Furnace Not heating Up?

furnace not heating - tulsa, ok

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). 

How to Go About Moving a Thermostat

Do Not Display

Are you considering moving your thermostat? It could be a blessing or a curse depending on how you go about it. Here's a quick guide to moving a thermostat to help you avoid making costly mistakes.

Why Consider Moving a Thermostat?

You may want to move a thermostat because its functional design detracts from the room's beauty. You could also move the thermostat because of heating and cooling problems resulting from the device's current location. Poor locations for thermostats that could cause problems like uneven heating and cooling, a short-cycling HVAC system, and high utility bills include:

• Near windows or doors

• In direct sunlight

• On exterior walls

• Kitchen

• Rarely used rooms

• Above your air vents or HVAC system

How to Move the Thermostat

When moving a thermostat, remember it should be centrally located on an interior wall of a frequently used room. Replacing your old thermostat or moving the current one to an adjacent wall can be a DIY project because it doesn't require rewiring the thermostat. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Shut off the power to the HVAC system.

2. Take out the interface from the thermostat's back panel.

3. Disconnect the cables slowly.

4. Take out the back panel.

If you're replacing the thermostat:

• Install the new panel.

• Reconnect the cables to the new thermostat interface, ensuring you connect the wires to the right ports.

If you're moving the thermostat to an adjacent surface:

• Drill a hole in that adjacent wall before installing the new back panel.

• Pull the wires with a wire-fishing tool through the new hole.

• Connect the thermostat interface.

If you're moving your thermostat to a new room that's far from the current location and cables, you would need some advanced wiring knowledge to install the thermostat yourself. You're also likely to find installing a wireless thermostat challenging because you'll have to install a sensor correctly on your HVAC unit. It's best to leave such tasks to an HVAC professional.

Correct thermostat placement will help you achieve optimum home comfort and efficiency. If you need help moving a thermostat in the Broken Arrow area, contact the HVAC experts at Air Assurance.

Is It Possible for a Furnace to Get Too Hot in Winter?

While a furnace that warms your home efficiently and safely is a real benefit during cold Oklahoma winters, an overly hot furnace might be malfunctioning and can present a hazard. Today’s gas-fired furnaces have an excellent safety record if the unit is professionally installed and receives annual preventive maintenance. Still, certain issues may arise over time, including overheating. If you ever suspect that you have a hot furnace at an unsafe level, always contact a qualified HVAC contractor immediately. 

Signs of an Overheated, Hot Furnace

• The smell of something burning coming out of HVAC vents inside the house. While a few minutes of acrid odor is to be expected when the furnace is first started up at the beginning of the heating season, this should dissipate rapidly. Any suspect odor that occurs later is a sign to shut off the furnace and call for professional help.

• The furnace shuts down quickly. If your furnace automatically turns itself off soon after cycling on—known as “short cycling”— it may be the safety sensor detecting excess heat somewhere in the unit. Alternatively, the sensor itself may be defective. If an automatic safety shutdown occurs, don’t keep restarting the furnace until it’s been inspected by a certified HVAC technician. Also: Many furnaces will not restart after a safety shutdown until a technician resets the sensor.

Causes of Your Furnace Overheating

• Insufficient system airflow. If the air circulating through the furnace is obstructed, internal furnace components of the furnace, such as the heat exchanger, do not receive sufficient cooling and may overheat. This can permanently damage critical components, as well as pose a fire hazard. Causes of restricted airflow include a clogged system air filter and obstructed supply or return vents.

• Failing components. A worn-out blower motor often overheats, causing pungent burning odors before it fails completely. Aging electrical wiring inside the furnace may also begin to disintegrate and melt when exposed to heat.

For qualified professional service to diagnose a hot furnace, contact the heating experts at Air Assurance.

What Are the Most Important Summer HVAC Tips?

Summer is an extremely enjoyable time of year, but the heat can quickly make your home unbearable if you don't take care of your air conditioner. If you want to maintain a comfortable atmosphere, we suggest that you begin with these simple summer HVAC tips:

Clean/Replace the Air Filter

When your air filter gets dirty, it impedes airflow and lowers your air conditioner's efficiency. To keep the system running smoothly, be sure to inspect the filter once per month to see if it’s clogged with debris. Keep in mind that some filters can be cleaned while others must be replaced. 

Check Your Thermostat Settings

The optimal setting for a thermostat during the summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep most people comfortable and is best for controlling energy usage. If you leave the house for a short period of time, dial up the thermostat to match the temperature outside. This will prevent energy waste, and you won’t return to an extremely hot home, making it one of the most important summer HVAC tips.

Have the Air Ducts Inspected

Dust and other debris in your air ducts will harm your indoor air quality, while areas that have been damaged will decrease your HVAC system's efficiency. Look for damage, repair holes, or rips in the ducts, and then thoroughly wipe them down to remove any dust or debris.

Refill the AC’s Refrigerant

When your air conditioner’s refrigerant level runs low, the system won’t effectively keep you cool. Low refrigerant levels can also cause leakage. One of the most important summer HVAC tips is to be sure to take a look at the refrigerant level periodically and top it off whenever it’s starting to run low.

Open and Clean Your Vents

Your vents are essential in delivering conditioned air throughout your home. You may have closed them during previous seasons, so give each of them a quick look to make sure they’re all open. Dust and debris may have collected on them, as well, so wipe each one down with a microfiber cloth.

By following the summer HVAC tips that we've listed above, you'll be able to enjoy the season indoors too. If you have other home-comfort questions, contact the professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Preparing Your Thermostat for Cooling Season

With cooling season on the horizon, it's time to prepare your home and thermostat so they're optimized for comfort and energy efficiency. Here's how you can get ready for the coming change in weather and temperature.

Invest in New Thermostat Technology

If you rely on a basic digital control to regulate your home's HVAC system, you'll appreciate the convenience that a programmable thermostat provides. The Department of Energy (DOE) also advises that going programmable can save you up to 10 percent on your yearly HVAC energy consumption. When choosing a new thermostat, look for one that works with your type of HVAC equipment and also meshes with your usual weekly routine.

Prime Your HVAC for Summer Energy Savings

To reap the greatest savings, the DOE recommends programming your thermostat with different temperature adjustments for specific periods each day: lower when you're home and active, and higher when everyone is sleeping or away. These daily temperature adjustments can add up to sizable savings over time, because a one-degree change for eight hours brings a one-percent drop in annual energy consumption. You should also:

• Set the temperature at 78°F when you're at home and active.

• Increase it to 85°F at night and when the house isn't occupied.

• Don't be afraid to experiment to see if you can save more energy with a higher temperature. Do so incrementally, one or two degrees at a time, to avoid causing discomfort or overtaxing your cooling equipment.

• Never use the override function to make a big temperature adjustment in order to cool down the house faster. The cooling process won't speed up, but you can accidentally cool your home too much and end up wasting energy.

• Run your ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner to boost the cooling effect, but only in occupied rooms. With the blades moving counter-clockwise, the fan's air movement cools the skin, which lets you raise the temperature setting by up to four degrees.

For expert help getting your Broken Arrow home ready for the cooling season, contact us at Air Assurance.

How Do Galileo Thermometers Work?

At the touch of a button, your phone gives you the temperature, 5-day forecast, and more. Your smart thermostat tells you the temperature inside and outside, and lets you adjust accordingly. But it wasn't always this way. Centuries ago, people told the temperature using Galileo thermometers. And recently, they've made a comeback.

History of Galileo Thermometers

The Galileo thermometer was actually not designed by Galileo, but rather by a student of his, with a group of engineers. They first described the device in an academic paper in 1666. Called the Fifth Thermometer, or slow thermometer, the principle was that a liquid's density would change as the temperature grew colder or warmer, which could be used to determine exact temperature.As other, more efficient thermometers were developed, over time the slow thermometer fell by the wayside. Until the 1990s, when London's Natural History Museum started selling them in the gift shop. They've been increasing in popularity ever since.

How They Work

A cylindrical tube is filled with clear liquid, such as water or alcohol. In it is placed a series of glass balls of different weights, also filled with liquid, dyed different colors. Each colored ball represents a different temperature and has a tag attached to indicate it. The heavier the ball, the lower the temperature.Say the temperature is 80 degrees. All the balls tagged higher than 80 degrees are less dense than the surrounding liquid at this temperature, and will float to the top of the tube, with the 80 degree ball floating just beneath them. All others are at the bottom.Then the temperature drops to 75 degrees. The liquid being denser now, the 80 degree ball can float all the way to the top, and the heavier 75 degree ball takes its place, floating just below the others.It's not quite as precise as your thermostat's readings, but it's still perfectly accurate, and a colorful, and useful knickknack to have around the house.

To learn more about Galileo thermometers and other HVAC issues, contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve Broken Arrow's heating and cooling needs.

HVAC During Mild Weather

Setting the thermostat for fall, when the weather is still mild, can be rather perplexing. Since it may be still a bit too warm in the daytime to turn off the air conditioner altogether, or not yet chilly enough at night to turn on the heating, you may have to do some adjusting with your fall HVAC settings.

Let the Fresh Air In

If the weather allows, by all means, turn the system off in fall and fling open the windows so you can enjoy some fresh air before winter arrives. Be sure you turn the system to "off" so that it doesn't come on while the windows are open.

Setting the Thermostat

If you've created an energy-efficient schedule with your air conditioner by raising or lowering the thermostat for periods throughout the day depending on when people are home, sleeping or inactive, you will probably need to adjust the schedule as the weather cools, and for time changes.For the fall, it may be you will want to change that schedule to turn the air conditioner on for just a couple of brief periods each day, and leave it off for the rest of the day so you can open windows. Or, as the season advances and it gets chillier, you will want to turn on the heating just for brief times in the morning, when people are getting ready for work, and in the evening, when you're dining or getting ready for bed.To save money, you can use ceiling fans, portable fans and even an occasional space heater to cool off or warm up those who aren't comfortable with your thermostat settings. If they are chilly, they can add layers of clothing or an extra blanket at night. That way, you may even be able to turn the system off altogether at night.

Obviously, the chances for a serious cold front to make its way into our region will mount as fall advances, so be ready to reset the thermostat as needed.Need more advice on fall HVAC settings? Contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

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

Thermostat Best Practices for Fall

The fall season is finally here and you know what that means - time to reevaluate your home's heating and cooling needs! Since many of these needs are tied to your home's thermostat, let's take a look at a few thermostat best practices that you should immediately put on your to-do list.

Upgrade to a More Advanced Unit

If your home still has a manual thermostat, it's definitely time to upgrade to a programmable model. This will allow you to set the dates and times when your heating or cooling system kicks on, which will allow you to have greater control over energy costs.

Pick a Schedule and Stick to It

Once you've set the days and times for your HVAC system to run, make sure that you stay with this schedule whenever possible. Making changes on a regular basis will cause your energy usage and costs to fluctuate.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Technician

The fall season is a great time to get your HVAC system checked out by a qualified technician, and while he or she is there, why not have your thermostat checked as well? After all, without a fully functional thermostat, you''ll have difficulties with the heating and cooling of your home.

Install a Zoned System

Traditional heating and cooling setups are forced to condition your entire home and eat up valuable energy resources, but this problem can be solved easily with the installation of a zoned system. This system uses multiple thermostats - one for each designated "zone" in your home - to give you better control over your home's comfort needs.

Replace the Batteries

Modern thermostats will tell you when the batteries need to be replaced by either emitting a beeping sound or flashing a small light. Simply open the battery compartment, remove the old batteries, and put in the new ones. It couldn't be easier.

If you need more advice on thermostat best practices or any other home comfort concerns, please contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding area for over 30 years.

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

What's the Ideal Temperature for Pets in Fall?

Now that fall is here, the arrival of colder weather isn't far off, so you'll soon have to adjust the temperature settings on your programmable thermostat to lower your wintertime energy bills. Like most Broken Arrow homeowners, you're probably planning to program in substantial temperature adjustments for nights and weekdays when everyone heads off to work or school, and only the family pets are left at home. Before you make any radical setting changes, you'll want to give some thought to the best temperature for pets to stay healthy and comfortable.

Understanding How Temperature Changes Can Affect a Pet

Just like their owners, our pets can react badly to significant or sudden temperature changes, such as any sizable daily setback made on a programmable thermostat. While our dogs and cats do have fur to help them stay warm in a cool environment, an individual pet's tolerance for colder temperatures is also affected by factors like:

• Type of coat. Dogs or cats that have thick and/or long fur may not be bothered by lower temperatures. Those with short hair or smooth coats can mind being in a chilly environment, though, since they don't have a layer of extra insulation.

• Size and weight. Bigger, heavier pets tend to do fine when it's cool, while cats or small dogs may feel some discomfort at colder temperatures.

• Overall health. Pets can have problems regulating their body temperature if they're suffering from heart or kidney disease, or endocrine system issues like thyroid or Cushing's disease, and significant temperature changes may cause them undue stress.

Making Temperature Setbacks With Your Pet in Mind

Before you set specific temperatures for the coming heating season, weigh the above-mentioned factors, and talk to your veterinarian about any concerns with your pet's health. In most cases, you can go by how you'd react to temperature changes: if you find the house too cold for comfort at a specific temperature, it's likely that your pet will too.

For more advice about your comfort settings 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 ideal indoor temperatures and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “3194556/Pixabay”

HVAC Home Comfort Solutions to Be Grateful For

In Broken Arrow's climate, your home HVAC system is something to be grateful for. Keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer, it does a lot of work to keep the Oklahoma environment livable.But if you want a bit of extra gratitude for your home comfort solutions this year, consider some of these perks to make a good thing even better:

• A programmable thermostat. You can save money on your heating and cooling by setting back your thermostat when you're out of the house for a while — but that means having to remember to reset it when you get home, and waiting for the temperature to adjust when you do. A programmable thermostat lets you tell the house to do all that for you, saving you money without you needing to remember a thing.

• A smart thermostat. Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat can manage your heating and cooling schedule. It may also provide a number of other benefits, such as learning from the adjustments you make and offering you a way to check in or change the schedule from your phone or mobile device.

• Air purifiers and cleaners. Americans spend a lot of time indoors — away from the natural breezes that continually renew the outdoor air. Indoor air is typically more polluted than outdoor air, but an air cleaner or purifier can address this issue and leave your indoor environment healthier.

• Whole-house humidifiers or dehumidifiers. Whether it's too dry or too humid, humidity problems can tank your home comfort. In some cases, they can also make your home environment less healthy, contributing to excessive dust production or the growth of bacteria and mold. A humidifier/dehumidifier combination can keep your home humidity balanced.

• Home zoning system. Not all parts of your home are in use at the same time — so why heat them and cool them as a single unit? A home zoning system lets you direct conditioned air where you need it, when those rooms are occupied.

To learn more about home comfort solutions available to you, call 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 home comfort solutions and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “petelinforth/Pixabay”

Programming Your Thermostat for Colder Weather

Bravo if you know how to correctly set your home's programmable thermostat for maximum energy savings. But it's important to remember that the temperature settings need to be changed once the weather shifts from summer to fall and winter. A programmable thermostat with improper settings is no better than an old-school manual thermostat.

A properly set programmable thermostat allows you to program temperature changes (sometimes called "setbacks") to fit your lifestyle and schedule, or those of family members. It turns down the heating or cooling when nobody's home or when everybody's sleeping. A manual thermostat can save money, too, though it requires a vigilant human being to monitor the settings and adjust them constantly. It also doesn't allow for temperature changes when nobody's around to adjust the thermostat.

Resetting the programmable thermostat is necessary when cooling season changes to heating season, since the setbacks need to be adjusted to account for the shift from a cooling system to a heating system. Here's a sample schedule for resetting the programmable thermostat for the heating season:

• Program the temperature several degrees — as many as 10 or 12 — lower for times when you're going to be gone for more than several hours, such as at work or school.

• Set it to return to your comfort level shortly before you expect to arrive home. Leave it that temperature throughout the evening.

• Lower the temperature several degrees for overnight, since most people prefer it several degrees cooler while they're sleeping and are covered with blankets.

• Program the thermostat to return to your daytime comfort level shortly before you expect to awaken in the morning. You might decide to skip this temperature change if you're planning to go right out the door after a quick breakfast. It may strain your heating system to crank up the temperature several degrees, for a half hour or so, then reduce it again for the day.

For more advice on resetting the programmable thermostat for the heating season, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide superior HVAC services to 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 thermostats and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “sashkin/Shutterstock”

Does Your Thermostat Need to Be Replaced?

When your HVAC system suddenly stops working, it's easy to fear the worst and think that something is wrong with one of your costly components. There's another possible culprit that's easy to rule out: a failed thermostat. By following these steps, you can learn whether a thermostat replacement can get the system up and running again:

Change the Temperature Setting

Before doing anything else, try changing the thermostat's temperature setting by five degrees to see if this triggers the HVAC equipment. For the furnace, turn it up, and for the A/C, dial it down.

Check Whether the Thermostat is Receiving Power

Head to the main electrical panel and find the breaker that controls the thermostat. Even if it appears fine, shut it off and then on. If there are batteries in your thermostat, replace them.

Verify the Function Setting

Check the function button on the thermostat to make sure it's set appropriately for the season on either "heat" or "cool."

Check/Clean the Interior

Turn off the breaker again, then remove the thermostat's cover to inspect the interior. Make sure that all the electrical wires are tightly attached to the mounting screws. If any are loose, fix them. With a soft brush, gently clean any dust built up on the interior. Use a cotton swab dampened with electrical contact cleaner to clean the metal contacts. Then, turn the breaker back on and test if the thermostat is working now by making temperature adjustments again.

Bypass the Thermostat's Control

If these steps haven't helped, turn off the breaker again. Remove the thermostat from its wall mounting bracket and disconnect the electrical wires from the back. Find the red and white wires and gently twist the ends together. Turn the breaker on again and check whether the furnace cycles on. Using the red and green wires, repeat this process to test the cooling equipment. If the heating or cooling equipment cycles on when the wires are twisted together, you'll know the thermostat needs to be replaced.For expert help with a thermostat replacement 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “cdz/Pixabay”

Is Your Thermostat Temperature Correct?

If your thermostat temperature isn't accurate, your home can feel too hot or cold, and you can spend too much on energy because the HVAC system isn't cycling on and off as it should. If you're concerned that the temperature displayed on your thermostat isn't correct, here's what to do.

Clean Underneath the Cover

Dirt and debris on your thermostat's internal components can interfere with its ability to control temperatures accurately. Cleaning the inside may be an easy fix, so take off the cover and use a soft brush to gently dust the components. Then, put a dab of electrical contact cleaner on a cotton swab and remove any corrosion from the metal contacts.

Recalibrate the Unit

Sometimes, the sensor inside a thermostat goes out of whack and prevents it from working properly. If recalibrating your thermostat doesn't fix this, it's time to invest in a new unit.

Make Sure it's Level

If you still have a mercury thermostat, it may not read the temperature accurately if it gets knocked off level. You can try to fix this by putting a carpenter's level just above the unit and making minor adjustments in the thermostat's position until it's level again. If you're concerned that it's still not accurate, you should replace it.

Check the Location

The thermostat's location can affect how well it reads the room temperature. It needs to be centrally situated in your home and away from direct sunlight, drafts, heat sources and airflow from HVAC registers. If you think the location is causing accuracy issues, having it moved to a better spot may improve its performance.

Consider Advancing Age

Equipment often becomes less reliable as it ages, and this is true for thermostats too. If yours is still not accurate after you try all of the above fixes, it's wise to replace it. You can boost comfort and energy efficiency and benefit from convenience features by upgrading to a new Wi-Fi or programmable model.

If thermostat temperature issues are affecting the comfort in your Broken Arrow home and you need expert advice, contact us today at Air Assurance.

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

Should You Set Your Thermostat to Fan On or Auto?

When setting your thermostat, have you ever wondered about the difference between the "On" and "Auto" fan settings? If you fiddled with it, you likely figured it out quickly. What you may not know is why one setting is better than the other when it comes to energy efficiency and home comfort.

"On" vs. "Auto"

First, it's important to recognize that a central forced-air HVAC system has two interlinking modes of operation. The first is the equipment that cools or heats the air. The second is the system that distributes the air throughout the house and draws it back to the equipment to be conditioned again. The thermostat fan setting controls operation of the second part of that equation.When the fan is set to "On," the blower motor and fan run 24/7, regardless of whether the A/C, heat pump or furnace is cooling or heating the air. Setting your thermostat fan setting to "Auto," however, makes sure the fan only operates when the system is actively cooling or heating the air.

Advantages of the "Auto" Setting

Here are a few benefits of keeping your thermostat fan set to "Auto:"

• If your central HVAC system is oversized, which is common in residential systems, it will cycle on and off frequently. Residual moisture removed from the air during the cooling process is left on the evaporator coil. If the fan is running continuously, the moving air will re-absorb that moisture and circulate it through the house. Your A/C ends up working harder to dehumidify the air, and the cooled air will feel clammy.

• When the fan is running all the time, it uses more energy than it would if it were set to "Auto."

• If your ductwork isn't tight, the constant fan operation may result in more air infiltration into the ducts. Depending on the source of that air, it could be dirty or humid if it's entering the ducts from an attached garage or crawl space.

For more help setting your thermostat, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality HVAC services to residents of Broken Arrow.

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

Reduce Household Dust to Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality

Asthma and allergies are no laughing matter, and excess dust can severely exacerbate the suffering. If you've been looking for ways to reduce household dust in your greater Tulsa area home, we suggest that you start with these tips:

• Upgrade your vacuum. Good suction won't remove all the dust from your carpet. For the best results, you need to find a vacuum with a strong agitator (the brush that sweeps the carpet) and a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

• Remove your carpet. Carpets hold a great deal of dust, and when you walk across them, that dust is sent back into the air. Switching to alternate flooring such as laminate, wood or tile will cut down on hidden dust and allow for easier cleaning, which is best accomplished with the use of a canister vacuum.

• Use a micro-fiber cloth. Feather dusters spread around more dust than they collect. When you dust your home, you should be using a micro-fiber cloth or, at the very least, a damp rag. This will capture the dust instead of stirring it up, where it can irritate your respiratory system.

• Get a new filter. Not all HVAC filters are designed to catch dust and other contaminants, so you may want to upgrade to one that does. The best kind to use is an electrostatic filter attached to your ductwork, but those are expensive. If in doubt, contact an industry professional for help in deciding the best type of filter.

• Clean the air. If you have carpets, the vacuum you're using—no matter how powerful or expensive—will whip up dust and send it into the air, before settling on a new surface. You can filter out some of this dust by turning your thermostat to its "fan" position. For maximum effect, leave the fan on for 15 minutes after you've finished cleaning.

For more advice on ways to reduce household dust, or if you have any other concerns related to home comfort, please contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Craig Wactor/Shutterstock”

Steps to Take When Fixing a Leaking Water Heater

If you’ve spotted a leaking water heater or water pooling around it, you should take action right away. Leaks don’t necessarily doom your water heater to the recycle bin, but determining if the leak is repairable or if your water heater should be replaced is paramount. Here are some steps to take when identifying and fixing a leaking water heater.

Fixing a Leaking Water Heater

Any water leak in the home is an important matter to address quickly. Fixing a leaking water heater as soon as the leak is spotted can prevent water and mold damage. It may be a safety factor in some instances.

• Temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve: The T&P relief valve prevents your water heater from rupturing or exploding in the event too much pressure builds up in your water heater. Fixing a leaky T&P relief valve is a job for a plumbing professional. Do not attempt to cap or plug one yourself.

• Gaskets: Electric water heaters contain one or two heating elements. These heating elements are threaded into your water heater and sealed with gaskets. If water is leaking from failing gaskets, your entire water heater needs to be drained for the repair.

• Thermostats: The thermostat of a gas-fired water heater is threaded into the tank. Removing and repairing a leaky thermostat is an intricate job best left to a professional.

• Piping: Leaks may also occur at the water heater’s inlet and outlet pipes due to corrosion caused by the chemical reaction of steel connections and copper pipes. To repair the leak or prevent further corrosion, replace the short sections of corroded galvanized pipe with dielectric nipples (i.e. plastic-lined pipe).

• Storage tank: There is one leak that's irreparable. If you see reddish-brown water pooling or running from beneath your water heater, your tank may be rusted and corroded from the inside out. If this is the case, replace the water heater at your earliest convenience.

To learn more about fixing a leaking water heater in your Broken Arrow home, or to schedule an evaluation, please contact Air Assurance.

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

Before You Call a Pro About Those Gas Furnace Troubles, Try These Troubleshooting Tips

Having gas furnace trouble can be a real pain. This is especially true as the weather starts to get colder and you need a reliable source of heat to make sure everyone in your home stays healthy and comfortable. However, you sometimes have gas furnace trouble for very simple, easily fixed reasons. Before you call a professional, make sure you truly have gas furnace trouble that only they can repair.

 Furnace Not Turning OnIf your furnace isn't turning on at all, check for the following:

• The thermostat is set high enough to activate the furnace. If it isn't, turn it up higher.

• The thermostat itself is malfunctioning. If so, get another one.

Furnace Not HeatingIf your furnace seems to be operational, but it isn't producing warm air, check for the following:

• The gas or electricity service to your home has been disconnected. If so, pay your bill or contact your service center to inquire about the problem and reactivate your service.

• The furnace pilot light is not lit / has gone out. If it has, relight it.

• The gas valve is closed on the furnace. If it is, open it.

• If there is a dedicated fuse for the furnace, it may have been tripped. If so, reset it.

Having a furnace that isn't turning on or isn't producing any heat can be a pretty common occurrence. Moving into a new home and bumping the furnace with a box could cause some of these. Simple forgetfulness could be the culprit sometimes. Other times the weather in our area goes through a cycling period of hot days and chilly days so that we may forget to turn our thermostats up accordingly.So, before you think about hiring someone to come to assess your gas furnace trouble, be sure to make sure none of the problems listed above are taking place at your home.

For more expert advice and consultation, 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).

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Thermostat Batteries Need Replacing? These DIY Tips May Save You a Service Call

Imagine arriving home from a long day only to find your home unusually hot or cold and your HVAC system’s thermostat blank. So you attempt to diagnose the problem - you move a few controls, double-check the circuit breakers and...nothing. When this happens, the problem isn’t with your HVAC system – it’s usually as simple as a dead battery.Dead thermostat batteries are actually a common enough problem that elicits service calls to an HVAC technician. However, you don’t need a technician to take care of this issue. Here’s what you need to know when your thermostat batteries need replacing:

• Your thermostat will actually let you know days or even weeks in advance when your batteries need replacing, usually with a “dead battery” warning or symbol flashing on the thermostat display.

• Before changing your batteries, find out what size cells your thermostat uses. Most thermostats use AA or AAA alkaline batteries, while others rely on CR2032 3-volt lithium batteries.

• Read up on how to properly change the batteries without damaging the thermostat itself. Your operator’s manual should offer some instructional help, including a pictorial diagram of the thermostat and its battery location.

• Be careful when removing and replacing batteries, not just to reduce shock but also to avoid handling battery acid.

Knowing when your thermostat batteries need replacing and how to change them will save you a diagnostic fee and the embarrassment of an unnecessary technician visit.Don’t hesitate to contact Air Assurance for expert advice on your home’s heating and cooling needs. We’ve proudly 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “urfint/Shutterstock”

Prepare Your OK Home for Cooler Weather With These Fall Home Maintenance Tips

With the days rapidly growing cooler and shorter in Broken Arrow, now is the perfect time to get some work done around the house while it is still warm enough to let the fresh air in. The following fall home maintenance tips can help you get a good start on this year's preparations before the bitter cold of winter sets in:

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

• Have the heating system checked: The fall is the perfect time to have your heating system inspected and maintained by a certified HVAC technician, which will help keep the system running efficiently throughout the winter and allow the technician to find and prevent serious problems before they happen. Regular maintenance helps extend the life of your HVAC system and reduce your heating bills.

• Replace the air filter: Check the heating system's air filter in the fall and winter once a month, and replace it when necessary. This will help keep your system running efficiently and prevent excess wear and tear.

• Seal air leaks: Use weather stripping around doors and windows to prevent drafts, and use caulk or sprayed-foam insulation to fill gaps around pipes, electric wires, exhaust vents and other openings in the exterior walls. Make sure that your ceilings, walls, floors and attic have the proper amount of insulation, and that it is properly installed and in good condition.

• Get rid of dust: Use a vacuum to eliminate as much dust as possible while you can still keep the windows open. Pay special attention to the heating registers, cold air returns, filter housings, fans, stove hoods and exhaust vents. If you have any tasks that generate heavy chemical fumes, such as painting, oven cleaning or carpet cleaning, do them now before it is too cold to open the windows.

• Replace batteries: Replace the batteries in your thermostat, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and verify that they are working correctly.

For other convenient fall home maintenance tips, talk to our home heating experts at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We serve Broken Arrow, the Tulsa metropolitan area and the surrounding communities.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Going on Vacation? Tips for Saving Energy While You Are Away

Vacation season is in full swing, and families from all over are preparing to leave their Broken Arrow home for a few days to enjoy some sun, fun and relaxation. Before leaving, most homeowners take the necessary precautions to ensure their home is locked up safe and sound. However, few think about saving energy while away from home. Ensuring you don’t waste energy while on vacation is just as important as stopping your mail delivery and locking your windows and doors.

Water Heater

Water heaters can be energy wasters if you’re not home to enjoy the comforts of warm water. Fortunately, most models feature a vacation mode that you can simply switch to. For gas models without a vacation mode, turn the setting to pilot. For electric models, you can either switch the water tank off at the breaker or turn the temperature to the lowest setting.

Heating and Cooling

There is no sense in running your air conditioner while you are away, and doing so is simply wasting energy. Saving energy while away from your home will require either turning the A/C off or turning the thermostat up to about 85 degrees during the summer. If you are vacationing during the winter months, set the thermostat to about 50 to 55 degrees. This temperature is warm enough to keep pipes from freezing.

Electronics

Televisions, computers, radios, blu-rays, coffee machines and many other small appliances and electronics are energy vampires that continue to drain energy even when they are turned off. Saving energy while on vacation will require unplugging these items from the outlets. Before you leave, take a walk through your home, unplugging any items that won’t be in use while you’re away.

Saving Energy Tip

Keep drapes, blinds and curtains shut to help prevent the sun's rays from heating your home, while making your house more energy efficient.

For more information about saving energy while you're away on vacation, contact the experts at Air Assurance. We have provided heating, air condition and plumbing services to the Broken Arrow area since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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