What Are the Pros and Cons of Keeping Your AC Constantly Running?

Walking in to your nice cool home sure is a sweet retreat on a hot summer day. You may have wondered, however, whether it's wise to keep your AC constantly running. There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, there are pros and cons to consider for your situation. Here's what to know:

Pros of Having Your AC Constantly Running

The biggest logical advantage for your AC constantly running is that your home will always be comfortable day or night. In some cases, this might be necessary. Perhaps there is always someone at home, which would be a good reason to keep your AC constantly running. Maybe you have pets that you want to keep comfortable as well.

Some newer, high-efficiency AC models are designed to run almost constantly by maintaining temperatures very close to your thermostat setting. Therefore, they don't cycle off and on nearly as much as a conventional air conditioner.

Another advantage of running your AC all the time is better indoor air quality. By constantly running your AC, indoor air is filtered much more frequently.

Cons of Having Your AC Constantly Running

One of the obvious disadvantages of having your AC constantly running is higher energy bills. Cooling and heating systems account for nearly half of the typical household's energy budget, which is likely why the AC is turned off at times.

One way to combat high energy bills and to keep your home comfortable when you need it is with a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can program temperature-event changes to coincide with your lifestyle, so you can save energy and stay comfortable.

Another disadvantage of constant AC is the extra wear and tear that you can place on it. If your AC is on all the time, parts are going to wear out sooner, meaning a higher cost for repairs and, eventually, early system replacement. Regular HVAC maintenance will help minimize repairs and replacement, but the fact remains that keeping your AC constantly running will take its toll sooner rather than later.

To learn more about keeping your AC constantly running (or not) in your Broken Arrow home, contactAir Assurance for the answers.

How Can Sustainable Design Factor into the Next Home You Build or Buy?

If you're moving to a new home, an important concern should be that house's carbon footprint. Does it promote energy savings, or does it encourage wastefulness? The way a house is designed has a significant impact on its energy usage. Whether your home is built or bought, here's how to implement a sustainable design.

Sustainable Design for New Homes

Building a new home is the best way to ensure efficiency. You can literally make sustainable decisions from the ground up. Consider insulating the walls. A great supplement to your attic insulation, this helps reduce heat loss and boosts HVAC efficiency. It's fairly simple to put in when building a home, and it's very expensive to retrofit later.

Another essential sustainable design factor is window placement. Large windows provide natural light, reducing your need for electric lighting during the day. South-facing windows also let in direct sunlight, providing natural heating. Complement it with a deciduous tree next to the window, as its leaves will provide natural shade and cooling in the summer. When it loses its leaves in the winter, it will let in the warmth.

Sustainable Design for Existing Homes

Even if you're moving into an existing home, there are still plenty of sustainable ideas to implement. Try investing in a smart thermostat. From your mobile device, you can control heating and cooling, humidity, and other home-comfort factors. You can even receive notifications of ways to improve energy efficiency, when to change your filter, and more!

Your sustainable design might also include a zoning system and a tankless water heater. A zoning system heats and cools homes evenly, without sending air to areas that don't need it. A tankless water heater is similar, heating water on demand, rather than keeping gallons of it warm when no one is using it.

Finally, purchase Energy Star-certified appliances, such as your HVAC system, refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc., whenever possible. Energy Star appliances use less energy than similar models without sacrificing performance or comfort.

For more sustainable design tips for new and existing homes, contact us at Air Assurance. We help Broken Arrow homes get the quality home-comfort solutions it needs.

How to Check Your Home Insulation Levels

On cold winter nights, people start thinking a lot more about proper home insulation levels. Insulation installed in the attic and often inside walls prevents both heat loss from the house during winter and heat gain in the summer. Most homes are insulated by either fiberglass batts or cellulose loose-fill.

How Much Is Enough?

Insulation is rated according to its R-value per inch. The higher the R-value, the more effectively the material inhibits the movement of heat.

In our Oklahoma climate zone, current standards recommend insulating the attic to a level of R38 to R60. For fiberglass batts, this translates to 12 to 18 inches. For cellulose, the depth should be 10 to 16 inches.

Wall cavities should be insulated to at least R13. The material should fill the cavity from top to bottom.

Checking Your Level

As the prime location for heat loss and heat gain, the attic is the most important part of the house to insulate adequately. Here's how to measure the level in the attic:

• Wear a long-sleeve shirt and long pants. A face mask to prevent inhalation of insulation fibers or other airborne particulates is a good idea too.

• Take a yardstick with you.

• Stay safe. Make sure you step only on the center walkway boards. Don’t step on insulation, as the ceiling below may collapse.

• To measure fiberglass batts, insert the yardstick down between the edge of the batt and the adjacent attic joist until it stops.

• Measure cellulose loose-fill by pushing the yardstick down into the mound of material until you feel it contact the ceiling below. Because cellulose depth may vary across the attic, take several measurements at different spots to arrive at an average.

Wall Insulation

If your home has insulated wall cavities, measuring isn’t a practical option for the do-it-yourselfer. Manual measurements would require opening up walls to access the enclosed insulation. A better alternative is to have a qualified HVAC contractor utilize thermal imaging to verify the amount and type of insulation inside the wall.

For professional advice and service to determine your home-insulation levels, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

What to Know about HVAC Diffusers

As a responsible homeowner, you're always looking for new and better ways to improve the effectiveness of your HVAC system and save on your utility bills through better efficiency. Today, we thought it'd be a great idea if we explained how the use of HVAC diffusers in various rooms of your home can help you accomplish this.

What a Diffuser Does

When air blows directly out of your ductwork and through a register or grille, it is either being directly pushed out or down. Once installed, an HVAC diffuser will cause the air to spread out evenly in multiple directions, which allows for even distribution. Plus, a diffuser is also beneficial for the reduction of noise with a properly designed system.

Functionality and Decoration

HVAC diffusers not only improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your cooling and heating equipment by spreading air more effectively in a given room, but they also have an attractive appearance, too. These devices come in round, square, rectangular, and linear designs, which makes them a perfect complement to any home.

Difference Between Diffusers and Grille/Registers

There's a somewhat common misconception amongst many homeowners that diffusers function in the same way as grilles and registers. However, while those two latter items are put into place to block objects from entering your ductwork or HVAC system, diffusers are used to evenly distribute the air into a specific area.

Essential Oils as Part of the System

In addition to its primary functionality of air distribution, a diffuser can improve your home's indoor air quality through the use of essential oils. While you may be thinking that all these oils will do is make the air smell nicer, the fact is that they help purify the air, reduce mold, kill harmful contaminants, boost immune systems, and help you relax.

The use of HVAC diffusers can help improve your system's efficiency and save on utility bills. If you have more questions about this or have any other home comfort concerns, reach out to the team of experts at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Measure Your Home's Energy Efficiency

While the Department of Energy recommends having a professional energy audit as the most effective method of accessing your home's energy efficiency, it is possible for DIYers to conduct their own audit to pinpoint some of the troublespots and improve efficiency.

What is Home Energy Efficiency?

Simply put, energy efficiency is the use of less energy to power more things. As a homeowner, the more efficient your home, the less you spend annually in electricity.

Major Problem Areas

Perhaps the greatest problem for most homeowners are the drafts that occur in your home. Air escaping through leaks around door frames, baseboards, and window ledges can reduce home energy efficiency by as much as ten to twenty percent each year. Check for cracks around areas where different materials join together. Simple caulk or weatherstripping will alleviate a majority of these issues.

Insulation

Another common problem is an inadequate amount of insulation. Insulation in the attic and walls helps to prevent energy loss throughout your home. While it is difficult to check and replace insulation in preexisting walls, checking the attic is far less intrusive. Review local building codes to identify the minimum required amount of insulation for your home and measure the amount you currently have. Chances are you can improve your home energy efficiency by simply adding insulation.

Lighting

It may be surprising but lighting your home can account for as much as ten percent of your monthly energy bill. Consider replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient bulbs like LED or compact fluorescent bulbs. Look for ways to better manage the amount of light you use. Dimmer switches and timers can be a viable option.

Heating and Cooling

Your HVAC system should be inspected annually to ensure proper performance. Change filters on a regular basis to reduce the amount of strain put on your unit. If your unit is older than 15 years, consider replacing it with a more efficient system.

Appliances

Appliances can affect your energy bill whether you use them or not. Unplug all appliances when not in use and always consider energy ratings when purchasing new appliances.

To schedule a professional home evaluation, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

Insulation Costs - Winter Attic Safety and Savings

Tulsa Insulation Costs

Getting your attic sealed and insulated can boost your family's comfort and help you save energy both winter and summer. In our climate, temperatures in an unfinished attic can climb too high for safety many months of the year, so winter is the ideal time to have more insulating R-value added. Attic safety should still be a primary concern even when there's less risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, so be sure to take these steps before you or a hired pro begin insulating:

Always Wear Protective Gear

Your attic can contain all sorts of injury hazards, so anyone going up there to work needs to wear proper protective gear. This means durable clothing that fully covers the arms and legs, and head protection such as a sturdy hat or helmet. Gloves and safety goggles to protect hands and eyes are needed too, and a respirator to prevent inhalation of insulation fibers.

Set Up Walking Paths

Creating walkways in your attic can make it safer and easier to access areas that need sealing and insulating. First, move any obstacles so you have clear paths to different areas, then lay down 1x4 boards to form a one-foot wide walkway. To keep the boards from slipping and wobbling, screw or nail the ends of each one to the attic floor joists.

Prevent Accidental Shocks

Do a detailed check of your attic to find any obvious or hidden electrical hazards that may cause shocks or electrocution. Check for loose wiring at floor level, gnawed or damaged wires, and open junction boxes. If you find any problems, have them fixed by an electrician before you insulate.

Light Up the Space

Good visibility is paramount for safely working in an attic. If yours only has one or two single-bulb lights, one option is to have your electrician install more. Alternately, you can put a couple of appropriately-rated extension cords and movable work-lights up there so there's plenty of illumination to safely air seal and insulate the entire attic.

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

Have You Changed Your Ceiling Fan Direction Yet?

When you're making the transition from heating to cooling your home this year, a related task that's well worth tackling is changing your ceiling fan direction. Once the blades are going in the right direction, you can use your ceiling fans strategically to boost your comfort, help you save energy and make your HVAC equipment last longer too.

Ceiling Fan Direction Simplified

Ceiling fan blades are purposefully designed to spin either forward or backward, and the direction of the spin is controlled via a small button found on the fan housing. This simple button adjustment allows you to change the blade rotation on a seasonal basis: in the summer, you want the blades spinning forward, in a counter-clockwise direction, so they create a cooling breeze. This “wind chill” helps perspiration evaporate and makes the body feel more comfortable.Making the change on all your ceiling fans isn't a difficult or time-consuming chore. Once the blades are set to spin counter-clockwise, you can:

• Save energy without sacrificing comfort by dialing up your usual thermostat temperature setting a few degrees. Doing so can help you lower your energy bills for the entire cooling season.

• Help lighten your heat pump or air conditioner's workload. By reducing strain and wear on your cooling equipment, there's less chance that it will break down at the height of the cooling season, and it will likely last longer as well.

Important Details to Know About Ceiling Fan Use

In our climate, ceiling fans can't completely replace air conditioning when the weather heats up, because they can't change the actual air temperature. What ceiling fans do is move air very effectively, and it's the cooling sensation created by air movement that lets you feel more comfortable. Understanding this makes it easy to see why it's only beneficial to run the ceiling fan in an occupied room. To avoid wasting any energy by having fans running unnecessarily, just make sure you switch the fan off whenever you exit a room.

To learn more ways to make your Broken Arrow home more comfortable this summer, 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.

A Room-by-Room Look at Where You Can Maximize Energy Efficiency

Increasing your home’s energy efficiency may not be out of your reach, regardless of your budget. Even the smallest efforts you make on a room-by-room lower the amount you use, leaving more money in your pocket.

Overall Improvements

• Look for air leaks around windows and exterior doors and seal with caulk or fresh weatherstripping.

• Identify areas in the attic where insulation is lacking and add more.

• Make a note to check the air filter for the HVAC system when it’s running often. Dirty filters increase energy bills and shorten the life of HVAC systems.

Living Areas

• As you upgrade your home’s electronics and entertainment system, choose Energy Star-rated models.

• Install reversible ceiling fans to use summer and winter for greater comfort. A fan increases comfort in the summer and when reversed, will actually warm the room in the winter.

Kitchen

• Use the ventilation fan in the summer to remove heat while cooking.

• Turn to the microwave and slow cookers during exceptionally hot weather. They use less energy and emit less heat than using the stove or oven.

• Run full loads in the dishwasher and let them air dry instead of using the dry cycle.

Bathrooms

• Run the ventilation fans when bathing during the summer to remove hot, humid air.

• Replace old or leaking faucets with WaterSense fixtures that use much less water.

• Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees F. Not only does it increase water heating energy efficiency, it also reduces the risk of scalding and extends the life of the water heater.

Bedrooms

• Whenever the HVAC system is running, make sure the windows are locked to prevent air infiltration.

• Use ceiling or floor fans to lower the “feels like” temperature when sleeping.

• Install shade screens on south- or west-facing windows that receive direct sunlight.

• Use smart power strips or surge protectors that turn off when it detects the devices are idle.

Taking steps to increase energy efficiency at home reduces your monthly overhead and often increases indoor comfort. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

How to Check Your Insulation

Adding a little more insulation can go a long way towards making your home more energy efficient, not to mention more livable at the height of the winter and summer months. If you need to check your insulation, the following offers a few ways you can do just that.

Checking Attic Insulation

A quick way to check your insulation in the attic is to look across the attic joists. If the insulation barely reaches the top of the joists, then chances are you’ll need to add more. If the insulation is well above the joists, then there’s ample amount of insulation and adding more may not help you save money and energy.You should also make sure your insulation is evenly distributed throughout the attic. If you see any low spots, then you’ll want to fill these in to create an even surface.If your attic happens to contain vermiculite insulation, a gray, flaky pea-shaped material, you should avoid contact with it. Vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos and it should be tested by a professional to see if it poses a danger to your home.

Checking Wall Insulation

Checking your insulation in the walls can be a bit trickier because you won’t have a way to visually confirm how much insulation exists. Most professionals use borescopes and infrared imaging cameras to check insulation levels without disturbing the wall, but chances are you won’t have that equipment Lane around.Instead, you can remove the protective plate from your wall switch and peer into the gap between the electrical junction box and the surrounding drywall. Sometimes you’ll be able to see if you have any insulation, but you may have to go a step further. You can use a thin wooden or plastic stick to snag a small amount of insulation if it’s there. Avoid using wire coat hangers or other metal objects, since this could pose an electrical hazard.

If you want to check your insulation and need a helping hand, contact the professionals at Air Assurance today. We proudly serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.