Saving on Energy Bills This Summer

Summer will be heating up all too soon in Broken Arrow, and that means turning on the air conditioner and watching your utility bills go up. Fortunately, modern air conditioners are more efficient than ever before. You can save by replacing your old electricity sapper with a new, high-SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) model.But along with replacing old equipment, here are some additional ideas for summer savings:

Efficient Ideas for Summer Savings

1. Install ceiling fans. If you don't already have ceiling fans, install them. Make sure blades are reversible. In the summer, run the fan blades counterclockwise to help lift warm air to the ceiling and disperse the cold air from the A/C around the room. In the winter, run the blades the opposite direction to push heat downwards. Ceiling fans won't make the temperature cooler, but the home's occupants will feel cooler as the air moves over the skin and perspiration evaporates.

2. Keep your air filter changed. Don't push the use of that air filter beyond what the manufacturer recommends. You won't be saving money, but you are probably causing your air conditioner to run inefficiently with a dirty filter that is slowing down air flow.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. To be sure, the programmable thermostat will not make your home more efficient unless you adhere to the schedule you program, but if you abide by an energy-saving schedule, you will save. Turn the thermostat down at least five degrees when the home's occupants are sleeping or away from home.

4. Keep the sunlight out. Draw shades, drapes and blinds to keep passive solar energy out of the home.

5. Keep a lid on humidity. High humidity can make you feel warmer in the summer. Reduce humidity by doing the following:

• Take shorter showers

• Put all indoor plants in one room

• Install bathroom and range hood exhaust ventilation

• Fix leaks as soon as you find them

To learn more about summer savings through efficiency, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

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 saving money and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “gc1366/Pixabay”

These Small Changes Could Mean Big Savings

We're always looking for ways to save money. One great way to do that this summer is to make some small changes in the way you approach efficiency in your home. It's not just about buying a more efficient system — although that's certainly one major step you can take to save on your utility bills — but also about taking a more organic, whole-house approach to cutting back on energy use.

Tips for Cutting Back on Energy Use

1. Keep conditioned air in and unconditioned air out. Air leaks are one of the main ways your air conditioning dollars are wasted. Every home has them, but some have more than others. Perform your own energy audit by walking around your home, waving either a lit candle or incense stick in front of windows and doors and any openings from the exterior (wires, cables and pipes) to see if the smoke wavers. If so, you have a leak. Seal them with weatherstripping, caulk or insulation.

2. Make sure your system is running at its peak. The best way to do this is to schedule spring maintenance. Your HVAC tech will test the refrigerant level, inspect for parts that may be wearing out and require replacement, or places where conditioned air may be leaking out.

3. Change the air filter regularly. Be sure to change your air filter regularly. A dirty filter will slow down the system's air flow, causing it to run less efficiently, and perhaps even damaging parts. A clean air filter will also help your A/C dehumidify the home better. Higher humidity levels in the summer make you feel warmer, so it's important keep the relative humidity well below 50 percent.

4. If your home is too humid (a hygrometer can tell you), you can lower it by installing a whole-house dehumidifier.

5. Install ceiling fans. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise in the summer to feel cooler as the breeze passes over your skin.

To learn more small changes that will help you save on energy, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. We've served our customers 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). For more information about saving money and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ouacws/Pixabay”

Are You Ready for Unexpected Power Outages?

Any kind of a power outage in the winter creates a level of hardship that ranges from inconvenient to dangerous. It makes sense to prepare your home to avoid some of the discomfort associated with the lack of heat and electricity.

• Locate the circuit breaker for your heating system and turn it off. Once the utility workers restore the power, it can surge, sending powerful spikes of electricity through the lines that can harm your equipment. Once the power has been successfully restored, turn the breaker back on.

• Keep flashlights handy. Put a flashlight in each bedroom and by the front or back door. Check their batteries periodically and have replacements on hand.

• Learn how to operate your garage door manually. During a prolonged outage, you may need to leave your home if the roads are safe to do so.

• Always have extra food on hand that doesn’t require much heating unless you have a safe way to do so. Bringing in a charcoal or propane grill creates dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. A backpacking stove is a relatively safe heating option.

• When the outage is due to a winter storm, select a warm room in your home where you can gather. Body heat will help keep the temperature up and you can close the window coverings to keep heat from escaping.

• Consider installing a home generator. Whether it’s a portable unit or a whole-house system, a generator takes the edge off a power outage, even if it’s a small unit used mainly for lights.

• Have your fireplace cleaned by a professional chimney sweep annually if you use it frequently. A clean chimney and firebox increase its safety, and be sure to use a spark screen.

• Stay warmer by dressing in layers. Keeping the body’s core warm preserves heat, as will crawling into a sleeping bag.

The preparations to cope with a power outage do take time and some expense, but they increase your family’s safety and comfort. If you’d like to learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

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Lower Energy Bills: A Gift to Yourself This Season

During the holiday season, and wintertime in general, residential heating bills and other energy expenses can go through the roof (sometimes literally). That's why it's crucial to be aware of the energy-saving strategies available to homeowners.Follow these suggestions to enjoy lower energy bills in your Broken Arrow-area home:

• Seal air leaks in your home's outer walls. A substantial amount of warm air can be lost through holes and cracks in the walls, forcing your heating system to work overtime to compensate. Similarly, missing or inadequate insulation can make a warmed-up home lose its heat quickly.

• Consider arranging an energy audit to ascertain where air and heat energy are escaping your home. Once you have that information, you can seal air leaks with caulking or weatherstripping, and upgrade insulation where necessary.

• Adjust ceiling fans so their blades are rotating clockwise (the opposite of summertime rotation). This pushes air upward instead of downward, and redistributes warm air that floats around near the ceiling. Forced down into the part of the room where people hang out, it raises the temperature, relieving some of the workload on the furnace.

• Make sure to program energy-saving setbacks into your programmable thermostat. Get one if you don't yet have one of these essential devices. You can program your heating system to a much lower temperature during the day when nobody's home, and a night when everybody's sleeping. This can be a real energy-saver.

• Remember to open drapes, curtains and other window coverings during sunny winter days. Even when it's cold outside, sun shining through windows will heat up a room by several degrees. Make sure you close the curtains before the sun goes down, though, since they'll add a layer of protection against the cold.

• Schedule seasonal maintenance on your heating system if you haven't already. This improves efficiency, ensures safety, and enables the technician to find small problems before they become big problems.

For more advice on how to enjoy lower energy bills this holiday season and winter, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide superior HVAC services in the Broken Arrow area.

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 lowering bills and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Pexels/Pixabay”

Getting Rid of Energy Vampires in Your Home

Reducing energy usage in your Broken Arrow home helps keep your utility bills down. Many homeowners know about shutting lights off when they’re not in use in order to save energy, but what about other energy sources that aren’t as obvious? Watch out for these energy vampires in your home, and work on getting rid of them.

Phone Chargers

Your cell phone charger doesn’t use up much electricity while you’re charging your phone, but it can end up using a significant amount if you leave it plugged in all the time or if you have multiple chargers plugged in all the time. These chargers keep using up energy while they’re plugged in, even if there’s no device attached to them. Make it a habit to unplug your charger when it’s done charging.

Cable Boxes

Cable boxes become energy vampires when they’re left on all the time. While it might seem inconvenient, turning off your cable box when you’re done watching TV can help you save energy. You should also consider plugging this device into a power strip along with your TV, video game consoles and other electronic devices. Doing so makes it easy for you ensure that all of these are shut off when they’re not being used. All you have to do is flip the switch on the power strip on and off.

Computers and Computer Equipment

Computers, laptops and related devices, such as printers and routers, use energy when they are on. Turning these off when you’re not using them can reduce energy usage by a considerable amount. As with TV equipment, consider plugging computers and computer equipment into a power strip.

Older Appliances and Devices

Older appliances and devices in your home use more energy than newer ones that are designed to be energy-efficient. Replacing these with Energy Star appliances and devices helps you reduce the amount of energy you use in your home.

If you need more information on reducing energy usage in your home, please contact Air Assurance. We offer HVAC services in the Broken Arrow area.

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 energy savings and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “mattysimpson/Pixabay”

Use Ceiling Fans to Improve Cooling Efficiency

Your residential cooling system shoulders most of the burden of keeping your indoor living spaces comfortable. This can lead to some significant utility bills, however, as your air conditioner or heat pump works to keep up with cooling demand. By using ceiling fans in rooms where you and your family gather most often, you can reduce those bills and increase cooling efficiency.

Why Use a Ceiling Fan?

Ceiling fans provide a way to increase air circulation in the rooms where they are used. This helps move cool air that has settled near the floor, recirculating already conditioned air and giving it a second chance to reduce the temperature in the room.

The drafts of air from ceiling fans also provide direct cooling when they make contact with your body. The air from your ceiling fan helps perspiration evaporate on your skin, which carries away heat and keeps you cool. This effect makes the room feel cooler than it actually is, allowing you to run your air conditioner at a lower level while still maintaining consistent comfort.

Considerations When Using a Ceiling Fan

• When using a ceiling fan, remember that the drafts created by the fan must make contact with your body for the cooling effect to take place. A ceiling fan doesn't cool a room. It cools a person.

• Fan blade rotation should be adjusted to allow the fan to send down into the room below. This is most effective at directed drafts where they are needed. In the winter, you can switch fan blade direction to boost heating system performance.

• Make sure there is enough clearance between the fan and the space below it to allow safe operation. Fan blades should be mounted at about seven feet or higher, and there should be 18 inches of space between the walls and blade tips.

Air Assurance provides top-quality heating and cooling services to customers in and around Tulsa. Contact us today for more information on how you can use a ceiling fan to boost cooling system efficiency and keep your indoor living environment more comfortable.

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Energy Saving Tips for Summer

After a fleeting spring, another energy-guzzling season is here: Summer, when air-conditioning costs threaten to break the bank. However, don't despair. There are many energy saving tips available for homes, and most of them are relatively simple to put into effect.Summer Energy Saving Tips

• Program for savings. There's no reason why your A/C has to be cooling your home at a comfortable temperature 24/7. If you don't already have one, install a programmable thermostat, then set it to higher temperatures (low to mid-80s) for times when you're at work or away from home. Program the temperature to return to a cool and comfortable level shortly before you expect to arrive home.

• Use ceiling fans. A ceiling fan can make the temperature in a room seem like it's several degrees lower than it actually is, as long as the fan is blowing air at people in the room. You can turn up the thermostat several degrees and save energy, while not sacrificing comfort. Just remember to turn off the fan when the room is empty. The fan's cooling effect is useless if nobody's around to feel it.

• Open the windows. When the outside air isn't too hot or moist, open windows and doors and let natural ventilation cool off your home. Open them at nighttime, then seal the house in the mid-morning before it gets hot. That cool morning air should allow you to delay turning on the A/C a few hours.

• Weatherize the house. Seal air leaks in the home's envelope, using weatherstripping, caulk or spray foam depending on the size and type of leak. Make sure the attic is well insulated to keep heated air from gravitating downward into your living spaces.

• Schedule preventive maintenance. Before summer really heats up, schedule an A/C maintenance visit. This will ensure that your cooling system is ready to perform efficiently and effectively all summer long. Perform air-filter maintenance yourself at least monthly during the summer.

For more energy saving tips for this summer, please contact us at Air Assurance, providing quality HVAC services in the Broken Arrow area.

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Don't Fall for These Energy-Saving Myths

The HVAC world is full of old wives’ tales, especially when it comes to saving energy. By understanding the truth behind these energy-saving myths, you can make informed decisions on how to reduce your home’s energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

Myth #1: Ceiling Fans Can Cool Down a Hot Room

The gentle breeze a ceiling fan produces makes you feel cooler due to the wind chill effect. However, it won’t do anything to lower actual room temperatures. Unlike air conditioners, ceiling fans are incapable of removing heat from the air – an essential step for lowering room temperatures.

Myth #2: Closed Vents Reduce Energy Use

Keeping your vents closed won’t help you save energy. A closed vent can upset your HVAC system’s air flow balance, making it work harder than usual to provide the same heating performance at the cost of higher energy consumption.

Myth #3: Raising Your Thermostat Heats Your Home Faster

Contrary to popular belief, raising your thermostat to its maximum setting won’t heat your home any faster. However, it will burn unnecessary energy and make your home uncomfortably hot.

Myth #4: Turning Off Your Electronics is Enough to Save Power

Many of today’s appliances use small amounts of power for “standby” purposes as long as they’re plugged in. As a result, you’re better off unplugging your electronics if you want to save.

Myth #5: Using Your Fireplace Saves Energy

Whenever you’re using your fireplace, you’ll have to leave the damper open to vent toxic gases outdoors. Although the room you’re in remains toasty, overall temperatures throughout your home can drop as a result.

Myth #6: Replacing Your Windows Cuts Your Energy Costs

Here’s an energy-saving myth that’s partially right. While replacing your drafty windows with energy-efficient windows can cut energy costs, the expense involved in replacing them means you won’t break even until years later.

Contact us at Air Assurance to learn about these and other energy-saving myths. We proudly provide heating and cooling services to Broken Arrow homeowners.

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Tips to Save Money and Increase Energy Efficiency During Cooler Weather

Winter is coming to Broken Arrow, and that means running the furnace nearly constantly to beat the cold. It's why winter also means skyrocketing energy bills. What can you do about it? Is there a way to save money and increase energy efficiency while still maintaining your overall comfort? Here are a few tips.

• Get a programmable thermostat. Rather than having your furnace running full blast while you're not home, a programmable thermostat lets you switch between your general home comfort setting and an energy-saving setting that's a few degrees warmer. Switch to the energy-saving setting automatically during the day while you're at work and at night when you're asleep. Throw a few extra blankets on the bed to make up the difference in heat.

• Seal your ducts. Holes in your ductwork cause air (and heat) to leak out before it reaches your rooms, which requires more energy to make your home comfortable. Inspect your ductwork carefully for tears, holes, gaps and other damage that can allow air to leak out, and seal them up with metal tape or mastic sealant.

• Insulate. Even if your home has insulation, chances are it could use more. Insulation slows the flow of heat so that it stays in your home longer. Since heat rises, the best place to insulate your home is the attic. If the insulation in your attic is at or below your floor joists, then you could use more. Call an HVAC professional to help you add insulation.

• Upgrade. All the energy-efficiency advice in the world won't help if your furnace is wasting energy. That's when it's time to upgrade to one that will run more efficiently and save money. It may cost a bit, but it'll save you in the long run. Look for the blue Energy Star label, which indicates your furnace has been inspected by the federal Energy Star program and is proven to save money and energy over comparable models without sacrificing performance or features.

To learn more about improving your home's energy efficiency, contact us at Air Assurance.

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Lower Your Energy Bill by Lowering Your Water Heater Temperature

In today's world, saving even a few dollars a month is important, and so is being "green" in your home. You may not have realized this, but lowering your water heater temperature, even by just 10 degrees, can make a positive impact on your energy bill as well as the environment.On most traditional water heaters, the water is warmed using gas or electricity, then stored in a tank and maintained at the temperature that you have set. The amount of electricity or gas needed to keep this temperature constant is higher when the temperature is increased.

What is it Set for Currently?

Your water heater temperature is typically set at about 140 degrees when it comes from the manufacturer. This high temperature is not only unnecessary for most households, but it can be downright dangerous. When the temperature is set this high, turning on only the hot water with a faucet can scald skin, especially for children and the elderly.

A temperature of 120 degrees is recommended for most households, though 130 degrees can be used for those that have dishwashers that aren't capable of heating their own water.

How Do I Change it?

Thankfully, turning the water heater temperature down isn't difficult, and is something that most people are able to do on their own. Just follow these simple steps.

For gas heaters, locate the control dial somewhere on the outside of the unit. On electric heaters, there may be two dials - one at the top and another at the bottom, which need to be turned separately, but evenly. If there are no temperature indications on the dials, then turn the knobs a little at a time, wait about two hours, and test the water from the tap nearest the water heater by pouring it into a cup and checking the temperature with a thermometer.

For more information about how to save money on your electric bill by lowering your water heater temperature, as well as other expert advice about heating and cooling your home, contact us today. Air Assurance proudly serves the greater Tulsa metropolitan area.

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Ways to Save Energy in the 3 Most Important Rooms in Your Home

The ways you can save energy at home vary from room to room, but look carefully and you'll discover many opportunities for reducing your carbon footprint and realizing energy savings. Let the tips below guide you, and use them in your home whenever you can.

Living Room

The living room offers ways to save energy from ceiling to floor. Start with the air conditioning/heating registers. Make sure ductwork is securely attached to the vents so that no air is leaking around them. Check for air leaks around windows, exterior doors, light switches and wiring on exterior walls. Seal the openings with caulk or insulation.

Close blinds and curtains in summer to prevent heat gain. In winter, open the blinds during the day, and close them at night to prevent heat loss.When you choose an entertainment center or appliance, make sure it's rated by Energy Star, the Environmental Protection Agency's energy efficiency program. Plug all electronic appliances and lamps into a power strip, which you should turn off when you leave the room. Also, use fluorescent light bulbs for light fixtures, and turn lights off when the occupants leave the room.

Bathroom

Save water by fixing toilet, sink and shower leaks. Take shorter showers and install low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets. To help get rid of moisture that contributes to higher humidity and a clammy feeling that inspires turning down the thermostat, install exhaust ventilation. Replace vanity lights with Energy Star-certified fixtures and bulbs, and always turn off lights when you leave the room.

Attic

Keep heat from the attic out of the home by insulating and weatherstripping the attic hatch. Likewise, seal air leaks around an attic or furnace flue, and cover gaps with metal flashing or high-temperature caulk. Repair holes in ducts with mastic and metal tape. Make sure there's proper ventilation in the attic to let out heat and moisture.

For more on how to save energy at home, contact Air Assurance. We've been serving the Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985.

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Everything You Need to Know About the EnergyGuide Label

That distinctive yellow sticker on new appliances like A/Cs, water heaters and heat pumps is called the EnergyGuide label, but it might as well be called the energy-saving label. If you use this federally mandated label as intended to compare the energy-saving potential for a given appliance to that of similar appliances, it can save you money on energy bills throughout the life of the appliance you choose. If you're shopping for a furnace, the EnergyGuide label will show you how one furnace compares energy-wise to other furnaces with the same size and features.

You'll find the EnergyGuide sticker on a broad range of appliances, but not all of them. The label is affixed to air conditioners, heat pumps, dishwashers, clothes washers, furnaces, freezers, TVs, refrigerators and pool heaters. The label isn't placed on clothes dryers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ovens and ranges.

Reading the Label

You'll find the following pieces of information on the EnergyGuide label:

• Estimated yearly operating cost: A single-line continuum graph shows where a particular appliance stands in regard to energy costs compared to similar models. These numbers are based on average national electrical costs.

• Estimated electrical usage: The label uses kilowatt hours to show how much electricity the appliance will consume annually, based on typical users.

• Details on key features of the appliance: Other appliances used for comparison purposes will have the same basic features and size. The tag also will provide details on the model and manufacturer.

• The Energy Star logo: If the appliance you're considering has achieved minimum energy efficiency standards set by the federal Energy Star program, it will feature the familiar blue logo on the EnergyGuide label. Appliances with this designation use less energy than an equivalent product that doesn't sport the Energy Star while offering the same or better functionality and quality. If at all possible, make sure any new appliance you buy comes with the Energy Star logo.

For more information on the EnergyGuide label, please contact the pros at Air Assurance. We proudly supply excellent service to the Tulsa metro area, including Broken Arrow.

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Reduce Cooling Costs at Home With These Simple Tips

With another cooling season looming, it's time to get serious about energy savings by making efficiency-minded changes around your home. These simple tips can help you reduce cooling costs and enjoy a comfortable living environment all summer long.

Tips to Reduce Cooling Costs

• Seal leaky ducts. You can prevent the waste of up to 30 percent of the A/C's cool air output due to leakage by having ducts sealed with mastic and wrapped in at least R-6 insulation.

• Run exhaust fans. Activities like cooking, bathing and washing dishes add heat and humidity to the indoor air, so run the bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan to vent it outdoors where it can't increase your energy bills.

• Switch on the ceiling fans. Operating ceiling fans while the air conditioner is running can increase comfort and allow you to raise the thermostat setting a few degrees, curbing your energy usage.

• Shade the windows. Heat gain through the window glass makes the A/C work harder and increases energy consumption. Keep it under control by installing energy-efficient shades, blinds or reflective window film.

• Purchase a programmable thermostat. Choose a model that matches your normal weekly schedule and your HVAC equipment brand. Use it to program 10-degree temperature setbacks for a daily eight-hour period, and you can slash energy costs by 15 percent a year.

• Stop conditioned air losses. Seal leaks by caulking window frames and replacing any missing or damaged weatherstripping around exterior doors. Plug holes and gaps around the foundation and any shell penetrations with expandable foam spray.

• Prevent heat build-up. Replace incandescent lights with energy-efficient bulbs that produce much less heat. Use the microwave or outdoor grill for cooking instead of the oven, and air dry dishes and laundry so you don't create heat that adds to the A/C's workload.

• Upgrade an older cooling system. Replacing an inefficient air conditioner can reduce your cooling expenses by as much as 50 percent. To boost those energy savings by up to 15 percent more, choose Energy Star-rated equipment.

To learn more ways to reduce cooling costs in your Broken Arrow home, contact the comfort experts at Air Assurance. We've been helping homeowners since 1985.

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Energy-Saving Tips for Your Tulsa Home This Spring

Now that spring weather is here, you have a golden opportunity to make some energy-wise changes before another hot summer arrives. The following home energy-saving tips can help you keep consumption and costs under control and boost your comfort too.

• Get your air conditioner tuned up. Scheduling A/C maintenance with your HVAC contractor before you start it up for the season guarantees it's ready and able to keep your home comfortable when the temperatures soar. To keep your cooling system operating at maximum efficiency, remember to check the air filter every month and change it as needed.

• Upgrade to a programmable thermostat. If you're still using a manual thermostat, talk to your HVAC pro about the benefits of switching to a programmable model. You'll learn that it's the most convenient way to schedule daily eight-hour, 10-to 15-degree temperature setbacks and save energy.

• Have your ducts sealed and insulated. A knowledgeable HVAC specialist will also advise that sealing your ducts can stop the loss of up to 30 percent of your A/C's cooling output. By having the seams and joints sealed with foil-backed tape, and wrapping the ducts with R-6 insulation, you'll see a drop in energy consumption and an increase in comfort.

• Increase your water heating efficiency. The sediment that builds up in your tank during the normal heating process can erode energy efficiency and even ruin the appliance. Having the tank flushed twice a year to get rid of the accumulation can keep it operating efficiently. While it's being serviced, have the water heater thermostat dialed to 120 degrees and add an insulated jacket if it's an older model.

• Check your attic insulation. Have a pro measure the insulation level on your attic floor and, if necessary, get extra installed to bring it up to the recommended minimum of R-49. If it hasn't been done already, make sure your access hatch is insulated on the attic side and properly sealed to stop conditioned air losses.

For more home energy-saving tips, contact Air Assurance. We've helped make life more comfortable for Broken Arrow area homeowners since 1985.

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5 Simple Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills This Winter

With cold weather approaching, now's the time to complete some home projects to cut your energy bills this winter. These easy-to-complete projects are inexpensive in the short run and can each be completed within 30 minutes.

Weatherstripping

A properly fitted door or window is lined with flexible weatherstripping to keep drafts out and heat in. Over time, these strips break down from use, so locating these weak spots should be your first priority. When you locate a length of weatherstripping that needs replacing, simply pull it away from the sill and tack up a fresh piece.

Outlet Protection

Electrical outlets on a home's exterior are often the most overlooked source of heat loss in the home. You can cut your energy bills this winter by removing outlet plates and inserting inexpensive outlet gaskets designed to add insulation in areas often lacking in protection.

Plug Exterior Holes

Exterior water faucets and meter lines poking through your home's exterior are often left exposed to the cold, as well as pests using your entryway to get in. With an expanding foam product, you can fill these gaps and reduce not only heat loss, but the encroachment of pests.

Plastic Film

It's estimated that up to 25 percent of a home's heating loss occurs through windows, so by adding another layer of easy-to-install plastic film, you can retain heat and lower your bills. Kits are readily available at your local hardware store.

Programmable Thermostat

Even an inexpensive programmable thermostat can help reduce your home heating costs by 10 percent, allowing you to establish heat levels during the day and night. You have the ability to lower the heat when you're away and raise it to comfort level when you're home.For more expert techniques to cut your energy bills this winter, please contact Air Assurance. We're been serving the Greater Tulsa community since 1985 and are here to help.

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Don't Just Let the Water Run -- Tips for Saving H2O

Clean, safe water is a finite resource, as many in the Tulsa area know all too well, and with the recent droughts it has become even more important to conserve water. By following these easy tips for saving H2O in your home, you can not only help maximize the community's water supply, but you can also save some money on your water bill:

• Repair Leaks: Even minor leaks can add up to a lot of water over a period of time, and they should be repaired immediately. Inspect your supply lines yearly for evidence of leaks such as water stains, mold growth or corrosion, especially around sections that have been repaired in the past. Repair or replace any dripping faucets and inspect the supply lines for washers, toilets and sinks for drips. If you have a sprinkler system, have it inspected if you notice pooling water on your lawn.

• Replace Shower Heads: Older shower heads can use well over five gallons of water per minute. New water-efficient versions can reduce that amount by at least half, saving H20 while still providing a comfortable shower.

• Install New Aerators: An aerator is the screw-on assembly at the end of the faucet, through which the water exits. Aerators help control the water flow and older models can allow well over two gallons per minute to escape the faucet. New ones can reduce this to under a gallon per minute. Another easy step towards saving H2O is to not let the faucet needlessly run while you are brushing your teeth, shaving or rinsing dishes.

• Upgrade Appliances: When your dishwasher or clothes washer are ready to be replaced, look for water-saving models. High-efficiency clothes washers, for example, can reduce water usage from 50 gallons to less than 25 per load.

• Replace the Toilet: Older toilets can use from five to seven gallons every time they are flushed, while new ones can use 1.6 gallons or less.

For more information about saving H2O in your home, talk to our plumbing experts at Air Assurance today. We serve Broken Arrow, as well as the entire Tulsa area.

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). 

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Going on Vacation? Tips for Saving Energy While You Are Away

Vacation season is in full swing, and families from all over are preparing to leave their Broken Arrow home for a few days to enjoy some sun, fun and relaxation. Before leaving, most homeowners take the necessary precautions to ensure their home is locked up safe and sound. However, few think about saving energy while away from home. Ensuring you don’t waste energy while on vacation is just as important as stopping your mail delivery and locking your windows and doors.

Water Heater

Water heaters can be energy wasters if you’re not home to enjoy the comforts of warm water. Fortunately, most models feature a vacation mode that you can simply switch to. For gas models without a vacation mode, turn the setting to pilot. For electric models, you can either switch the water tank off at the breaker or turn the temperature to the lowest setting.

Heating and Cooling

There is no sense in running your air conditioner while you are away, and doing so is simply wasting energy. Saving energy while away from your home will require either turning the A/C off or turning the thermostat up to about 85 degrees during the summer. If you are vacationing during the winter months, set the thermostat to about 50 to 55 degrees. This temperature is warm enough to keep pipes from freezing.

Electronics

Televisions, computers, radios, blu-rays, coffee machines and many other small appliances and electronics are energy vampires that continue to drain energy even when they are turned off. Saving energy while on vacation will require unplugging these items from the outlets. Before you leave, take a walk through your home, unplugging any items that won’t be in use while you’re away.

Saving Energy Tip

Keep drapes, blinds and curtains shut to help prevent the sun's rays from heating your home, while making your house more energy efficient.

For more information about saving energy while you're away on vacation, contact the experts at Air Assurance. We have provided heating, air condition and plumbing services to the Broken Arrow 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). 

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Electricity Usage Myths and Your HVAC System: Here's What They Mean

Myths often seem logical and have an element of truth, especially when proponents of electricity usage myths speak with passionate conviction. Here are three such myths.

Leave the Air Conditioner Running

Do not switch the air conditioner off when you go out as it will cost more to cool your home down again.The idea behind this myth is that you waste the energy used to cool your home down unless you keep it cool. This is not true, as while the air conditioner is running, heat is continually leaking into your home, and the greater the temperature difference between inside and outside, the greater the heat flow and the harder the air conditioner has to work. Rather save energy by reducing unnecessary energy loss.

Efficient Air Conditioners Use Less Electricity

An efficient air conditioner will reduce my electricity bill. This is partly true, and a replacement unit will use less electricity than an older, less efficient unit with the same BTU capacity. However, the overall saving will be small if the ducting is leaking or is partially blocked. First, repair your ducting and make sure that your home is properly sealed before buying an efficient unit. Keep in mind that if you buy a bigger unit it will use more power.

Heat Home up Quickly

Quickly warm up your home by setting thermostat to maximum. One of the electricity usage myths assumes that a heat pump or furnace will not run at full capacity unless set to maximum, based on the concept that the thermostat position has the same effect as the pressure your foot has on the accelerator pedal in your car.

In fact, thermostatically controlled devices run at full power until reaching their set temperature, so setting the thermostat to 80 degrees will not make the home heat faster, but it will get warmer than intended and you will waste energy.

To Learn More

If you want to know more about saving electricity in Broken Arrow/Tulsa, Oklahoma, contact Air Assurance by filling in a service request or phoning on 1 (918) 615-4696 and they will schedule a visit.

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

Go Green This Winter With These Energy-Saving Tips

Go Green This Winter With These Energy-Saving Tips

Winter requires pretty much everybody to use their heating system in order to stay warm. However, many homeowners are trying to go green this winter by taking steps to reduce their energy usage. Follow this basic guide and use our energy-saving tips to go green and still keep your home comfortable and warm for yourself and your family.

• Lower the temperature of your thermostat a few degrees below where you would normally keep it. Every single degree lower can save you up to 5 percent on your energy bill in the winter months, and chances are you won’t notice much of a difference anyway. Put on a warm sweater and lower your thermostat a few degrees in the evening and you’ll save even more money when you go green.

• Install a two-zone programmable thermostat in your home that allows you to set different temperatures in different areas of your home. For example, you can keep your bedroom a little warmer while allowing the temperature to drop a few degrees lower while you’re sleeping in order to save money.

• Use your programmable thermostat to reduce your energy bills by lowering the temperature in your home considerably when you’re at work. You can set up a schedule on your thermostat so that your home is cool while you’re gone and nice and warm when you’re home. There’s no need to heat an empty house.

• Put a humidifier in rooms you spend a lot of time in like your bedroom. The warm moist air will help make you feel warmer even when the temperature might be a few degrees lower than you would normally keep it.

• Have your heating system inspected and tuned up by qualified professionals before you start using it regularly. An inefficient system will cost you more since you’ll need to run it much more frequently.

Contact Air Assurance for more information and tips on how to go green this winter. We’ve been serving the greater Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985 and we’re proud to help area residents with all of their heating and air conditioning needs.

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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). 

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Stretch Your Pocketbook With These Tips for Holiday Energy Savings

Many homeowners in the Broken Arrow area take their holiday decorations seriously and go all out. Having a show stopping display doesn’t have to break the bank, however. Use the tips below for holiday energy savings.

Stretch Your Pocketbook With These Tips for Holiday Energy Savings

Lighting

Swap your traditional Christmas lights for the LED version which are 90 percent more energy efficient than their traditional counterparts.

Fiber Optics

Chose fiber optic trees and decorations to generate holiday energy savings. Fiber optic pieces are typically lit by a single bulb.

Use a Timer

Only turn on your display once its dark. Turn them off before you turn in for the night. A timer makes this process seamless.

Use Your Tree as a Light

Keep the lights off when your tree is lit. A fully lit Christmas tree should provide enough light to navigate around the room.

Decorate With Candles

Candles add to the home’s ambiance without draining energy.

Watch the Thermostat

When hosting large parties, turn down your thermostat. People generate heat; the more people you have in your home, the less you need your HVAC system.

Give Low-Tech Gifts

Holiday sales account for 40 percent of all battery purchases. Give presents that don’t use batteries or electricity.

Rechargeable Batteries

Invest in rechargeable batteries to reduce your overall energy expenses. Technological advances have made rechargeable batteries nearly as good as their disposable counterparts.

Take a walk

Rather than driving to see holiday displays, take a walk to take in the sights.

Pack your oven

Holiday energy savings can be achieved by baking multiple dishes at the same time.

Small appliances

Use the smallest appliance you can to achieve results in your kitchen as they use less energy.

Use lids

Using lids while cooking allows your food to cook faster and holiday energy savings.

Unplug

Before leaving for vacation, unplug everything except essentials. Your television, radios and computer will use energy even if they aren’t turned on.

To find out how we can help your home can be more efficient and generate holiday energy savings, contact us today. Air Assurance has been serving the needs of Broken Arrow, Tulsa and the surrounding areas since 1985.

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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