Career Day: Teaching Kids about HVAC and Energy Efficiency

From leaving the lights on to taking long showers to turning the thermostat up and down in a bid to achieve instant temperature control, children can significantly increase your utility bills due to their wasteful habits. For that reason, teaching kids about HVAC and energy efficiency should be a priority. Use the tips below to get them involved in saving energy at home.

Discuss the Thermostat

Your HVAC system is a major energy consumer. One of its parts that you interact with the most is the thermostat. Take the time to talk to your kids about how its settings affect energy efficiency. Explain to them why they should leave the settings alone to make them appreciate the need to have adults solely responsible for managing the device.

Do Basic HVAC Maintenance Together

Kids love doing adult work. Ask them to help you in doing basic maintenance tasks, such as:

• Inspecting and cleaning or replacing air filters

• Cleaning air vents

• Looking for air leaks

• Hosing down the exterior A/C unit

As you perform these tasks, make sure you explain to them the importance of what you're doing.

Give Rewards

A great way to prevent children from viewing conservation as a new chore is by turning it into a game. For example, you could come up with a game to find out and reward the person that best remembers to unplug unused appliances or turn off the lights. You could also keep track of their energy-saving habits and reward them once they meet certain goals.

Involve Them in HVAC Decisions

Are you planning to upgrade your thermostat? Let the kids help you choose a new programmable thermostat. If your furnace or air conditioner needs repair or replacement, talk to the young ones about the process. Allow them to watch your HVAC technician work and encourage them to ask questions.

Teaching kids about energy efficiency helps them develop good habits that will yield lifelong benefits. For more tips on energy efficiency, contact us at Air Assurance. Our friendly all-NATE certified technicians serve the Broken Arrow area with safe, effective, and efficient HVAC services.

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.

3 Seasonal Home Energy Tips For Oklahoma's Changeable Weather

Preparing your heating and cooling system for Oklahoma's seasonal changes is relatively easy, as long as you follow a few simple home energy tips. Taking action now not only gives you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your system is functioning at peak capacity, but also improves energy efficiency and lowers your utility bills.Here are three important home energy tips that can keep your home comfortable and pleasant regardless of the weather outside:

• Service: Keeping your system properly maintained and serviced reduces the chances of a mechanical breakdown and also avoids wasting energy due to inferior performance. You can perform a few maintenance tasks yourself, such as changing the filters, but you should contact a qualified professional for the larger jobs. An HVAC technician will inspect the system thoroughly, test airflow, service electronics, and make sure the coils, fans, belt and motors are all operating effectively. Scheduling an annual service call before a new heating or cooling season starts is great way to ensure that your heating and cooling system gets the preventative maintenance it needs.

• Seal ductwork: The ducts in your home are often a source of wasted energy, as warmed or cooled air escapes from the ductwork through holes or loose connections. You can seal small holes in your ducts by using mastic sealant. Do not use duct tape, since it will fail shortly after being applied. Loose connections between the ducts will probably need servicing from a professional technician.

• Programmable thermostat: Installing a programmable thermostat in your home saves energy by letting you time the temperature changes to meet your unique household needs. You can program the thermostat to automatically lower or raise the temperature during the hours that no one is home. Some programmable thermostats also let you control the settings using electronic devices, such as smartphones or laptops.

For more home energy tips and expert advice about other issues related to home comfort, contact us at Air Assurance. We have served 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

Heat Pumps: Ground-Source Or Air-Source?

Heat pumps can be one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat and cool your home. Instead of using fuel energy to create heat, they move ("pump") heat from one area to another, a process that requires less energy. There are two main types of heat pumps: air-source and ground-source. An air-source heat pump works by transferring heat to and from the outside air, while a ground-source system transfers heat to and from the ground.Both types are effective, but which one works best for a Tulsa-area home? This depends partly on the size of your property and partly on how much you want to spend in an initial investment versus spending over the long run on utility bills.Ground-source heat pumps usually cost more to install than air-source systems -- up to three times as much. That's because they require digging long trenches in which to bury the extensive pipe loop systems used to exchange heat with the ground. These underground loops can require quite a bit of land area. If a home has a small yard, a ground-source system can usually still be installed by drilling deep (100- to 400-foot) holes in which to install the pipes vertically, but that drilling adds to your costs.  However, recent federal tax incentives allow a 30% tax credit off the entire ground source heat pump cost!Air-source heat pumps can save installation costs, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the better option. That's because air-source systems have a hard time pulling heat from the outside air when the winter temperature dips below 40 degrees, as it often does in Oklahoma. An air-source system can still heat your home on cold days, but it becomes much less efficient. Ground-source systems avoid this problem, and save energy overall, because the temperature below ground remains fairly constant year-round.Should you spend more now to install a ground-source system that will save money on electricity over the long run, or spend less now but face higher utility bills? At Air Assurance, we can help you answer that. Our experts can evaluate your home to estimate installation and operation costs of each type, taking the guesswork out of the decision. Contact us today. We'll be happy to help.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Realize Big Savings With A Geothermal System

If you live in Broken Arrow, you know that the summer months can get extremely hot and the winters can produce some pretty cold weather. These varying temperatures put your heating and cooling systems to the test, and can often leave you spending too much on your utility bills. Geothermal heat pumps provide a much more effective method of heating and cooling than do standard systems, and can also help you save money.Geothermal heating and cooling units are unlike most heat pumps in that they use the ground to provide your home's heating, air conditioning and hot water. These systems are considered to be 45-75 percent more energy-efficient than standard options. And because of their efficiency, the Federal government offers a 30 percent tax credit to consumers who add new geothermal heat pumps to their homes.The 30 percent tax credit currently being given by the government takes into account the price of the unit, in addition to the price of all of the installation and labor required. This credit is also uncapped, so no matter how large the project, the credit remains 30 percent.  Also, the credit can be rolled over into other years up to 2016.  A geothermal heating and cooling system must meet the Energy Star requirements that are in effect at the time of purchase.While geothermal systems cost more upfront, they will make up for that cost by saving you money in the long run. The experts at Air Assurance are well-trained to provide you with the assistance you need in choosing the correct heat pump for your home. Please contact us today for more information.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Programmable Thermostat Features

Programmable thermostats are an excellent way to increase the energy efficiency of your home and save money on your monthly utility bills. They work especially well for anyone who is gone from their home for a specific period of time during the week. With a programmable thermostat you can set the temperature of your home and have your heating/cooling system operate only when it's needed.Programmable thermostats possess a temperature-sensitive switch that enables them to maintain the temperature you set. When choosing a programmable thermostat, you should take your weekly schedule into account. There are three different kinds of options that you can choose from:7-Day Model7-day models are the most efficient option if you or your family members have varying schedules throughout the week, therefor allowing the optimum schedule to be set for any day of the week. For example, if you work later than usual on Tuesdays, or have children that arrive home from school earlier than usual on Wednesdays, a 7-day model will allow you to program specific times for your heating/cooling system to kick in.5+2-Day Model5+2-day models are the way to go if you have the same schedule each week and have a separate schedule on the weekends. So, for instance if you arrive home at 5 o'clock each day during the week, you can set your thermostat to start running each day shortly before you return, so the house is comfortable when you arrive. On the weekends, you can set an entirely different schedule that will be the same for both two days.5-1-1 Model5-1-1 models are similar to 5+2-day models, except that they allow you to have a different schedule for each weekend day. So,  you can have the same schedule set during the week, as well as a different schedule for Saturday and a different schedule for Sunday.Some other options that can be found on programmable thermostats, are:

• Touch-pad screen programming

• Voice/phone programming

• Vacation settings

• Dirty air filter alerts

• Equipment malfunction alerts

• I-Phone or smart phone controlled

If a programmable thermostat is used correctly, it can pay for itself within four years. If you are having trouble deciding what thermostat would be best your home, contact the professionals at Air Assurance today. They have been serving Oklahoma's Tulsa and Broken Arrow region for more than 30 years and will be happy to help you with all of your home comfort needs.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Take A Whole-House Look At Energy Savings With This Online Tool

If you’re a homeowner, you are already familiar with the time-consuming, often stressful demands of home ownership. There’s lawn care and upgrading the kitchen to increase the home’s value. Yes, there are lots of perks too, like privacy and building equity; however, the money and energy that it takes to maintain and increase that investment is often overwhelming. Utility bills are an all-to-familiar concern for homeowners.Homeowners can do lots of things to increase energy savings. Without a complete picture of where your home stands on energy consumption, taking a stab at one area, such as insulation, might prove futile in light of other concerns. That’s where Energy Star’s online tool helps. The Home Energy Yardstick: What’s Your Score? tool helps homeowners do just that: you get a big picture view of areas that impact your home’s energy consumption and information on how to increase energy savings in each one.After entering your home’s square footage and energy consumption for the past year, Energy Star provides a score on their yardstick. Depending on your score, the program lists nine possible areas for improvement. You'll also get an overview of your home’s energy efficiency.Homeowners will appreciate the specific suggestions Energy Star provides for each area. For example, you can learn about the importance of sealing air leaks. Using the insulation guide might reveal that insulation is more of a problem in your home than leaky windows and ducts. You can then focus on priority issues first to get the most energy savings.Take a whole-house view of how your home uses energy, and use Energy Star’s tool to find out the areas that have the greatest potential return in energy savings. Of course, an online tool can't replace real advice from a company that knows your neighborhood. Air Assurance wants to be your partner in home comfort and energy savings, so call us if we can help.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

If This Winter Taught Us Anything, It Was The Importance Of Insulation

Oklahoma residents have seen their fair share of snow, ice and cold temperatures this winter. The season called to mind the importance of being prepared for storms and respecting nature’s fury. Most of all, it’s probably taught you the value of your home’s insulation.While insulation falls into the category of “out of sight, out of mind,” it remains absolutely necessary for maintaining a warm, comfortable home. Not only that, energy efficiency increases with proper insulation, which directly impacts your heating and cooling bills. With the right amount and the proper installation of insulation, you can potentially save about 20 percent on your total heating and cooling utility bills.To get the maximum efficiency and comfort, you have to have the right kind and the right amounts of insulation. Insulation is rated according to “R-Value,” which indicates how well the insulation restricts the flow of heat from inside your home to the outside. Higher R-values mean that insulation has a greater ability to restrict the flow of heat.The majority of Oklahoma residents live in zone 3 for R-value, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In this zone, homeowners should use different types of R-value insulation for various areas of an existing home:

• Attic, uninsulated: R30-R60

• Attic with existing insulation: R25-R38

• Floors: R19-R25

• Walls: R5

Most homes should have insulation in the following areas:

• Unfinished attics

• Exterior walls

• Floors that are directly situated above (unheated) garages and crawl spaces

• Spaces surrounding all windows and doors.

To figure out how much insulation your home needs, you should first determine how much existing insulation you have. Use this equation:(Thickness in inches) x (R-value in one inch) = Insulation’s R-value TotalNow, you can calculate how much insulation you need to add, using this equation:(R-value recommended for your zone) – (existing R-value Total) = The amount of R-value you need to add.If you’re unsure about your home’s insulation, the professionals at Air Assurance are happy to assess your home’s insulation and offer recommendations for improvement. Now is the time to prepare for next winter.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.