Back-to-School Maintenance Tips

Now that summer is near its end, there's a good chance that your kids are all set to go with back-to-school supplies. What many homeowners forget, though, is that their HVAC equipment needs attention, too. Here are a few of our favorite maintenance tips to get done before we enter a new season:

Perform an Annual Check

If you want your HVAC equipment to last longer and run better, an annual check by a professional technician is definitely something you don't want to skip. By keeping up with a yearly maintenance schedule, your system will run more efficiently and you'll extend its overall operational lifespan.

Clean or Replace the Filter

Air filters are resilient pieces of equipment, but they don't last forever. It only takes 1-3 months, on average, for a filter to become clogged up with enough dirt and debris that it hurts the system's performance. Some filters can be cleaned and used again, while others must be replaced. No matter which type you have, consistent attention will keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape.

Maintain the Outdoor Unit

Your HVAC equipment's outdoor unit will get clogged up over the summer with things like dirt, leaves, and all sorts of other debris. Some homeowners even go out to discover a fallen bird nest! You can easily clean up the obvious stuff by hand, and then grab a hose and spray it down to get rid of anything that's left over.

Seal Holes in Your Ductwork

No matter how well you take care of your home, problems such as holes, gaps, and tears are likely to occur in your ductwork. This leads to a waste of energy as your heating or cooling system is forced to run longer to get the same results. Sealing these problem areas to keep things running smoothly.

For more expert advice on back-to-school maintenance, or if you have any other concerns related to home comfort, please don't hesitate to contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding area for more than 30 years.

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

Back-to-School Tips for Your HVAC System

A great way to remember it's time for fall HVAC maintenance is to tie it in with back-to-school activities. Once the kids have started their fall routines, they'll be out of the house more, and you'll have an opportunity to make some energy-saving adjustments and perform some maintenance that will keep your HVAC system in good shape for the season ahead.

1. Adjust your programmable thermostat.

If you spent the entire summer adjusting the thermostat manually, maybe it's time you looked at more efficient operation. If you have a programmable thermostat and you're not using it in an efficient way, then it's time to start. While it's still warm, program the thermostat up a few degrees at night and when the house is unoccupied. As the weather cools, set the thermostat a few degrees lower for those times.

2. Change the air filter.

The change of seasons is always a good time to change the air filter. You probably won't need the HVAC system to run the HVAC that much until the cold weather sets in, but keep a clean filter in it so you'll be ready when it's time to turn the furnace on. A clean filter ensures your system runs more efficiently, and that parts are less subject to friction and wear.

3. Clean up around the compressor.

Perhaps you won't be using the air conditioner much longer, but take a look around the outdoor compressor and make sure it's got plenty of clearance for air flow. Trim branches and limbs within two feet of the unit. Clear away leaves and other debris. Trim weeds and grass.

4. Schedule fall maintenance.

No need to wait till the cold weather arrives and your HVAC service pro is booked to the max. Schedule fall maintenance ahead so you have a jump on replacements or repairs. Be sure your service tech looks at the heat exchanger and burners of your furnace to ensure proper combustion.

To learn more about back-to-school season maintenance for your HVAC system, 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

How to Perform Quality Home Maintenance this Fall

With winter just around the corner, there's no time like the present to complete some important fall home maintenance tasks in addition to essential fall HVAC maintenance. Get your home ready for winter by doing the following:

• Inspect the outer perimeter of your home for holes and gaps in the walls and foundation. Air leaks typically can be found around window and door frames, at spots where utility wires, vents and pipes penetrate walls, and at the intersection of foundation, sill plates and walls. Use caulk to seal smaller gaps and cracks and use expanding spray foam for larger leaks.

• Inspect the interior of your home for air leaks. Take a lit incense stick and walk along the inside of the home's outer envelope. If the smoke wavers, you've found an air leak. Use weatherstripping, caulk or spray foam to seal leaks, depending on their size and location.

• Check attic insulation to make sure there's enough to block heat movement between the outside and the attic, and between the attic and the living spaces below. The insulation should rise to the top of the floor joists. Also, seal the attic hatch or door to prevent air movement.

• Install storm windows and doors, and remove screens, if your home is the type that allows you to do so.

• Check your roof for loose or missing shingles and replace them. Winter can be very hard on your roof, especially if it already has weak spots. Ideally, get a professional roofing contractor to perform a comprehensive inspection.

• Clear leaves out of the gutters. This should be done periodically during the fall if you have overhanging trees, and then a final time before winter arrives. If the gutters can drain rainwater and melted snow efficiently, you'll have less chance of ice dams developing and foundation, wall or roof damage from clogged gutters.

• Inspect carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for proper operation and fresh batteries. This could be a life-saving fall home maintenance step.

For more fall home maintenance tips for your Broken Arrow area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

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).Credit/Copyright Attribution: “iQoncept/Shutterstock”

Fall Maintenance: It's Not Too Soon to Think About It for Your Tulsa Home

AirAssurance 10.1.13

The sun and the elements are always taking a toll on your home, regardless of the season. As the summer begins to wane, it is a good time to start handling the maintenance tasks that you need to get to before winter sets in.Here are a few things to do to get the house ready for winter:

• Caulk around pipes and other openings into the house. Cold air can easily infiltrate these small cracks and make heating the home harder.

• Apply weather-stripping around doors and windows. This will keep these large openings free from air leaks.

• As the weather gets cooler, replace screens with storm windows and doors.

• Inspect the roof for damage. Air and water can infiltrate which makes heating and cooling the house difficult.

• Check the insulation levels in the attic. Consult with an expert to find the recommended R-value -- the thermal resistance rating for insulation -- for your area. Experts will need to know what type of insulation you have, where it is located and how thick it is to determine if it offers sufficient protection against heat loss.

• Have the heating system checked by a professional. All systems need routine maintenance to work properly.

• Make sure your stove or fireplace is in good shape. Have your chimney cleaned and serviced also.

• Change the direction of ceiling fans to pull air up. You want to pull cool air up and send warm air down to heat the house.

Getting your home ready for winter by performing fall maintenance does not take a great deal of time. And the time you spend is worth it for lower energy costs and a comfortable house during the cold months of the year.You also need to call in the professionals to check your heating system as part of your fall maintenance. Remember, by doing so, there is currently a $30 Rebate from Oklahoma Natural Gas!! If you want to talk to an expert in home comfort, contact us here at Air Assurance. We are a family owned and operated company that has served the Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

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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