What Are the Most Important Heater Troubleshooting Tips?

It's the middle of winter and your furnace starts acting up. You don't want to call your HVAC technician until you know if it's a major repair or just a quick fix you can do on your own. How can you find out, though? Here are a few tips for heater troubleshooting.

• Check the unit. Sometimes, the obvious solutions get overlooked, which is why heater troubleshooting is so important. Make sure your heater is switched on and that the circuit breaker hasn't been tripped. Check the furnace door as well, since the system often won't run if the door is open. Then try resetting the system, as a reboot often gets things working again.

• Check the thermostat. Your thermostat batteries should be replaced once a year to ensure that the unit is in proper shape and is responsive. Also make sure the thermostat is set to "Heat" rather than "Cool" or "Fan Only."

• Check the gas. Is the gas valve on? Without it, fuel can't flow to the system and heat can't be produced. Follow the gas line to the meter and make sure the handle at the end is parallel to the gas pipe and not perpendicular to check off one of the most crucial heater troubleshooting steps.

• Check the ductwork. Even pinhole leaks in your ducts can reduce airflow significantly. Look for tears and other damage, then repair it with metal tape or mastic sealant.

• Change the filter. Your air filter clogs more quickly in winter due to an excess of contaminants in the air. A clogged filter in turn restricts airflow, keeping your furnace from working properly. Check the filter, and if it's gray, opaque, and covered in dust and debris, replace it.

• Flush drain lines. Your drain line removes several gallons of water from your furnace every day. If there's a clog or sediment buildup, it can keep the water from being drained off and the furnace will stop working. Remove the hose and run water and bleach through it. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out and replace it.

If, after taking these heater troubleshooting steps, your furnace still isn't working, contact us at Air Assurance. We make sure Broken Arrow HVAC systems run smoothly and efficiently.

What Are Some Natural Heating Methods You Can Use at Home?

There are a couple of reasons for learning about natural heating. The most important reason is that you can heat your home more efficiently and thus save money on your energy bill by employing these heating methods. The second reason is that you might have to endure a power loss — perhaps during a bad ice storm when power lines break and you, with a largely electric home, find yourself without heating. Some of these natural heating methods can contribute to keeping you warmer during a power outage.

Let's have a look at some of the natural heating methods that can come in handy in your Broken Arrow home. 

1. Let the sunshine in. Letting the sun in can help warm up the house. Open drapes, blinds, and shades in the morning on sunny days. This can help augment your heating efforts, warming your house so you don't have to turn up the thermostat. Close window treatments in the evening to keep the cold out. There are motorized window treatments that you can program to open and close automatically.

2. Add rugs and carpeting. Rugs and carpeting can absorb warmth. Wherever possible, install carpeting or add rugs to create more warmth in your house.

3. Use outdoor plants strategically to increase warmth in your home. Outdoor plants can help warm up the home. Plant evergreen trees in a row on the north side so that they block harsh winter winds. Also, plant shrubs and trees about a foot from the outer wall of the house so they act as an insulator.

4. Air-seal the home. Through the years, a home with even the tightest construction will settle and create minute cracks that let the cold air in and the warm air out. You can keep the cold air out and the warm air in by sealing up those cracks. Use weatherstripping, caulk, and insulation around windows and doors, on baseboards, on electric plugs in exterior walls, and in holes for wires, pipes, and cables in exterior walls.

For more on natural heating, contact Air Assurance, serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding area. 

How to Tell If You Have an Efficient Heater in Your Home

A low-efficiency heating system will downgrade indoor comfort, increase your home energy bills, and break down more frequently. It pays to ensure that you have an efficient heater in your Broken Arrow home. Let's discuss some ways you can tell if your heater is efficient.

Age

Heaters generally last between 15 and 20 years. Their efficiency goes down as they age and wear. A new system will be more efficient than an older one, so the age of your current system should give you an idea of its efficiency.

AFUE

A heater's annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating will help you tell whether your system is efficient. The measurement shows how much of the energy that the system consumes is converted into heat for your home. A system with an AFUE of 80% converts 80% of its energy into usable heat, and the other 20% is lost through the vents. Midefficiency heaters have an AFUE rating of 80% to 89%, whereas high-efficiency furnaces are rated at 90% and above.

Amount of Maintenance Received

Does a professional HVAC contractor perform maintenance on your heating system every year? Routine maintenance allows potential issues to be resolved early and improves your system's overall efficiency. Heating systems maintained diligently last longer. Without maintenance, a heater can lose as much as 5% of its overall efficiency annually. Your home's heater may be inefficient if it doesn't receive regular maintenance.

Energy Star Label

Another way to know if you have an efficient heater is by checking whether it has the federal Energy Star label. Heating systems labeled with the Energy Star logo have met the Environmental Protection Agency's strict energy-efficiency guidelines and are more efficient than standard models.

Your Energy Bills

If all other factors remain constant, your energy costs should be fairly equal. If your energy bills are much higher than those from the same period in previous years, that could signal that your heating system is less efficient. A less-efficient heater will work harder and longer to heat your house, resulting in higher energy bills.

You can establish whether you have an efficient heater by checking its age, efficiency rating, maintenance schedule, and Energy Star certification and comparing your energy bills. If you need heating-system maintenance, repair, or replacement in the Broken Arrow area, contact us at Air Assurance for assistance.

Which Are the Best Pipe Materials During the Winter?

Frozen pipes can split open and cause severe water damage that's costly to repair. One way to minimize or even avoid this frustrating event is to use the best pipes in freezing temperatures. Let's help you out by discussing the three common pipe materials and their ability to withstand freezing conditions.

Copper

Copper pipes lose heat quickly. Additionally, the thin pipe walls don't expand to accommodate swelling frozen water. As a result, copper pipes are more prone to bursting in freezing conditions than the other two pipe materials.

PVC/CPVC

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) are from the same plastic-pipes family. CPVC pipes are stronger and can handle higher water temperatures than PVC pipes. CPVC pipes are less rigid and have thicker walls than copper pipes. CPVC pipes expand slightly, so it won't burst as fast as copper. Nevertheless, it's vulnerable to frozen weather. CPVC pipes will crack if they endure low temperatures for very long.

PEX

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) has the best chance of surviving freezing temperatures compared to copper and PVC/CPVC pipe materials. The chemical structure of PEX allows it to stretch farther to accommodate the water in the pipe as it freezes and expands. PEX pipes can thaw and contract back to their original dimensions without rupturing.

PEX piping is better at withstanding pressure increases and accommodating frozen water in the winter than the alternatives. Nevertheless, it can burst if there's considerable swelling and pressure from frozen water. There are several ways to make PEX and other plumbing materials more resistant to freezing, including:

• Insulating the pipes, especially those in attics, basements, and those close to outside walls

• Sealing leaks that could allow cold air into your home

• Shutting off the water to your outdoor faucets and disconnecting and storing garden hoses

• Opening cabinet doors to let warm air reach your pipes

While PEX is the best pipe material in freezing conditions, it may not be ideal for every plumbing application in your home. A local plumber can help you choose the best pipe materials for different applications. Contact us at Air Assurance for all your plumbing needs in the Broken Arrow area.

WATER PIPE FREEZE SERVICES

WATER PIPE FREEZE REPAIRS - TULSA OK

The cost of household water damage due to frozen pipes averages about $15,000. Though pooling water typically freezes at 32 degrees, outdoor temperatures of 25 degrees or lower are usually required to freeze water inside household pipes. Once it happens, ice formation inside a pipe typically expands by about 9%, imposing tremendous pressure inside the pipe, all too frequently causing a pipe rupture. The fact that a pipe has broken due to freezing may not be apparent until later, when temperatures rise and the pipe thaws.

A typical home water-supply line has a flow rate averaging 8 to 10 gallons per minute. If that pipe ruptures, the amount of water turned loose in your home can wreak severe damage on the structure of the house as well as on your possessions. However, you’re not helpless against the threat of damage that may occur due to frozen pipes. Here are some preventive measures you can take before frigid weather, as well as what to do once it strikes.

• Insulate now. Before cold weather strikes, install foam pipe insulation on all accessible spans of both cold- and hot-water pipes inside and under the house. The insulation reduces heat loss from the pipe and helps avoid ice formation that causes rupture.

• Turn up the thermostat. If extremely cold temperatures below 25 degrees are forecast, set the furnace thermostat to 70 degrees and maintain that temperature as long as frigid conditions persist.

• Let the faucets drip. Opening cold-water faucets to allow a slow drip of water during low temperatures reduces pressure inside pipes that occurs if ice forms. This can make the difference between merely frozen pipes and a ruptured pipe that causes water damage.

• Circulate warm air. Open cabinet doors and closets in kitchens and bathrooms to allow warm air to reach exposed pipes in those areas.

• Know the location of your house's main water shut-off valve. Test it once a year to ensure it turns freely.

For more advice about preventing frozen pipes and the damage that ensues, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

How to Safely Handle Flammable Items Inside Your Home

It's often necessary to store flammable items in your home, but you always want to ensure proper safety to prevent fires, explosions, and chemical poisoning. Here we discuss some basic guidelines that will allow you to store flammable materials without endangering your household.

Store and Transport Flammable Items in Safe Containers

One of the biggest problems with storing flammable items is that many people put them in the wrong type of container. While it may be convenient to store flammable materials in a milk jug or Tupperware, this won't prevent them from being volatile. To reduce risk, you must use safety containers that have been Factory Mutual-certified.

Keep Flammable Items Away from Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight can quickly cause a dangerous situation with any flammable material. The same goes when it comes to storing it near a source of high heat. Even though summer is obviously the most dangerous part of the year, you really don't want these kinds of items to have any sunlight or heat at any time.

Make Sure There’s Ample Ventilation

Keeping flammable materials in a room that isn't well ventilated is just asking for trouble. Perhaps you've done this yourself by storing items in a basement, attic, or garage. What you need to do is keep them in a ventilated room that isn't attached to your home.

Don’t Put Flammable Items Near Sources of Ignition

It should go without saying, but you must keep flammable materials away from sources of ignition such as cigarettes, vehicles, washers, dryers, and HVAC systems. Any of these can be an unintended source of ignition due to sparks or open flames, leading to a fire hazard.

Keep the Containers Out of Reach

Storing containers of flammable materials at ground level may sound convenient, but it's also risky. You need to always keep these containers out of the reach of children. Even if they understand the danger, you still don't want to take a chance on getting them exposed or causing an accident.

If you have any questions about the safe way to handle flammable items or you require any HVAC services, reach out to the professionals at Air Assurance today. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities since 1985.