HVAC technicians go through years of training because there’s so much knowledge to take in. It’s not practical to expect the average Oklahoma homeowner to have all this information. However, Air Assurance has some terms that can give consumers a great advantage in finding the best equipment, service and savings.AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s a measurement for a furnace’s efficiency. AFUE percentages rate how much heat the furnace produces compared to how much energy it takes to operate. A high efficiency furnace with an AFUE of 95 percent converts 95 percent of the fuel it consumes into usable heat. So in simple terms, for every dollar you pay the gas company to heat your home, $.95 cents is actually getting into the home while only $.05 cents is wasted. A unit that is over 20 years old is typically rated around 60 AFUE. This means that $.40 cents of every dollar is wasted through flu venting, pilot lights, insulation of the furnace cabinet, or thicker heat exchangers that trap the heat longer.SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER measures the efficiency of air conditioners. It is similar to AFUE in that it measures how much cool air the units produce against how much energy they consume. High efficiency air conditioners with SEERs from around 16 to 23 get great “miles per gallon.” A system that is 20 years old is typically rated around 6 SEER. The minimum manufactured SEER rating today is 13. This could equal nearly 40% in cooling savings annually!MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This measurement applies to air filters. A high MERV rating means the filter traps more particles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a MERV 13 is ideal, as it can trap many airborne particles and allergens.Higher MERV filters are more restrictive, and can inhibit airflow in your system. This can strain your equipment, so before running right out for a high MERV, be sure to get the advice of a qualified technician who can match a filter to your system. Note: Interesting point, Merv ratings are not governed, therefore each manufacturer can claim different Merv ratings according to different variables such as slower air flow, particle size, etc. Air Assurance has done the testing on all the filters available which is why they recommend the filters they do. This is also the reason our technicians carry our own Clean-Climate Filters. Built to our specs according to the most efficient air flow and particulate cleaning possible without harming your system.NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. NATE is a third-party, non-profit organization providing testing and certification to HVAC technicians nationwide. The tests cover areas of the HVAC field, such as heat pumps, air distribution and air conditioning. When you work with a certified NATE technician you can be sure the service is up to national standards, and that you’re not taking chances with your contractor. Air Assurance was the first company in the country to offer their customers 100% NATE certified technicians.Understanding these four terms can help you make an educated decision on equipment and contractors, so you’ll be sure to get the most “bang for your buck.” Call Air Assurance if you have more HVAC questions. We’re 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 to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
No matter whether you live in Broken Arrow, Tulsa or any other town or city across the state of Oklahoma, when you’re A/C system isn’t operating at top capacity, you certainly feel it. And when your equipment has passed the 10-year mark in age, it’s time to seriously look at replacing the system you have now with a high-efficiency air conditioning unit.When embarking on this adventure, you should be aware of the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of the unit you will purchase. Cost-efficiency is important in these days of rising energy costs.What is SEER?The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is the rating of an air conditioning unit, measuring the cooling output against the amount of energy (watt-hours) used over the course of a season of cooling. But what you really need to know is this: it measures how effectively a unit will cool your home. Think of it as Miles Per Gallon on a car.The higher the rating, the more energy efficient it is, and the less you will pay in cooling costs. Remember:
Older air conditioners usually have a lower SEER rating of perhaps 5 or 6.
More efficient models have a rating of at least 14 and can extend to 21+. Geothermal units can go as high as 27!
Save Money with Efficient Energy UseResidential air conditioners are currently required to be manufactured with a minimum rating of 13. But when you decide to replace your A/C system, you should look at getting a SEER rating of 14 on your unit, which qualifies it as an Energy Star air conditioner. Energy Star labels tell you you're getting energy-efficient equipment. Typically, these units also qualify for additional utility company rebates which can often offset the cost of the upgrade.When you have a long cooling season and high electricity costs, it is quite justified to spend a little more upfront for a high-efficiency A/C unit because you'll save more over time.To review your options thoroughly, it’s best to get a professional HVAC contractor to go over them with you. At Air Assurance, we are happy to answer any questions and give you our expert advice.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 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.
When hiring an HVAC contractor, there are a number of choices in the Tulsa, Broken Arrow region. There are a few things you should know and look for before making your decision.Know Your NeedsBefore you contact an HVAC contractor, have some idea of your needs. Take note of the model you are currently using for your heating and cooling system and its maintenance history. If it is not properly cooling certain rooms, be sure to mention these specific problems when you call the contractors.Check CredentialsBe sure any contractor you may hire is licensed and insured in Oklahoma. Go ahead and investigate how much they are insured as well. Requirements in Oklahoma for insurance are low, and may not secure you in case of a problem.Home EvaluationsThis is an essential part of an HVAC contractor’s job and they should spend a significant amount of time inspecting your current system and your home to make sure all of your needs are being met. And they are not there to just check your system. They should be looking at your insulation and windows to make sure your heating and cooling system is running as efficiently as possible without any air leaks that could cause your energy bill to spike. Anyone can replace a "box", but if they are looking at the whole home's comfort system, you know they have your best interest in mind.ReferralsMany of your neighbors and friends have used HVAC contractors before, so it would be smart to get some recommendations from them. They will also be sure to tell you who to stay away from if they have had some negative experiences in the past. Ask for testimonials.You should also get a written price and description of services signed by both parties before work begins. This will make sure you are protected by specifying various costs. Understand the warranties of not only the equipment or repaired parts, but also about the company warranties as well including labor.If you have any other questions, contact Air Assurance, and we will be glad to share our expert advice.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 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.
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.
There’s a lot that homeowners need to know about their heating and cooling systems in order to ensure efficient and trouble-free operation, as well as greater comfort and good indoor air quality. That’s why we’re starting our new home comfort blog for residents of the Tulsa Metropolitan area who may have questions about how to get the most out of their investment in heating and cooling.Ever wonder why your home is cold in some rooms and hot in others? Or why your energy bills seem too high? Are you concerned about carbon monoxide and other contaminants in your indoor air? We can help answer these and many other questions. Over the next few months, we’ll talk about a variety of HVAC topics, including:
Extended Service Plans- Why they are important
Purchasing a new system- How to choose and size a new HVAC system and the importance of proper installation
Energy efficiency- How energy-efficient systems can save you money
Homeowner maintenance- What you can do to extend the life of your HVAC equipment
Indoor air quality- Products and services that can help you and your family breathe easier in your home
And, of course, many more. We’ve been in business for over 25 years, and have a lot of experience with all aspects of home comfort. In our opinion, the best way for homeowners to stay comfortable, avoid costly repairs and reduce energy bills is to learn how to choose and maintain their systems so that they get the best performance possible, for the longest time.A well-maintained system can save you as much as 30% in energy costs each year! Other factors, including proper sizing and installation of equipment can also save you significant money on operating and maintenance of your system.So, if you want to know more about your HVAC system, check in with our home comfort blog each week. Here, you'll find the information that will help you take care of the equipment that takes care of you every day.
