Should You Have a Winter Humidifier On in Your Home?

Cold winter weather can lead to dry indoor air as you run your heating system to stay warm. Should you put a winter humidifier in your Broken Arrow home to keep it from becoming too dry? Read on to learn more about whether or not investing in a winter humidifier is worth it during this time of year.

Lower the Risk of Illness

Dry air can make it easier for viruses and other germs to move around, while moist air has the opposite effect. Increasing the humidity in your home could make it harder for germs to thrive, which can help reduce your risk of getting sick. Since winter is cold-and-flu season, it’s a good idea to prevent too much dryness in your home in order to stay healthy.

Reduce Static Electricity

Dry air can cause your home to have a lot of static electricity. The shocks you get from this static can be unpleasant. In severe cases, static electricity can damage electronics in your home. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can help decrease static electricity.

Prevent Wood Damage

When your home is too dry in winter, wood floors, doors, and other wooden structures can end up being damaged. Dry air can cause wood to crack or change size, making doors tough to open and floors creaky. Using a humidifier during winter can keep wood structures in your home in good condition.

Maintain Healthy Skin

Wintertime is associated with dry skin, especially for those who spend most of their time indoors. Heated air from furnaces or heat pumps can dry out your skin, which can lead to irritation. Having more humidity in your home in winter can help prevent dryness and keep your skin feeling healthier.

Have a More Comfortable Home

Using a winter humidifier in winter can create a more comfortable environment in your home. In fact, your home might feel warmer with higher humidity levels, so you won’t have to run your heating system as much.

If you need a winter humidifier to keep your Broken Arrow home feeling more comfortable this season, contact Air Assurance.

What You Need to Know About HVAC vs. Plumbing

On the surface, your HVAC and plumbing systems seem very different. One deals in air, the other in water. However, they also function together in your home and are connected in ways you might not realize. Here's a look at HVAC vs. plumbing in your home.

Moisture and Humidity

Both your plumbing and HVAC systems have to handle a lot of moisture, and they're designed to keep it contained. A leaking pipe in your bathroom causes not just water damage but higher humidity. Your HVAC system reduces humidity as it heats or cools the air, but if you have plumbing problems, the system might not be able to get rid of all the excess moisture. This then leads to bacteria, mold, mildew, and other problems in your home.

Meanwhile, as your plumbing is dealing with humidity issues, your HVAC system may have to deal with clogged or leaking pipes. Your AC creates a significant amount of moisture as it cools the air. That moisture must then be drained.

Most AC condensate drain lines are separate from your plumbing system, but some are connected. Without proper maintenance, the drain line can become clogged over time, causing leaks and water damage, just like a plumbing leak. For this reason, you should clean your drain line periodically.

Service and Repair

When it comes to HVAC vs. plumbing, the other major similarity is in keeping them functioning properly. They're two very different jobs, which require very different learned skills. However, in looking for a skilled plumber or HVAC technician, the criteria are similar.

They should be certified in the specific work they're performing, particularly when it comes to installing new equipment. They should also be licensed, bonded, and insured, to protect you in case of any problems or damages. Finding someone you trust to do the work you need who ticks all these boxes is a difficult job. This is why many companies have technicians who will service both.

For help with both your HVAC and plumbing needs, contact us at Air Assurance. We keep Broken Arrow homes comfortable and efficient all year long.

Does Your Local Climate Impact the Kind of HVAC Equipment You Should Buy?

Choosing the right HVAC equipment is crucial for your comfort and for keeping your energy bills in check. Not all HVAC systems are created equal, and it's important to get the right one for the climate you live in, for both comfort and efficiency. Let's have a look at the climate's impact on your HVAC system. 

Climate and HVAC

The average summer or winter temperature of a region should always be considered when choosing an air conditioner or a furnace. For instance, if you live in Miami or along the Gulf Coast, you will not need the most efficient furnace. Likewise, those in the northern climes, where summers are not as long or as hot as in the South, won't need an air conditioner with top efficiency. In fact, today's extremely efficient HVAC systems feature a number of bells and whistles that may be superfluous for your climate.

Talk about climate impact with your HVAC consultant. Our Broken Arrow climate isn't the coldest or the warmest, although temperatures can occasionally plunge or peak. Your consultant can advise you about the level of efficiency that's best for your home. When shopping, look at the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings) for furnaces, and the SEER, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the AC. Because our summers are generally not that long or that hot, you may not need a top SEER. Likewise with furnaces. AFUEs of 80% to 85% are mid-efficiency ratings, while high-efficiency units rate between 90% and 97% AFUE. Obviously, the more efficient the unit, the more you will pay when you buy it.

Humidity

High humidity also affects comfort and efficiency, and Oklahoma can be very humid during the summer, when the south wind brings moisture in from Texas. Remember that high humidity is a factor in climate impact in that it makes your AC work harder to cool your home. When discussing climate impact during your next HVAC installation, ask about how to compensate for excessive moisture.

To learn more about climate's impact on HVAC equipment, contact Air Assurance.

Factors Affecting Home Comfort

Differing factors account for your home comfort in the summer and the winter. Let's take a look at some of the things you should be paying attention to now as the long, hot summer proceeds so that you can maximize your comfort without your utility bills going through the roof.

Humidity

Humidity is one of the major factors affecting comfort in the summertime. When your home's relative humidity exceeds 50-55 percent, you will experience difficulty cooling off, as moist air inhibits the evaporation of perspiration on our skin and its subsequent "wind chill" effect. Humid conditions in the home's interior may occur for a number of reasons, such as these:

• Ceiling and plumbing leaks

• Air conditioner not dehumidifying properly (dirty air filters and condenser coils may contribute to this)

• Activities such as cooking, showering, clothes washing and drying

• Poor or no exhaust ventilation

You can lower humidity by fixing leaks, changing filters and having coils cleaned, limiting moisture-producing activities and installing exhaust ventilation.

Temperature Control

If your air conditioner isn't in good working order, it may not increase your comfort to keep turning the thermostat down, down, down. Many factors can be at play when an A/C doesn't cool, among them:

• A/C is wrong size.

• Air filter is dirty.

• Ductwork is poorly designed, or may be leaking air.

• A/C refrigerant is leaking.

While you can change the filter regularly, fixing the other situations may be more challenging -- particularly getting the right size A/C. Whenever it's time to replace your A/C, make sure it's neither too large nor too small.

Air Quality

You may not be that aware of your home's indoor air quality, but a summertime accumulation of airborne pollutants, such as pollen, pet dander, chemical particulates, dust mites, dust and mold can actually make you sick. Switch to a good quality, pleated air filter (rated MERV -- minimum efficiency reporting value -- 8-12) in your HVAC system and vacuum often with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.

For more on home comfort, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. We've provided quality products and service in the Tulsa 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). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Can Indoor Humidity Affect Your Energy Bills?

The level of indoor humidity in your home makes a big difference in your comfort and it will affect your energy bills. Humidity drives the “feels like" temperature, which is how your body perceives it versus the actual temperature as measured on a thermometer. The amount of water vapor in the air makes people feel warmer or cooler, regardless of the temperature.Humans use evaporation to cool their bodies and when there’s less humidity in the air, water evaporates faster. When the humidity is higher, evaporation occurs more slowly. You’re much more likely to be comfortable on a hot day with low humidity compared to a warm day with high humidity.

Managing Humidity in the Home

Ideal indoor humidity levels range between 30 and 50 percent year-round. The most efficient way to manage humidity includes central humidifiers and dehumidifiers. They attach to the air handler and will either increase or lower water vapor levels.Both operate automatically using humidistats, similar to thermostats, to keep humidity levels comfortable and healthy throughout the home. These systems require little maintenance and use less energy than using portable humidifiers or dehumidifiers.You can also achieve lower humidity in the summer by:

• Using kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans to remove excess water vapor.

• Running ceiling fans to increase comfort by evaporating skin moisture faster, although they won’t change the air temperature.

• Verifying the clothes dryer vents outdoors.

• Using dehumidifiers in unconditioned basements.

Increase humidity in the winter by avoiding the use of the kitchen and bathroom fans and supplementing it with indoor plants, simmering water on the stove, or using portable humidifiers or vaporizers.

The Benefits

The primary benefits of managing humidity levels are greater health and comfort along with lower cooling and heating bills. In the summer, lowering the level reduces cooling costs and in the winter, increasing it trims heating bills. Your health and that of your home also improve when the humidity stays between the recommended ranges.To learn more about indoor humidity and maintaining a healthy level, contact the pros at Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for the Broken Arrow region.

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

A Guide to Managing Humidity Levels by the Season

Along with warming weather there comes an increased concern about higher humidity levels in the home. When the humidity rises much above 50 percent, we feel more uncomfortable. Higher humidity prevents perspiration from evaporating on our skin and cooling us off, so we tend to lower the thermostat in order to feel cooler. That means you're paying higher utility bills than you need to.Your air conditioner will help dehumidify your home, as long as it's in good running order and you keep the air filter changed. Read on for additional information on managing humidity levels in your home.

Tracking Your Home's Humidity Levels

Your home should have a relative humidity level within the range of 40-50 percent. It should be at the lower range in the summer, and at the higher range in the winter when the cold air holds less moisture. Cold, dry air tends to dry out our respiratory tracks, which can lead to respiratory infections, while triggering allergies and asthma attacks. Cold, dry air also accounts for more annoying static in the air, which at worst can damage sensitive electronics.To keep track of your home's humidity levels, buy an inexpensive hygrometer at the home convenience store.

Adjusting Humidity Seasonally

If your home tends to be too damp in the summer or too dry in the winter, there are things you can do. Here are some of them.Winter: Boil pots of water on the stove; take longer showers and leave the bathroom door open; add plants to your home.Summer: Fix leaking plumbing; take shorter showers; sequester plants in one room or leaks in the ceiling. Also, change the air filter often so the air conditioner has good air flow; this will help the A/C remove moisture from the air better.Depending on the season, you may want to use a humidifier or dehumidifier. These come in portable models, but the whole-house models do the best job.For more on managing humidity levels, contact Air Assurance. We have served Broken Arrow and the surrounding area since 1985.

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

How to Control Static Electricity in Your Home

This time of year, static electricity in your home can cause painful shocks when you touch a light switch, a metal doorknob or another person, and make it difficult to separate laundry that's fresh from the dryer or even comb your hair. Even worse, these random electrical discharges can also permanently damage electronics and appliances, like your computer, TV, cell phone or microwave.

Why Static Electricity Occurs

Static electrical charges are created by the transfer of electrons when two materials come in contact. One ends up with a positive charge, and the other with a negative charge. Opposite charges attract, and when materials or objects with excess charges come close together, the extra electrons leap across the gap, and the charge is released with a jolt or shock.

Dry Vs. Humid Air and Its Effect on Static Electricity

Static electrical shocks tend to occur in the winter because the air is dry. Cold air doesn't retain moisture very well, and your heating system dries out your indoor air even more. When the air in your home is moist or humid enough though, water molecules collect on the surface of everything. Since water is a superb conductor, excess electrical charges can easily move between different materials without a jolt or shock.

Tips for Controlling Static Electricity

There are various ways to control static discharges to prevent discomfort and damage in your home:

• Wear clothing and socks made of natural fibers like cotton, and leather-soled shoes, because they pick up less static charge than synthetic materials.

• Spray diluted fabric softener or an anti-static product on your clothing, furniture and carpets to make the materials less conductive.

• Add some potted plants, and/or place containers of water in various spots around your home so water can evaporate into the air.

• Talk to your HVAC pro about installing a whole-house humidifier on your HVAC system so you can add a precise amount of humidity to the air circulating through your home in the wintertime.

To learn more about controlling static electricity in your Broken Arrow home with a whole-house humidifier, 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 home comfort and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ErikaWittlieb/Pixabay”

How Low Humidity in Your Home Affects Your Health

When winter arrives and you need to run the heating system to stay warm and comfortable, the humidity in your indoor air can drop too low. This occurs because cold winter air doesn't hold moisture very well, and heating it makes the problem even worse. Excessively low humidity in your home can cause various health-related problems, such as:

• Dry eyes. The eyes produce tears to lubricate and flush out contaminants and irritants. In dry-air conditions, this vital liquid dries up too, which makes it easier for the eyes to become irritated or worse, infected.

• Respiratory issues. When you breathe air containing too little moisture, mucus membranes lining the respiratory and nasal passages dry out. This can cause sore throats, nose bleeds, chest congestion and coughing, and worsen conditions like allergies, asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis.

• Dry skin. A lack of humidity also draws moisture out of the skin, leaving it uncomfortably itchy and scaly. Dry skin can also start to crack, which makes it more vulnerable to bacterial infections.

• Increased risk of illness. Certain bacteria and viruses thrive when the air is dry, which increases the likelihood of contracting the flu, colds and respiratory infections.

Solutions to Improve Low Humidity

Indoor humidity in the 30 to 50 percent range is ideal to prevent health problems related to dry air. Here are two reliable methods for boosting your indoor humidity levels:

• Room-size humidifiers. These plug-in units can hold one to several gallons of water. They're best used in a child's room or other bedroom to improve dry conditions and make sleeping more comfortable.

• Whole-home humidifiers. These house-size units are installed on the HVAC air handler and plumbed into the water supply so they fill automatically. They also have a humidistat control that can be placed in a spot where it's easy and convenient to adjust the setting. This ensures that an optimal amount of moisture gets added to the warm air coming from the furnace, so it's humidified before being distributed through the ducts.

For expert help solving low humidity problems in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

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

Natural Ways to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

If your home's air feels thick and you can smell a musty odor, you may have excess humidity in your home. If left unchecked, the excess moisture can cause mold growth, wood rot, and blistering or peeling of paint. So how can you reduce your home's humidity levels? Here are some natural solutions you can use:

Ventilate

Ventilation increases airflow and helps lower humidity levels. Install fans that duct to the outside in your bathroom and kitchen. If you already have vent fans, ensure you switch them on and leave them running longer.

Reduce Shower Time

Long showers can result in a buildup of moisture in your bathroom as well as the surrounding rooms. Taking shorter showers can help lower the moisture buildup in your home. You should also consider installing a low-flow showerhead.

Use Calcium Chloride or Kitty Litter

Placing bowls of calcium chloride or kitty litter around your home can help reduce humidity by absorbing some moisture from the air. Make sure you replace them every few weeks.

Reduce Houseplants

While a few houseplants can make your home healthier, too many of them can increase the moisture levels. Reduce the moisture these plants add to your indoor air by moving some of them outside. You can also cover the soil around the plants to prevent its moisture from escaping into your home's air.

Make Repairs

Inspect the exterior of your house for defects. Water leaks may contribute to high humidity levels. Fix any loose roof shingles and flashings and keep the gutters clear. Waterproof concrete basement walls. Seal around the areas where your walls meet the ceiling and flooring.

By taking these steps to lower humidity levels, you'll feel more comfortable at home and save money too due to reduced energy bills. To learn more about eliminating excess moisture and any other home comfort issues, please contact us at Air Assurance. We've been helping homeowners in the Broken Arrow area with their HVAC and plumbing needs 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). For more information about reducing humidity and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “coyot/Pixabay”

Easy Ways to Prevent Mineral Buildup in Your Humidifier

If you’re dealing with common problems associated with dry air in your Broken Arrow home, then chances are you’re already using a humidifier. Humidifiers are an indispensable tool in restoring indoor moisture and tackling dry air-related issues, including skin irritation, dry throat and even static electricity buildup.Unfortunately, mineral buildup caused by lime scale and calcium deposits can prevent your humidifier from working as effectively as it should. The following shows how you can prevent mineral buildup in your humidifier and tackle existing buildup, as well.

How to Prevent Mineral Buildup

Here are a few tips you can use to stop mineral buildup in its tracks:

• Empty your humidifier’s water reservoir after each use. Allow water to remain stagnant inside of the reservoir can allow mineral buildup to occur. It can also encourage the growth of mold and bacteria, which could spread throughout the humidifier. It’s important to empty the reservoir and wipe it down after your done using your humidifier.

• Always use distilled water with your humidifier. Distilled water is specifically processed to remove dissolved minerals and other impurities, making it less likely to encourage mineral deposit buildup inside of your humidifier. Tap water, on the other hand, is filled with impurities that could prevent your humidifier from working properly.

• Keep your humidifier clean and disinfected. This preventative step is important for keeping mineral buildup at bay. You should clean your humidifier on a regular basis to prevent mineral buildup as well as mold and bacteria growth.

How to Treat Mineral Buildup

In most cases, mineral buildup can be treated with undiluted white vinegar. Simply allow the vinegar to soak where mineral deposits occur for a few minutes, then wipe the area with a clean cloth. You can also use mild soap and water to clean up minor deposits.

Contact the professionals at Air Assurance and learn more ways to prevent mineral buildup. We proudly serve 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 mineral buildup and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

Find the Right Heat/Humidity Balance

People complain about humidity in the summer months, but many don't know that it can also be a problem in the winter. However, in the winter, the issue lies with having too little moisture in the air instead of too much.

Who Needs Humidity Anyway?

Even though it may not feel like it during the summer, moisture in the air does serve a useful purpose. It helps prevent:

1. Cold and allergy symptoms feeling worse as dry air can irritate your throat and mucous membranes.

2. Leather clothes, shoes, or furniture drying and cracking.

3. Skin, especially the sensitive skin on your lips, getting dry and chapped.

4. Wood furniture and floors drying out, leading to cracks and other structural problems.

Can Humidity Save Money?

Perhaps one of the best reasons to control the moisture in your home is your energy bill. The higher you set your thermostat in the winter, the more energy you pay for. Obviously, you'd like to keep your home temperature reasonably low for cost reasons. You may find that you're sacrificing your family's comfort when you lower the thermostat, though.The solution may just be to raise the humidity in your home. If your air is dry, it will wick away the moisture on your skin more quickly. This has the same effect as a cool breeze when you are sweating on a hot day - it leaves you feeling cooler.Keeping your home's relative humidity at 45-55% in the winter means that the air has enough moisture not to dry out your skin. In turn, this leaves you feeling warmer. You can lower your thermostat a few degrees without noticing a drop in comfort.

How Do You Maintain Consistent Humidity?

Even though plug-in humidifiers will add humidity to your home, they are unable to adjust the amount of moisture they put out to keep the moisture in your air at a consistent level. A whole-home humidifier works through your HVAC system to deliver the right levels of moisture and adapt to changing air conditions.

For more information about controlling humidity in your Broken Arrow home, contact 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 heat and humidity balance and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “clker-free-vector-images/Pixabay”

Can a Humidifier Help During the Heating Season?

Whenever humidity falls below 30 percent, both you and your home suffer. The dry air causes a host of problems that are easy to solve with a humidifier, from chapped skin to cracks in the wood inside your home.

Comfort Issues

Dry indoor air speeds the evaporation of moisture from your skin, which has a cooling effect. Turning up the thermostat to combat dry air increases heating costs, and may not increase comfort as much as raising the humidity can. As air warms, it dries even more, increasing the discomfort. Besides feeling cooler, air that’s too dry will:

• Spread viruses and bacteria faster. Winter is the cold and flu season because overly dry air speeds the transmission of the bacteria and viruses. When these microorganisms enter your body, parched throats and nasal tissues are particularly vulnerable to infection.

• Dry skin quickly. Besides being uncomfortable, chapped skin can result in skin cracks that may become infected.

• Heighten respiratory distress. Dry air increases symptoms associated with allergies, asthma, and sinus issues.

Home Health Issues

Besides the health concerns, a humidifier solves problems associated with your home, like:

• Wood shrinkage. As the humidity falls, the air pulls moisture out of anything made from wood inside your home. Cabinets, flooring, furniture and even the wood from which your house is made will shrink, which may or not recover once humidity rises.

• Electrical damage. Static electricity increases as the air dries, and appliances and devices are vulnerable to static electricity, especially the low voltage components inside them.

Increasing the Humidity

Whole-house humidifiers offer the most energy efficient and easiest way to combat dry indoor air. They tap into the plumbing system and deliver water automatically. Unlike portable devices that need manual filling and weekly cleaning, central units require little maintenance.Working in tandem with furnaces, they use little energy and control the level of humidity with a humidistat, which operates just like a thermostat.A humidifier is an indispensable way to manage humidity indoors during the winter. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted 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 humidifiers and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “freedigitalphotos”

What the "Feels Like" Temperature Means For Your Home

Great home climate control means more than having a powerful furnace or air conditioner. Other factors influence the "feels like" temperature and the comfort of all residents in the home. Here is more information about those variables and tips for improving your home's climate.

Humidity

Humidity has a very direct effect on the "feels like" temperature. In order to understand why the apparent temperature is often different from the actual temperature, it is helpful to understand how humidity affects us.

High humidity makes temperatures feel warmer. This is because perspiration, which cools the body through evaporation, evaporates only slowly when the air is already heavy with moisture. Alternatively, when humidity is low, perspiration evaporates rapidly and you feel cooler.With this in mind, you will feel more comfortable by reducing home humidity levels in summer. A properly working air conditioner will reduce humidity levels to an extent. However, during the dog days of summer when humidity starts to soar, an air conditioner might not be enough for this purpose. When this happens, consider adding a dehumidifier. Dehumidifying the home can quickly make the "feels like" temperature several degrees cooler.

In winter, the same holds true regarding the warming affect of higher humidity. As humidity levels fall, you will feel chillier. By adding humidity to your home in winter, you will feel warmer and might be able to save a bit on heating costs.

Fans and Drafts

Flowing air is another factor that affects how you feel in your home. When air moves across your skin, it removes heat from your skin’s surface and you feel cooler. The principal is the same as the wind chill factor you’ve heard about on cold and breezy winter days. In summer, you will feel cooler when a fan is running and, in winter, you might feel overly cold in a drafty room. This, paired with your home’s humidity level, has a big influence on the apparent temperature in your home.

For more information about improving the "feels like" temperature in your Broken Arrow area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Oakozhan/Shutterstock”

Is There a Humidity Problem in Your Home?

A little humidity can be a good thing, but having excess moisture in your Broken Arrow home can lead to a variety of issues. Not only does it make your home feel damp and clammy, but it can also trigger a host of allergy and asthma symptoms due to increased mold and mildew growth. If left unchecked, it could even lead to structural problems in your home.

Ways to Spot Moisture Problems

If you happen to spot the following, then it’s likely you’re looking at an excess moisture problem in your home:

• Excessive condensation on glass doors, windows and walls

• Peeling paint, visible moisture spots and/or cracks on walls

• Visible mold and mildew growth on walls and other surfaces

• Frequent allergy symptoms or respiratory issues

How to Deal with Excess Humidity

Now that you’ve discovered the problem, it’s time to deal with the underlying cause. These helpful tips can go a long way towards dealing with your home moisture problem once and for all:

• Increase your home’s ventilation – Make sure your home has enough flow-through ventilation to help carry away humid air. You may need to improve your home’s attic ventilation or even invest in a specialized ventilation system.

• Curtail moisture-creating activities – Bathing and cooking can easily raise humidity levels, so steps should be taken to reduce that source of moisture. Start by cutting back your showering or bathing time. Keep your pots and pans covered while you cook and always use your range and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking and bathing.

• Invest in a dehumidifier – Unlike air conditioners, dehumidifiers are dedicated full-time towards removing excess moisture from indoor air. Portable and whole-house dehumidifiers are available for dealing with localized and house-wide moisture problems.

Contact the experts at Air Assurance and learn more ways you can spot humidity before it becomes a serious problem in your Broken Arrow 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Mario7/Shutterstock”

HRV or ERV? Choose the Right Ventilation System for Your Home's Needs

The choice between an HRV or ERV depends heavily on your climate. Because Broken Arrow sees both high summer temperatures and cold winters, the right choice isn't so obvious around here. Getting a better understanding of how these ventilation systems work will help you decide.

How HRVs and ERVs Differ

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) uses exhaust fans to draw out stale, humid indoor air and supply fans to bring in fresh, outdoor air. Equal amounts of air are removed and replaced to provide continuous, balanced airflow.

Because just blowing out indoor air and letting in outdoor air would waste energy, an HRV contains a heat exchanger to minimize this waste. In winter, the heat exchanger collects heat energy from the outgoing warm air and transfers it into the incoming outdoor air, effectively pre-warming the air. In summer, it does the opposite to pre-cool the incoming air.

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) work the same way as HRVs with one difference. Their heat exchanger also transfers moisture. This means ERVs let in less humidity than HRVs in summer.

Making Your Choice

In a cold winter or mixed climate, an HRV is usually the best option. That said, there are other factors to consider when choosing between an HRV or ERV. These include the age and energy efficiency of your home, its size and the number of occupants. A large, drafty house with only two or three people is more likely to suffer from uncomfortably low humidity in winter, particularly in the drier parts of town. In this situation, an ERV may be a better choice.

Modern homes are built to be airtight, increasing their tendency toward high humidity. These homes, especially the smaller ones, are best suited to HRVs. Older homes were often intentionally built with cracks to provide airflow, meaning they're more likely to become dry during our cold winters. This makes some older homes better candidates for ERVs, although air sealing should also be considered.

For help deciding whether an HRV or ERV is right for your home, contact the pros at Air Assurance 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).  Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Jezper/Shutterstock”

Feeling Uncomfortable? Check Out These Factors That Affect Home Comfort

While controlling the temperature in your home is extremely important to comfort and energy efficiency, there are other aspects that are also essential. Factors that affect home comfort include temperature, humidity, indoor air quality and the capability to control these things. If you understand how these four factors work together, you can enhance home comfort while saving energy.

Temperature

This probably seems like a no-brainer; you control the temperature by turning the thermostat up or down. But there's more to it than that. While you can set the temperature of the thermostat, it won't necessarily control temperatures elsewhere in the house, such as in a finished basement or upstairs bedrooms. A zoning system can help you better control temperature throughout your house.

Humidity

Even if the thermostat is set right where you want it, you'll still feel uncomfortable if humidity is too high during the summer. And during the heating season, excessively dry air won't feel that great either. A well-maintained central A/C should control humidity, but if it doesn't, your comfort will suffer. In this case, you'll probably want to consider a whole-house dehumidifier.

Indoor Air Quality

Home comfort also takes a hit when indoor air is stale or dirty. Contaminants in the air can irritate your eyes, nose and lungs, and create a foul smell. Poor indoor air quality can trigger or exacerbate allergies and respiratory issues.Several strategies are available to clean indoor air, including removing or mitigating the sources of indoor pollution like using a fresh, high-efficiency air filter in your HVAC system, investing in a whole-house air cleaner, or employing affective mechanical ventilation.

Control

A modern programmable thermostat, equipped with humidity control will allow you to influence and control the other factors.

For more information on factors that affect home comfort, please contact the pros at Air Assurance. We're proud to provide reliable and quality HVAC and plumbing services to 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: “kurhan/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”

Save Every Cent You Can With These Summertime A/C Tips

If you treat your air conditioner well, it will return the favor. Use these summertime A/C tips and save those pennies to use to water your yard instead.

Proper Size

Bigger is not always better. Larger systems may cool your home faster, but at what cost? They require extra energy to serve the same purpose. And quick cooling isn't the only end goal. Your air conditioner also works to remove humidity in your home, but it needs to run a certain amount of time in order to do so. Larger systems that cool faster will shut off before the humidity issue is addressed. Do some research to determine if the air conditioner you have is the right size for your home.

Proper Maintenance

Dirt, dust, hair, lint and pet fur can cover coils and impede the efficiency of your A/C. Simply put: clean systems run less. Proper maintenance keeps the inside and outside coils clean, changes the air filter regularly and manages the refrigerant charge. These minor tune-ups save you money on energy and repairs, extending the life of your A/C along the way.

Proper Duct Sealing

Before conditioned air flows through the vents in your home, it must first travel through a system of ducts. Ideally those ducts will transport the air without losing any along the way. Gaps and cracks in your ductwork allow conditioned air to escape into your attic. Seal gaps and replace damaged ducts to ensure that the air you've paid to cool keeps you and your family comfortable. Insulated ductwork prevents the radiant heat of your attic in the summertime from altering the coolness of the air inside the ducts.

Proper Help

These summertime A/C tips, along with a programmable thermostat, keep your A/C running as efficiently as possible. If the maintenance, installation, sizing or repairs are too far outside your DIY comfort zone, don't hesitate to give the professionals at Air Assurance a call. We've been serving the Tulsa 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

Need a Whole House Humidifier? 5 Tips on How to Find the Right One

Dry air is a common problem during the winter months and can lead to nasal discomfort, throat irritation and frequent nosebleeds. It can also cause arcs of static electricity and can dry out or crack wood furniture and flooring. A comfortable range of humidity for most homes is around 30 percent during winter and up to 50 percent during summer. The right whole house humidifier can ensure the humidity levels in your home remain at comfortable levels to prevent these issues.

A whole house humidifier is permanently installed on your furnace. The size of humidifier you need in your home depends on the living area and the level of humidity you want to achieve, but these five tips can help you find the right humidifier for your home.

1. Determine the square footage of your home to select a unit large enough to provide the proper amount of humidity. Homes that are drafty will require a higher-output humidifier than homes that are tightly sealed.

2. Choose whole house humidifiers over stand-alone units for minimum maintenance. Whole house humidifiers utilize your home’s water supply and furnace blower, thus requiring less maintenance than stand-alone models, which must be monitored and refilled regularly.

3. Compare the evaporative capacity of each model you’re considering. A whole house humidifier with a high output adds moisture more rapidly than humidifiers that have lower outputs.

4. Look for whole house humidifiers with automatic controls. These allow you to set the humidity level once and turn off and on when necessary to maintain a consistent relative humidity level. Units with manual controls must be consistently monitored.

5. Investigate to determine how much maintenance and cleaning is required for each model you’re considering. Some whole house humidifiers have filters that need to be replaced periodically. Others have permanent filters that require cleaning just once or twice a year. Look for humidifiers that have panel indicator lights so you can see when maintenance is needed.

For more information about whole house humidifiers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas, and how to select the type that best suits your needs, contact 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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock