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.
An annual service check is near the top of the U.S. Department of Energy's HVAC to-do list for homeowners. It's #2, right after monthly filter changes. And it's money well spent: You're protecting major investments, namely your heating and air conditioning system, and you're ensuring the comfort and safety of your family.Annual service checks catch problems before they happen and keep your system running efficiently year-round. A professional service technician will perform the following services to your oil, gas or electric HVAC system:
Inspect and clean burners and heat exchangers
Check vent flow and clean obstructions from the venting
Test the thermostat and electrical connections to be sure they're working properly and at correct voltage, so the system starts and stops as it should
Inspect oil fans and and other moving parts
Clean A/C condenser coils
Check/adjust the refrigerant level as needed
Make sure the drain is clear for A/C and dehumidifier (if applicable)
These are just a few of the major things a check/tune-up will provide. Air Assurance provides over 30+ checks while doing their maintenance.Everything runs smoother and more efficiently when cleaned and lubricated. Your HVAC system is no exception. Burners and coils are the heart of your system. Furnace burners, like those on a stove, need cleaning to prevent the dirt and dust accumulation that leads to corrosion, rust and breakdowns. Without regular cleaning, burners become clogged, burn inefficiently and can cause damage to the heat exchanger. Cracks in the heat exchanger can allow combustion gases (like carbon monoxide) to escape into the air in your home.Coils need regular cleaning to remove the cottonwood, dust, grass clippings, etc away from the unit so that it can breathe, otherwise, putting too much strain on the compressor causes it to prematurely give out.Don't let this happen to you. Call us today for more information. Ask about our preventive maintenance plan that keeps your system clean with annual service checks. It also offers priority service; no extra charges for emergency service; a 15 percent savings on any repairs (service and labor) and more. It also is a big part in the exclusive Limited Lifetime Repair Warranty only offered by Air Assurance! Visit us at the Air Assurance website, and don't hesitate to contact us for more information. We're always 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.
Geothermal air conditioning is becoming more popular in Tulsa and the Broken Arrow region, despite the initial high installation costs. Geothermal air conditioning systems are popular primarily for the significant energy savings they offer over time. The US Department of Energy reports that they can reach efficiency levels of up to 600 percent. Their long life spans and quiet operation levels are other great aspects, as is their small size. You don’t need a very big yard to install a geothermal system any longer.The temperature underground remains reasonably regular regardless of the season, and a geothermal air conditioning system takes advantage of this by taking energy from the earth and using it to heat or cool your home. It can also take energy from your home and transfer it back into the earth.Half of the system goes inside your home, and the other half is an underground pipe loop that gathers the energy from the ground. The pipe loop is put in a horizontal “trench” in homes with a lot of yard space, but for those with smaller yards, workers dig a vertical “borehole," which does not require a large surface area. This borehole can be 75 to 500 feet deep. The piping doesn’t need a lot of attention after installation, having a life span that can reach 50 years.The indoor half of a geothermal air conditioning system also doesn’t take up much space and runs very quietly. This half, and the element connecting it to the outside piping, requires very little maintenance.Geothermal systems are just as practical for small yards as for larger ones, and because they run on 25 percent to 50 percent less energy compared with standard systems, they offer savings of up to 72 percent. In the past, the upfront installation costs of this system could sometimes make it a very tough decision financially, however, recent federal tax credits of 30 PERCENT off the entire installation with no cap, have made this option a very powerful tool in payback. Some systems can pay themselves back in as little as 5-7 seasons. And sometimes, after the tax credit, it can even cost less than some of the standard high efficiency comfort systems.If you’re considering purchasing a geothermal air conditioning system and would like to learn more about how they offer savings and comfort, call Air Assurance! We’ll help you decide if it’s a good investment for your home.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.
The federal tax credit for installing a geothermal heat pump in your home is still on. You will save 30 percent of the total cost for your new system, including the installation, with no limit to your savings.How does the system work? Geothermal heat pumps operate much like any heat pump, except that they extract heat or cold from the ground beneath your home. Below the surface the ground temperature stays very constant year round. It is cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter. By looping coils through the ground you can both warm and cool your home at a lower cost. This is a much more environmentally safe way to heat your home. There is no burning of gas or other energy sources which put noxious fumes into the air. And while there is a small use of electricity, it is nowhere near as great as the electricity required to run an electrically heated or cooled home. Electricity that is frequently produced by coal fired generating plants. It is, in fact, a very green answer for those of us that are worried about the planet.Geothermal heat pumps are an efficient and cost effective way to control the heating and cooling of your home, even here in the Tulsa area.How does the tax credit work and why is it better than a tax deduction? The federal government has recently extended the tax credit for installing one of our geothermal heat pumps. A tax credit allows you to deduct the entire amount of the credit directly from your tax bill. No matter what your tax rate, you still get the entire credit applied to your tax bill.A tax deduction, on the other hand, only allows you to reduce your taxable income. If your top tax rate is 25 percent, you then reduce your tax bill by only 25 percent of the deduction.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.
As we all know, our winters can be damp and miserable. But, here in Broken Arrow, you can save money on heating while still keeping your home warm and comfortable. You can reduce your heating bill without compromising your family's comfort by taking a few simple steps to use your heating system more efficiently. You can do many things that will cost you little or no money, then you can consider some larger investments that will give you a great return on your money.1. The first thing you can do to save money on heating is to manage your thermostat wisely. If you and your family are out working during the day, set your thermostat down five to eight degrees below where you prefer to keep it when people are home. You can turn up the heat as soon as you get home and your house will heat right back up in short order, but you will have cut your heating bill significantly by letting it cool down during the day.You can cut your heating bill even more by turning your thermostat down at night when everyone is sleeping. Put extra blankets on your beds and you will never notice the difference. Many people prefer sleeping in a slightly cooler room.2. Another good way to save money on heating is to not let the warm air escape from your house. Be sure the weatherstripping is in good shape around all of your windows and doors. Use caulking around window and door trim. Check for gaps where ducts and piping go from heated areas to unheated spaces and plug them with insulation. If you don't use your fireplace every day, be sure the damper is closed and seals tightly to keep cold air from falling down your chimney.3. Inspect your home's insulation levels. By simply looking in your attic, if you can see the rafters, you are in need of more insulation, and could be losing as much as 30% of the heat you're paying for. The Department of Energy recommends at least R-30 to R39 (or up to 19") for the state of Oklahoma.4. While you're in the attic, inspect your ductwork for damaged areas. Look for cracks or leaks around where the ductwork connects to your furnace. There's no sense in heating your attic right?Once you have done all of the free and inexpensive things you can to save money on heating, consider investing in a more efficient furnace or installing a solar or even a geothermal heating system.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 the Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.
