Sealing Those Air Leaks? Don't Neglect The Attic Hatch

Taking steps to prevent air infiltration helps your energy bills -- and home comfort. But when you’re undertaking this kind of project, if you neglect to address your home’s attic hatch, you’ll likely counteract any measures that you take to keep heated air inside of your home.When sealing air leaks in your home, it’s important to evaluate the outer perimeter of your home, such as its walls, an area where air typically enters the home. You can use caulk to seal areas around window frames, doors, electrical outlets and plumbing protrusions.However, one of the main ways that homes lose conditioned air is through the attic, or crawl space, so you’ll also want to pay attention to these spaces. Seal air leaks that exist in the attic where walls abut other walls, the ceiling and floor. Pay close attention to plumbing and electrical elements that penetrate the attic floor.  Canned lights are a huge area where improvements can be made.If your home has an attic hatch, efforts to seal this access point will pay off. An attic hatch is generally constructed from a flat piece of plywood, which doesn’t offer much by way of protection.Here’s what you can do to prevent air infiltration into the attic via the attic hatch:

• Apply insulation to the door. Make sure it adheres by using duct or foam tape.

• The ideal insulation material to use is something durable and rigid, since you’ll be accessing the attic through the hatch. Rigid foam insulation works well.

• Seal air leaks that may occur around the frame of the attic itself.

If your home has stairs that you can pull down from the attic, you can purchase an attic tent to do seal off the space, generally installed on the attic side of the home.Ensure that your home can resist the movement of heated air out of your home, and be sure to pay attention to your attic hatch as well. For help with this project, or any other heating and cooling needs, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality -- serving homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!     

Get A Handle On Furnace Efficiency -- Change Your Filters

Replacing your furnace filter is a practical way to efficiently get the most from your furnace. Buildup occurs when your filters accumulate dirt and other particles, resulting in clogs that don't allow for proper airflow. To compensate, your furnace must waste more energy, costing you more money. By replacing your filters on a regular basis, you can improve your home's comfort, reduce fuel use and even reduce wear and tear on the furnace blowers.Some things that you will need to do in order to guarantee your furnace runs at optimum efficiency are:

• Check your furnace filter - You should change your filter at least once every six months, with the actual frequency of changes depending on the dust and dirt conditions of your household.

• Replace your furnace filter - This easy enough that you can do it, but if you are not comfortable doing it, a furnace technician can do it for you. Before you replace the filter, be sure to turn off the power to prevent the possibility of electric shock. Be sure to sweep and vacuum out all of the accumulated dust. Change out the filter, and you are done!

• Check the MERV filter rating - The higher the rating, the more efficient the filter. Always check the owners manual, or ask a technician, before adjusting the MERV filter. If you adjust it too much in one direction, you could reduce airflow to the furnace, damaging equipment that is not capable of handling abrupt changes to the system.

When it comes time to handle all of your furnace filter needs, Air Assurance can help. In fact, Air Assurance has designed their own filter to accomodate the needs of getting the most out of filtering dust, while not sacrificing air flow.  Serving the Broken Arrow area, we offer the best products on the market, special promotions and customer financing. Our goal is to not only provide home comfort and energy savings, but to educate our customers about these issues as well. For more information on how Air Assurance can help you with your furnace and other HVAC needs, contact us, and one of our friendly, professional technicians will assist you.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!      Photo courtesy ofShutterstock.

Cooler Days Aren't That Far Off -- Now's The Time To Schedule Your Service Check

The cooling season is coming to a close in Broken Arrow and that means it's time to start preparing for the colder weather that comes with fall and winter. You will begin using your heating equipment more and it's important to have it ready so that you don't find out too late that you have problems that need repairing. Now is the best time to have your heating equipment checked out. If there are any problems, they can quickly be taken care of without causing a hassle to you. Though your heater may have worked fine last winter, plenty could have happened in the months since you last used it. A planned service check will ensure that there are no parts that have deteriorated and could cause major problems shortly down the road. This protects you from  losing access to your heater in the middle of winter, when you need it most and a lack of service would be most inconvenient. To avoid any gap in service, have your heating equipment inspected now.During a planned maintenance check, all of your gas or electrical connections will be inspected. Even a small gas leak can be harmful if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time. The burner will also be inspected and cleaned to make sure it is operating as safely and efficiently as possible.Here are a few other routine steps typically performed during an HVAC inspection:

• Moving parts lubricated

• Electrical connections tightened

• System controls verified

• Blower components adjusted

• Carbon Monoxide analysis performed

A service check will allow you to get the most from your air system.  It ensures that all components are clean and working at their maximum efficiency, as well as making sure the unit is operating safely. The savings you create can be enough to offset the cost of the maintenance itself.For more information about inspections for your HVAC equipment, contact Air Assurance Heating & Air Conditioning.  We have proudly served the Broken Arrow area for over 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!      

Eighteen Ways To Get Your Home Ready For Cool Weather

With fall on the horizon for residents of Tulsa, it's time to start thinking about how to get your home ready for the cold weather.  Here are eighteen different ways to stay warm and energy efficient this winter.

• Stop Drafts: Drafts can waste up to 30 percent of your energy. There are various products that can be used to block drafts under doors and windows.

• Change Furnace Filter: Change, or at least check your filter each month. With heavy dirt, comes less airflow, which means higher bills.

• Run Fans in Reverse: Simply switching your fans to run clockwise will make your air warmer.

• Drain Hoses and Air Conditioner Pipes: This prevents dangerous freezing.

• Turn Down Your Water Heater: Lowering the temperature can reduce your water heating costs by 10 percent.

• Install Storm Windows and Doors: This reduces drafts and can increase energy efficiency by 45 percent. Be careful though, the ROI can take years to pay you back.

• Get a Tuneup: A preventive maintenance tuneup by a contractor will ensure that your heating system stays working efficiently, and most important, safely!

• Program Your Thermostat: Set it intelligently, so you aren't paying to warm an empty house.

• Use Plastic Insulation: Covering your windows adds a buffer against drafts.

• Use An Energy Monitor: These inform you when you have been using more energy than usual.

• Use Weatherstripping: This helps prevent air leaks.

• Add Insulation: This is particularly helpful in the attic and basement.

• Insulate Your Pipes: This will help decrease the chance of freezing pipes.

• Seal Ductwork: Up to 30 percent of your conditioned air can leak out of your ducts before it reaches its destination.

• Use Tax Credits to Your Advantage: These can make energy-efficient upgrades for your home more affordable.

• Be Wise When Selecting a Contractor: Hire an Energy Star home comfort contractor who is certified to help you make the right choices for your home.

• Use Alternative Energy Sources: These are often much more energy efficient than traditional methods.

• Upgrade Your Furnace: Newer models can save you up to 50 percent when compared to older models.

For more information on how to prepare your home for winter, contact Air Assurance. We can help you turn these ideas into concrete action.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems) .Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!      

Innovative Tips That Make Home Comfort And Savings A Priority

Home comfort and energy savings should be a priority in every Tulsa area household. To help you get optimal performance from your cooling system this summer, we’ve compiled this list of innovative energy-saving tips.

• Raising temperature settings at the thermostat is a surefire way to reduce monthly cooling bills. To maximize savings without sacrificing home comfort, try keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re in the home and raising thermostat settings as high as 85 degrees while you’re away. But don't do this when it's over 95 degrees outside. That can actually cause energy bills to rise while the unit tries to catch up.

• One way to take advantage of higher temperature settings without sacrificing home comfort is to utilize household ceiling fans. While ceiling fans don’t actually cool your home, running them while you're in the room can create a wind chill effect that will help you remain comfortable, even when thermostat settings are increased by as little as four degrees. Just remember to turn ceiling fans off when you’re not in the room.

• Clogged air filters are notorious for restricting airflow and putting unnecessary strain on your air conditioner. Inspect filters monthly, cleaning and replacing as necessary.

• Another cost-effective means of improving household energy efficiency is to address air leaks using caulking, seal and weather stripping. Common leakage points include areas around doors and windows, and gaps around lights, wiring, ductwork and plumbing.

• Inadequate attic insulation can be a major drain on monthly energy costs. For an additional 10 percent savings, try boosting attic insulation to a minimum R-value of 30. If you can see your attic rafters, you are wasting lots of money on energy.

• It also pays to properly seal ductwork. If your ducts leak, you could be losing as much as 20 percent of the air you pay to condition. While accessible ductwork can be addressed using metal tape or duct mastic, a professional can ensure that your entire duct system is sealed properly.

• If your air conditioner is over ten years old, upgrading to a high-efficiency Energy Star-qualified model could save you as much as 10 percent.

• In fact, Energy Star-qualified products are an ideal means of long-term energy savings. Look for products ranging from water heaters to light bulbs.

For a more customized assessment of your household energy efficiency, consult our NATE-certified technicians. Contact Air Assurance today!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.

Broken Arrow Homeowners In Oklahoma Can Avoid Common Air-Conditioner Problems Using These Tips

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to panic when their air conditioner seems to be malfunctioning, especially in the dead heat of a Tulsa, OKlahoma summer. Luckily, many common issues are easily addressed, with most being the direct result of simple, albeit unintentional, neglect.Perhaps the most common issue is a lack of cooling. Often, the cause of this problem is as simple as an improperly programmed thermostat or a thrown circuit breaker.

• Check the thermostat for desired temperature settings and ensure that the cooling system is actually turned on. If everything is as it should be, the next option is to try resetting the thermostat. If this does not correct the issue, a professional assessment is recommended.

• If the culprit is a thrown circuit breaker, resetting the breaker should correct the problem. Of course, if this is a common occurrence, there is likely an underlying electrical issue that needs to be addressed by a professional.

If lack of airflow is the issue:

• Dirty filters can restrict airflow and put a strain on your system in terms of efficiency. If filter replacement doesn’t seem to correct the problem, consult a trained technician.

• If you suspect a frozen indoor coil, try adjusting the thermostat for a few hours to unfreeze the system. If this doesn’t work, contact your HVAC contractor.

Another common complaint is spiking energy costs. This can be the result of several factors, including:

• New appliances

• Extreme summer heat

• Extreme thermostat settings

• Local utility rate increases

If your energy increases can’t be explained away logically, you may be the victim of improper system cycling or some other system malfunction. Of course, the best way to ensure that your system is running properly when you need it most is to maintain a routine preventive maintenance schedule. This allows your technician to evaluate and adjust every aspect of your cooling system, including:

• Proper system cycling

• Thermostat accuracy

• Electrical safety

• Air filter maintenance

• Cleanliness and efficiency of indoor and outdoor coils

• Condensate drains

Last but not least, during extreme temperatures, your system may not be able to keep the temperature as low as it does normally.  This can be due  to several factors:1. Your system may not be sized properly for your comfort.  A professional is needed to do a load calculation on the house to determine the correct size. Maybe your system cooled better in previous years?  Did something change like the loss of a large shade tree or did you replace wood shingles with asphault shingles?  Has your ductwork or insulation been disturbed by remodeling or other services?  Is the system clean?2. Your attic may have inadequate attic ventilation.  With extreme temps comes extreme attic temperatures.  And if your attic can't properly remove the extreme heat, this puts excess heat gain on your home's interior.3. With extreme temperatures come extreme heat on your duct system.  If your ducts are not properly insulated, this can cause your air to "lose it's cool", therefore making your unit run longer and less efficient.4.  What is the level of attic insulation in your home?  If this is not at least 12" you are putting extreme pressure on your system to cool at levels it was probably not designed for.If you’ve been experiencing problems with your air conditioner, don’t wait until the entire system shuts down. Call the trained technicians of Air Assurance today for an expert consultation.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.

Invest In A High-Efficiency Air-Conditioning System Now, And Enjoy The Savings For Years To Come

Depending on the age of your current air conditioning system, a high-efficiency upgrade has the potential to reduce your annual cooling costs by as much as 40 percent. In fact, if your air conditioning system is more than ten years old, the federal government recommends a replacement due to the relative inefficiency of older systems.To see how your current system measures up to today’s high-efficiency models, you can compare Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER). The higher your system’s SEER, the more efficient your system is in terms of energy consumption over the entire cooling season. While older units may rate a SEER of 10 or below, today’s high-efficiency air conditioning units carry a minimum SEER of 13. Thus, a high-efficiency upgrade can equal significant savings over the long term.Of course, proper sizing is required to maximize the efficiency of any air conditioning system. Often, older systems have become oversized thanks to energy efficient upgrades to the home such as insulation or weather stripping. As such, these systems are not as efficient and tend to have issues with improper cycling leading to high relative humidity levels in the home.Bigger isn’t always better, and having a proper load calculation performed during a high-efficiency upgrade can help ensure that the system you choose is the most appropriate for your household.There are also several innovative features available with today’s high-efficiency air conditioners that are designed to further increase long-term comfort and energy savings. For example:

• Fan-only switches give you the option of reducing cooling costs without sacrificing household ventilation.

• Filter check lights prevent filter neglect and reduce the chances of the system inefficiency -- or even damage -- that can result from clogged filters.

The sooner you make the initial investment in high-efficiency air conditioning, the more you stand to save in terms of energy costs over the long term. Depending on the system you choose, you may also be eligible for federal energy-based tax credits. If you’re interested in a high-efficiency upgrade, let our trained technicians help you make an informed decision. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma today!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.