Why Your Furnace Filter Should Be Changed Regularly

With a system as large and as important to your daily life as your furnace, it is sometimes easy to ignore small, but vital components, such as your air filters. Furnace air filters may seem trivial, but they are an important part of your overall heating system. Here are some good reasons why your furnace filter should be changed regularly.

• Improved health for you and your family – Furnace filters trap dust, pollen, mold, and even bacteria and microorganisms that might normally end up in your home’s interior air, where they can be inhaled by you and your family. A clean, fresh filter will keep these materials out of your air, decreasing the chance of respiratory problems, and reducing the possibility of aggravating allergies, asthma or similar medical conditions.

• Better and more efficient furnace operation – By regularly changing air filters in your furnace, you help your heating system run more efficiently. Furnaces need a consistent and unobstructed source of airflow, but if the filter is dirty, that airflow is choked off. Your furnace will run harder to keep up with temperature settings. A clean filter reduces the chance of breakdown.

• Decreased need for deep-level cleaning – If dust and other airborne pollutants are trapped in the filter, they don’t have a chance to accumulate inside the furnace itself. This keeps the furnace and ductwork cleaner, and increases the interval between necessary intense cleanings.

• Savings on your heating bills – Clean filters help your furnace run more efficiently, which means the unit makes better use of the fuel it consumes. The furnace does not have to run as hard or as long to keep your house warmed to the desired level. Better operation means less energy is used or wasted, adding up to real savings on your heating bills.

Air Assurance has more than three decades of experience serving heating and air conditioning customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas. Let us help you find the most effective filter to use in your furnace. Contact us today.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.

Duct Sealing: Proven Energy Savings

Are you considering replacement of your heating or air conditioning system?  Do you want better performance from your HVAC system?  You should consider duct sealing to boost your system’s efficiency. In areas like Oklahoma where temperatures can range from very hot to very cold, getting the most out of your heating and air conditioning system is critical.  In fact, duct leakage can account for over 50% of your cooling/heating bill if problems are evident.Duct sealing is performed by your air conditioning professional and includes sealing all ductwork with gaskets, welds, tapes and mastic (adhesive) fabrics.  By sealing your ducts, heated or cooled air can travel into your home without escaping through the ductwork.  Note that duct tape is not really a sealant – a professional will use the appropriate materials to insure the ductwork is sealed properly.While this task can be performed on existing systems, it is a best practice to have duct sealing done as part of a new system installation.  In some situations, going back to seal existing ducts is cost-prohibitive because access is more difficult.  Therefore, getting the ducts sealed at installation is the best choice.A professional HVAC company like Air Assurance can make sure the job is done right the first time.  Proper steps are taken to make sure attics and crawl space ducts are sealed with materials to prevent heat loss during the winter season as well as cool air loss during the summer months.If you are not sure if your ducts are sealed properly, or if you are replacing your existing heating and air conditioning system, be sure to ask about having your ductwork checked.  The investment in duct sealing can make sure your system does not waste energy and clean air is circulated with minimal dust particles or allergens leaking into the ducts.  Also note that if there are serious leaks in the ducts, a home could fail to qualify for the Energy Star Homes program.  Have your system checked by 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.

Key Components Of An Annual Service Check

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.

What Is Microbiocide (BBJ) And How Can It Help Indoor Air Quality?

Operating costs for heating and air conditioning systems continue to rise year after year. So, we make sure our homes are sealed and insulated, weatherstripped and caulked, in order to reduce the infiltration of outside air and the loss of our precious, indoor conditioned air. That saves us money; but, it also creates another problem.Indoor air quality in homes is the new problem. The air we use gets circulated and filtered and we think all is well. Filtration is a tremendous help; the problem is that mold, mildew and bacteria can live in our homes with us. As they breed, their presence can cause allergies to flair and can contribute to other, more serious, respiratory conditions. Poor indoor air quality has become the price we pay for keeping our homes tight, more comfortable and for reducing our energy costs.When pollutants and contaminants leave our home to be filtered they travel through the duct system. Not all bacteria and mold spores go to the filter. Many cling to the ducts and other components in our heating and air conditioning system. As they breed, their numbers increase and they become unwelcome guests in our homes. They can live on anything that provides a comfortable, humid environment. The biggest example of where mold growth can occur is in our air conditioning evaportator coils.  This is most likely the darkest, wettest, area in the home, which provides an ultimate safe harbor for these culprits to live, eat, and reproduce.  A product that can fight mold and mildew in our home air ducts and coils is MicroBiocide.Microbiocide is a harmless chemical thats been approved by the EPA, to help reduce mold and other contaminants in our home comfort system. A treatment with this approved organic chemical can substantially improve the indoor air quality of any home.Reducing microbial irritants in the ducts can reduce duct odors, inhibit the spread and growth of mold colonies and greatly reduce allergens in the indoor air.  Not only that, but by reducing these things that attach themselves to the coils, airflow and temperature transfer is less inhibited, therefore allowing your system to cool or heat more efficiently.Get more information on reducing mold and mildew and increasing the healthy level of indoor air quality by going here. For other information regarding the maintenance of quality indoor air for your family, log onto Air Assurance. We want everyone to enjoy both home comfort at the lowest possible cost and clean, healthy indoor air.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.