your air conditioner breaks down. You find the AC not blowing air. What could the problem be and what can you do about it? Here are a few possible reasons for your AC not blowing air and a few actions you can take to fix it.

  • Thermostat Settings. Check the obvious things first. Is your thermostat set to the wrong temperature? If it's too high, it won't kick in right away and your AC won't blow. Try lowering it a few degrees to see if that helps.

  • Circuit Breaker. The power used by your AC may have overloaded the circuit and tripped the circuit breaker. Go to your breaker box, find the circuit that controls your HVAC system, check to see if it's off, and if so, turn it back on. However, if your AC trips the circuit breaker repeatedly, it's indicative of a larger problem, and you should call your HVAC technician.

  • Power Outage. Power outages in summer aren't uncommon, with everyone running their HVAC systems at the same time. If there was recently a power outage in your area, it may have wreaked havoc on your thermostat's clock/timer, preventing it from turning on, resulting in the AC not blowing air. Check the timer and reset it if necessary.

  • Filter. If it's been awhile since you changed your HVAC filter, accumulated dirt and debris may be blocking the airflow. Change your air filter and see if that helps fix the problem.

  • Condenser. Over time, dirt builds up on your condenser coils. If it's not cleaned properly, it can cause airflow problems and even ice buildup. Clean the coils, then run the system with just the fan to get rid of the ice to see if that fixes the issue.

  • Refrigerant. If your AC is blowing air but it's not cold, you could be having refrigerant problems. Call your HVAC technician to check your refrigerant levels and recharge it.

If you're experiencing problems with your AC not blowing air, contact us at Air Assurance. We help keep Broken Arrow homes cool in the summer and comfortable all year long.

Air Conditioning

Are Individual Room AC Units the Best Way to Go This Summer?

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If you’re curious about using an individual room AC to cool all or part of your home, you’ll find that these units offer advantages and disadvantages when it comes to comfort. While a central AC or heat pump is the ideal option, sometimes it makes sense to consider smaller options for home cooling. 

When Individual Room ACs Make Sense

  • Someone may need it to be much cooler in the house than other family members. A problem sleeper, for example, is more likely to rest better when the room is cooler than what others may prefer.

  • You’re adding on to your home and your current HVAC system isn’t large enough to cool the new space.

  • You have a room that is consistently warmer than others. It might make financial sense to use an individual room AC. Before committing to the installation, check the room for air infiltration from the outside and adequate wall and roof insulation. You may be able to seal air leaks, shade windows, and add insulation to improve the room’s comfort level.

  • You don’t want to make a large financial commitment for your comfort for the short time you have left in your present home. Room air conditioners are the least-expensive cooling solution for this climate. If you’re counting your energy dollars, avoid portable air conditioners. These units are the easiest to install but have the highest operational costs of all cooling systems.

Downsides of Individual Room ACs

  • These units are noisy. Most have decibel ratings in the high 50s and low 60s. If the constant drone of the fan annoys you, consider a central system.

  • Airflow from a room AC won’t be as strong or as widespread as the air distribution from a central cooling system. Your room will have hot spots and, conversely, cold spots.

  • They’re not allowed. Whether wedged into a wall or a window, some homeowners’ associations won’t let you have them because of their appearance from the street.

If you’re considering using an individual room AC, contact the pros at Air Assurance. We provide trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners, and we would be happy to answer your questions about individual room ACs.

Air Conditioning

How to Prevent Your AC Freezing Up in Summer

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An HVAC freezing up in summer is a unit that needs prompt attention. While air conditioners are supposed to produce cold air, ice formation is definitely not part of this process. No component in a properly functioning central AC should generate temperatures that drop below freezing. 

Most everything about an HVAC freezing up in summer is bad news:

  • First, a frozen air conditioner will not produce cool comfort anymore. Often, the unit may shut down entirely. Because freeze-ups often happen when outdoor temperatures are excessively high, this can mean very uncomfortable living conditions until the problem is resolved.

  • Ice forming inside indoor evaporator coil passages gradually obstructs system airflow. This, in turn, causes the system to run longer cycles. As airflow becomes increasingly obstructed, the system runs nearly nonstop. By that time, severe, permanent damage to the compressor — the most costly component in a typical central AC — may have occurred.

What Causes AC Freeze-Ups?

  • Low system airflow. When airflow through the indoor evaporator coil drops below specifications, the temperature of refrigerant circulating through the coil may plunge below freezing. Condensation naturally forming on the coil then freezes, eventually obstructing the coil. The best insurance to support optimum HVAC airflow is replacing the system air filter every month all summer long. This is an effective, affordable measure to help avoid an HVAC freezing up in summer.

  • Refrigerant leaks. When the AC refrigerant charge drops too low, coil icing is a common early symptom. Air conditioners don’t consume refrigerant, so if the amount circulating through the system is insufficient, that usually indicates a leak somewhere. A qualified HVAC technician has the equipment to track down and repair these small refrigerant leaks. Then, the system's refrigerant charge can be restored to proper specifications.

If your HVAC freezing up in summer threatens your indoor comfort, ask the cooling professionals at Air Assurance about qualified HVAC service to resolve the problem. 

Ventilation

How the Type of Vents You Have Affect Airflow

Good airflow is essential to an efficient HVAC system. Airflow is affected by a number of things, from possible leaks in your ductwork to how often you replace your filter and other factors. One possibility that tends to get overlooked is vent types. The kind of vents you have impact how air flows through your home. Here's what you need to know about vent types and airflow.

Vent Designs

Most vents look similar. They're square or rectangular, with horizontal slats. However, there are also decorative vents, with patterns and designs. The problem with these vent types is that they're designed for aesthetics, not functionality.

Your home's airflow depends on your vents being relatively unobstructed. As a rule, an effective vent should be at least 75% open space. The slats are there to direct the air. Decorative patterns are not.

Patterns mainly get in the way of the air as it flows into your home. If your system was designed specifically for decorative air vents, they'll likely be OK. However, if you're replacing your existing vents with decorative ones, be careful and keep functionality in mind.

Vent Materials

Some vents are made of alternate materials, such as wood or plastic, to fit with your home decor. Be careful of these vent types, since wood and plastic aren't as sturdy as metal. To make them strong enough to replace metal vents, they need to be significantly thicker — especially for floor vents that get walked on. That thickness often means less open space on your vent, which restricts your airflow. Stick to metal vents.

They also make magnetic vent types, so you can close the vents in little-used rooms and create a seal, so air can't leak out. This is a bad idea. Even if you don't use a room often, keep the vents open. Closing a vent increases air pressure throughout the rest of your home. The added stress wastes energy and leads to air leaks.

To learn more about vent types and other factors that affect your home's airflow, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality HVAC solutions to Broken Arrow homeowners.

HVAC System

How the Size of a Room Can Work For and Against Good Airflow

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Good airflow is essential for keeping your house comfortable. However, depending on the size of a room, it can be difficult to achieve. How does room size affect airflow? How do you ensure the correct airflow for your room size? Here's what you need to know.

The Right Airflow

How much air does your HVAC system produce, and is it enough to heat or cool your home? Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). How many CFM need to circulate through a room in order to make it comfortable? Larger rooms will need more CFM, while smaller rooms will need less. Therefore, if you have uniform airflow throughout your home, it can cause problems.

In a larger room, you might not have enough CFM to heat or cool the room properly. As a result, your system can become overworked, requiring too much energy to meet the room's needs. On the other hand, if your CFM is too high for your room size, it can cause ventilation problems. Too much air results in too little ventilation, which in turn causes high humidity. The excess moisture in the air can then lead to mold and mildew, as well as other problems.

Getting the Right CFM for Your Room Size

How much airflow do you need for a given room in your house? Your HVAC technician can help you measure your CFM and determine if it's too much, too little, or just right for your room size. Particularly if you have drastically different airflow needs across different rooms, you might consider investing in a zoning system.

A zoning system outfits each room with its own thermostat and provides air according to a room's individual heating and cooling needs. With a variable-speed air handler, it can simultaneously provide a higher CFM for larger rooms and a lower CFM for smaller ones, reducing humidity problems and saving energy. Talk to your HVAC technician about HVAC zoning in your home.

To learn more about how room size affects airflow, contact us at Air Assurance. We help make Broken Arrow homes efficient and comfortable.

Central

How Room Design Can Affect Airflow in Your Home

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Did you know that your room designs could be hurting your health and your home's energy efficiency? Some designs allow rooms to get more airflow. Good airflow helps prevent the buildup of pollutants and stagnant moisture. As a result, indoor air becomes healthier and feels more comfortable. Additionally, regulating the temperature of your rooms gets much easier and doesn't require you to run your heating or cooling system as often. Let's look at some of the ways a room's design can improve or impede airflow.

Unnecessary Walls

The air current within a room can be stopped quickly if it runs into an unnecessary wall. The fewer walls you have, the better the flow of air will be in your home. While walls are necessary for support and privacy, consider designing your house without the walls that aren't really necessary for your home's structural integrity, especially in the common areas.

Improper Placement of Vents

Vent placement is a critical aspect of room design. Positioning vents correctly ensures that they're not in an area where items like furniture and interior design elements can easily cover them. Closed or blocked vents cause airflow restrictions.

An HVAC company can help you position your vents correctly. For rooms that are already ventilated, try rearranging the furniture to enable smooth airflow and ventilation.

Multiple Windows

Having just a single window in a room will allow you to get a good amount of fresh air. However, if you want to increase airflow in the room, you'll need at least two windows.

In a room with two windows, air flows in through one of the windows and leaves through the other window as a result of convection. This movement of air naturally creates a breeze and allows the room's air to be replaced continuously, making the addition of windows an excellent option for any of your rooms.

Logically placed windows, vents, and walls will facilitate increased airflow in your home. For more information on room design and improvement of airflow, contact us at Air Assurance, proudly serving Broken Arrow's heating, air-conditioning, and indoor-environmental needs.

Efficiency

Check Your HVAC Airflow

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Getting the maximum comfort from our HVAC systems is what it's all about, but sometimes, that can be elusive. Many factors affect HVAC airflow, so whenever we feel we're not getting the best performance, it's important to single out the problem and see if it can be fixed.

Most CommonReasons for Bad Airflow

  1. A dirty furnace filter will slow down your air filter, causing your HVAC system to work harder to deliver comfort. As your unit struggles, you will be running up higher utility bills. Dirty filters can also damage your system, causing parts to wear out sooner than they would otherwise.

  2. A dense furnace filter can be a good thing for keeping out airborne particulates, but if it's too dense, your HVAC system will struggle to pull in enough return air to cool or heat your home. Make sure the filter you choose is within the manufacturer's recommendations. If you need to improve indoor air quality with a denser filter, then you may need to modify your system.

  3. All sorts of things can go wrong with your ducts over time. Ducts are generally out of sight, so you may not see when segments become disconnected, or the ducts crack, develop holes or become blocked. If ducts were not installed correctly in the first place, then they may not be delivering the proper amount of air to each room. Sometimes poor duct design results in constricted segments where air can't get through.

  4. More often than you would think, an HVAC system is installed without enough return vents -- which are the vents that pull in air so that it can be conditioned and delivered through the supply vents. Ideally, the same amount should be drawn in that is distributed, but this doesn't happen when return vents are inadequate.

  5. Ducts or vents are sometimes the wrong size. Air moves through ducts by static pressure; if ducts are too big for the volume of air, pressure will drop and not enough air will be delivered. If ducts are too small, they will restrict airflow.

For more on HVAC airflow, contact Air Assurance.

HVAC system

Understanding Airflow in Your Home

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.

Featured

How to Properly Winterize Your HVAC

How to Properly Winterize Your HVAC

With the arrival of colder weather in the Broken Arrow area, it's time to get your home's HVAC system ready for the coming winter. You can ensure your family's comfort, and protect the system's various components from damage by taking these steps to winterize your HVAC now:

Promote Good Airflow and Air Quality

There are some simple tasks that you can tackle to prevent airflow restrictions and boost air quality when the heating system is running. Replace the HVAC air filter first, then clean the vents throughout your house by removing and wiping down the covers and vacuuming inside each duct opening. Make sure your registers are fully open too, and that nothing is blocking the return air grilles.

Protect the Outdoor Component

If you have a central split-system air conditioner, you'll want to shut down the outdoor unit so it won't get harmed if the thermostat accidentally gets switched over to cooling mode during the winter. This is easy to do by via the breaker in your main electrical panel, and the switch that's located outside near the unit. To shield the unit from falling ice, place a board or piece of plywood on top, and weigh it down with a brick or concrete block.

Clean Up Around the Outdoor Unit

Yard debris like piles of dead leaves around the outdoor unit make it more attractive to rodents and other nesting pests. To discourage them from setting up housekeeping, trim back and clear away dead vegetation, then open the cabinet and vacuum/sweep out any accumulated debris from inside.

Schedule Professional Maintenance

Having a certified technician service your HVAC system can give you peace of mind that it's operating safely and efficiently. A pro will inspect and clean the furnace and verify that critical components like the blower, venting, heat exchanger and electrical are in good repair. If you have a heat pump, they'll check the refrigerant level and clean the coils, and make sure that the defrost and back up heat are functioning properly.For more advice about how to winterize your HVAC, 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Featured

How Does Duct Design Affect Heating and Cooling?

How Does Duct Design Affect Heating and Cooling?

If you're asked which of your home's HVAC components are most important, you'd probably say your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump. Another component that you shouldn't overlook is the duct system that distributes your conditioned air, because it directly affects your heating and cooling equipment's performance.

If the duct design is flawed, the ductwork is poorly installed, or it's damaged or leaky, you can experience problems with:

Temperature control.

Damaged or leaky ductwork that lets conditioned air escape can make it difficult or impossible to maintain your desired comfort level.

Air quality.

Pressure imbalances due to duct design flaws can pull in contaminants and allergens from unconditioned areas and erode your indoor air quality.

Energy consumption.

Overcoming duct deficiencies increases the workload of your HVAC equipment, so it uses more energy.

Component longevity.

That extra workload can also shorten your costly HVAC equipment's lifespan.

Fundamentals of Effective Ductwork Design

A properly-designed duct system should deliver the correct volume of air, at your desired temperature, to the various rooms in your home. Also, it should return stale air back to the HVAC equipment for reconditioning. An effective duct design is based on principles of air distribution and thermal gains and losses, and requires quality materials, construction and installation. Such a system also relies on:

Proper duct sizing.

Individual ducts must be sized to match the capacity of the HVAC equipment. Undersized ducts can't carry a sufficient volume of air, and oversized ducts will reduce the system's efficiency.

Balanced airflow.

To avoid creating positive or negative pressure within the house and HVAC system, the duct system must have the right number of supply and return ducts to deliver an equal volume of air.

Duct location.

Whenever possible, ducts should be placed inside the home's conditioned envelope. If ducts must be routed through unconditioned areas like a garage or attic, they need to be properly sealed and insulated to limit energy losses.

If you have concerns that flaws in your HVAC duct design are affecting heating and cooling in your Broken Arrow home, contact us today at Air Assurance for expert help.

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.

HVAC system

Air Balancing: Everything you Need to Know

Air Balancing: Everything you Need to Know

While repairing or replacing your air conditioner and furnace can help lower your utility bills, these systems won't deliver the highest comfort and efficiency levels if airflow is poor or unbalanced. Air balancing can help you get the best performance from your HVAC system. Let's find out what it is and how it can improve your system and home.

What Is Air Balancing?

The air that passes through your HVAC equipment carries the heat or cold inside. The equipment's effectiveness depends on the volume of airflow.Air balancing involves carrying out tests and adjustments to your heating and cooling system to ensure the correct amount of air is delivered to the rooms in your home. An HVAC technician uses manometers to measure the current system pressures, hoods to get the airflow levels at each grille, and hygrometers to measure humidity and temperature.The technician compiles the test results into a report to establish your system's performance. He or she may then make changes to your vents and ducts to balance the return and supply channels.

Why Do You Need To Balance Airflow?

Improper balance in your air distribution system can make your HVAC system work harder to achieve the ideal temperatures. This may put unnecessary strain on the system and damage its parts. It may also cause premature failure of the system.Balancing the airflow in your system involves adjustment of the quantity of air flowing into each room. When this is done, your rooms will have similar temperature levels, improved humidity control, and cleaner air. You'll enjoy maximum comfort in each room, and your system's efficiency will be optimized.

Although balancing your system's airflow isn't a simple task, the energy savings and reduced system wear and tear you'll get will partially or entirely cover the costs. To learn more about air balancing, please contact Air Assurance. We've been proudly serving the Broken Arrow area for more than 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 TOPIC and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “attem/Shutterstock”

Featured, Furnaces

These are the Most Common Furnace Troubleshooting Situations

These are the Most Common Furnace Troubleshooting Situations

In the midst of cool winter weather, the last thing you need is for your furnace to give you problems. If and when that happens, you’ll need to rely on your furnace troubleshooting expertise until you can get your HVAC technician to take a look at the problem. If you’re not getting enough heat or any heat at all, here are a few furnace troubleshooting tips to consider:

Not getting enough heat?

First, check your thermostat and make sure it’s set to your desired temperature. Also make sure the furnace filter isn’t clogged with debris. An undersized furnace can also fail to produce enough heat for your home’s space.

Not getting any heat at all?

Check the circuit breaker or fuse box for any tripped breakers or blown fuses. Afterwards, make sure your thermostat is set to “heat” and the desired temperature is set above the current indoor temperature. Also make sure your pilot light is on or your electric ignition is working properly.

Blower running continuously?

Have your HVAC technician check and, if necessary, replace the limit switch on the blower motor.

Not getting enough airflow?

Make sure the furnace filter isn’t clogged with debris. Also check the ducts for any breaks, holes or other damage that could accidentally reroute airflow.

Furnace too noisy?

Make sure there aren’t any loose components on your furnace. Some noises, including rumbling or squeaking sounds, could indicate a mechanical problem that your HVAC technician should deal with.

Furnace frequently cycling?

It could be a bad thermostat, clogged furnace filter or poor airflow at play. Oversized furnaces can also cycle frequently, resulting in increased wear and tear.

Can’t see your pilot light?

Try relighting the pilot. If it won’t stay lit, there may be a problem with the thermocouple or the gas supply. Don’t forget to check the surrounding area for drafts.

For more furnace troubleshooting tips and other advice, turn to the professionals at Air Assurance. We proudly offer the best in heating and cooling service and installation for homeowners in 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). For more information about troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

Duct System, Featured, Service & Maintenance

Get the Most From Your System by Aiming and Redirecting Vents

Get the Most From Your System by Aiming and Redirecting Vents | Air Assurance

While the ample rainfall and rolling hills of the Broken Arrow area make the outdoors enjoyable nearly year round, getting your indoor temperatures just right still takes some planning. Redirecting vents lets you fine tune your heating and cooling system to maximize your comfort.

Managing Airflow in Your Rooms

Standard vent covers protect your ducts from debris and reduce drafts, but they don't direct airflow. If drafts are your main problem, installing a vent diffuser can help. Alternatively, install decorative Victorian-style vent covers with intricate scroll designs that diffuse airflow more effectively than standard grills.A vent deflector helps with redirecting vents more accurately. This device sits over the vent to guide air away from a wall, sofa, curtains or other surface, and focus it toward your living space.To get more air from a vent under an item of furniture, install a vent extender. Shaped like a low, flat tunnel, this channels air out from under the obstruction so more of it reaches your living space. If you're planning to build cabinetry over a vent, install a toe kick register into the toe kick recess at the bottom of the cabinet so air can escape.

Managing Airflow in Your Duct System

If there's a room or part of a room where you don't want airflow, you can close the vent entirely. This allows the air to flow back into the duct system and out to other rooms. Place an adjustable vent deflector over the vent and lower top of the deflector to limit or block airflow as required. If you have metal vent grilles, you can apply magnetic vent covers to block the air flow.Make sure no more than 10 percent of your vents are closed. Closing more than this creates excess air pressure in your ducts, which leads to wasteful air leakage and damages your system's components. For a more efficient way to direct airflow, ask your technician about installing a zoning system.

For tips on redirecting vents and other ways to stay more comfortable affordably, contact us at Air Assurance anywhere around 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Kevin_Hsieh/Shutterstock”

Air Conditioning, Featured

Tips for Landscaping the Area Around Your A/C Unit

Tips for Landscaping the Area Around Your A/C Unit

Drive through any neighborhood and you'll see a boxy, gray air conditioning unit sitting conspicuously next to most houses. Occasionally you don't see one and that's probably because it's hidden by strategically planned trees, shrubs and bushes. Landscaping the area around your A/C unit will improve the appearance of your home while ensuring the outside unit gets plenty of needed airflow and shade for efficient operation.

Maintain Airflow

Maintaining airflow to the outside unit improves the condenser coil's ability to release heat energy into the surrounding air. When that heat exchange process is impeded, your air conditioner will have to work harder to cool your home.

To make sure the unit has plenty of airflow, keep all landscaping elements and other objects at least two to three feet away from all sides of the A/C equipment. Above the condenser/compressor, there should be at least five feet of clearance from overhanging trees or housing fixtures. Landscaping shouldn't prevent easy access to the unit for maintenance and repairs.

Add Shade

Your HVAC installer should choose a location for the outside unit that's shaded most of the day, and you can add landscaping for additional shading. Releasing heat energy from the unit requires less work and energy when that heat is being expelled into cooler, shaded air. In direct sunlight, it has to work harder and use more energy to accomplish this.

Choose Low Maintenance Plants

Of course, landscaping should be attractive for its own sake while hiding that gray box from people walking or driving past your home. If possible, choose trees and shrubs that stay green in the winter. This means less raking and sweeping around the outside unit and less clutter that can potentially block the free flow of air. In the winter, vegetation that doesn't shed leaves will continue to hide the outdoor component. Consider planting attractive hedges and erect lattice work for hanging greenery.

To further discuss the best way of landscaping the area around your A/C unit, please contact the home comfort experts at Air Assurance. We provide excellent services to Broken Arrow and the greater 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ARENA Creative/Shutterstock”

IAQ – Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation

Airflow 101: What's the Best Way to Ventilate My Attic?

Airflow 101: What's the Best Way to Ventilate My Attic?

While you should seal up your home to prevent wasteful air leaks, there’s one area in your home that should remain open to airflow -- your attic. During the winter, attic ventilation can help prevent condensation and reduce the formation of ice dams. During the summer, airflow through your attic can remove excess heat, protect roofing shingles and reduce cooling costs.

With these benefits awaiting you, you might be wondering, “What’s the best way to ventilate my attic?” You have two primary options -- natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation.

Natural Ventilation

A combination of soffit vents under the eaves and ridge vents at the peak of your roof lets air naturally flow in at the attic floor and exit through the top of your roof. This is the most common form of natural ventilation found today, although older homes may have louvered vents on gable end walls instead of ridge vents. Cupolas, a vented spire on top of the roof or wind-driven turbines that resemble spiraled mushrooms, are two additional options.

Building codes require your attic to have one square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of floor space. Half of your vents should be located at the soffits and the other half on the roof. It’s important to ensure soffit vents remain uncovered by insulation. You can install metal baffles between the rafters to provide an unobstructed path from soffit to ridge vent.

Mechanical Ventilation

If your attic isn't receiving the ventilation it requires, consider installing powered attic fans. Modern attic fans have sophisticated sensors that automatically open louvered vents and power up the ventilator when heat and humidity inside your attic reach a certain level.While this is effective for removing humidity and keeping your attic cooler, you're unlikely to notice significant, if any, energy savings. This is because the cost to run your fan will outweigh the decreased home cooling costs.

Now that you know the answer to the question, “How should I ventilate my attic,” it’s time to put your knowledge to good use. Contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow for the help you need.

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: “Enrique Ramos/Shutterstock”