How to Tell If You Have an Efficient Heater in Your Home

A low-efficiency heating system will downgrade indoor comfort, increase your home energy bills, and break down more frequently. It pays to ensure that you have an efficient heater in your Broken Arrow home. Let's discuss some ways you can tell if your heater is efficient.

Age

Heaters generally last between 15 and 20 years. Their efficiency goes down as they age and wear. A new system will be more efficient than an older one, so the age of your current system should give you an idea of its efficiency.

AFUE

A heater's annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating will help you tell whether your system is efficient. The measurement shows how much of the energy that the system consumes is converted into heat for your home. A system with an AFUE of 80% converts 80% of its energy into usable heat, and the other 20% is lost through the vents. Midefficiency heaters have an AFUE rating of 80% to 89%, whereas high-efficiency furnaces are rated at 90% and above.

Amount of Maintenance Received

Does a professional HVAC contractor perform maintenance on your heating system every year? Routine maintenance allows potential issues to be resolved early and improves your system's overall efficiency. Heating systems maintained diligently last longer. Without maintenance, a heater can lose as much as 5% of its overall efficiency annually. Your home's heater may be inefficient if it doesn't receive regular maintenance.

Energy Star Label

Another way to know if you have an efficient heater is by checking whether it has the federal Energy Star label. Heating systems labeled with the Energy Star logo have met the Environmental Protection Agency's strict energy-efficiency guidelines and are more efficient than standard models.

Your Energy Bills

If all other factors remain constant, your energy costs should be fairly equal. If your energy bills are much higher than those from the same period in previous years, that could signal that your heating system is less efficient. A less-efficient heater will work harder and longer to heat your house, resulting in higher energy bills.

You can establish whether you have an efficient heater by checking its age, efficiency rating, maintenance schedule, and Energy Star certification and comparing your energy bills. If you need heating-system maintenance, repair, or replacement in the Broken Arrow area, contact us at Air Assurance for assistance.

What Are the Pros and Cons of HVAC Recycling an Old Unit?

While many persons recycle used cans, bottles, and paper, what about HVAC recycling? If you upgrade to a newer, more efficient air conditioner or furnace, what becomes of the old unit? A central AC or window unit, or a gas-fired home furnace, is not a small, insignificant object. It’s a considerable effort for most persons to handle and properly dispose of. So what are the facts about HVAC recycling when the time comes to do so?

Furnaces

A retired gas furnace may or may not be suitable for standard pickup by your local municipality due to its size and weight. However, some cities include objects as large and as heavy as a furnace in specially scheduled bulk-item pickups. The item will have to be moved to the proper spot for pickup — usually out at the curb on the street — then a pickup will need to be arranged with the city. In most residential installations, your HVAC contractor can haul the old furnace away for you.

Air Conditioners

Air conditioners of all sorts — central AC as well as window units — present a complication. Most municipalities will not pick up air conditioners for disposal if they still contain a refrigerant charge. Refrigerant is a toxic gas that is destructive to the environment. By federal law, refrigerant can only be removed from a disused AC by a licensed HVAC contractor. In the most common scenario during air-conditioner replacement, the qualified contractor will remove the refrigerant from the old unit safely in compliance with EPA regulations, then haul it away for proper disposal at an approved local site. 

Ancillary Items for HVAC Recycling

Other smaller items related to an air conditioner or furnace replacement are generally recyclable and may be picked up by your local municipality. Alternatively, you may opt to take them to a local recycler yourself for potential cash. These include:

• Blower motors

• AC coils

• AC compressor motors

• Copper refrigerant tubing and associated brass fittings

• Metal air ducts

For specific information and advice about HVAC recycling here in Tulsa and Wagoner counties, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

Be Sure You Know the Average Gas Bill in Winter

The fluctuations in your energy usage during the year may make it difficult to predict how much you'll spend on your monthly bills. The price of utilities can also vary by region. Let's break down the average gas bill in winter.

What's the Average Gas Bill in Winter?

According to the American Gas Association's most recent findings, U.S. households spent $712 (on average) in natural gas to fuel and heat their houses. In Oklahoma, the average residential gas bill was $670. However, several variables affect your gas consumption, so your bill could be higher or lower.

For example, your monthly gas bill will likely be higher if you use gas to power all your major appliances, such as your furnace, dryer, water heater, and stove or oven. The size of your home also impacts your monthly gas bill. You'll pay more monthly if you have a big house.

A better way to understand your usage is by assessing your yearly consumption and comparing your monthly bills.

Lowering Your Gas Bill

If your gas bill is making a nasty dent in your finances, you can take several steps to lower it. Winter heating is a common cause of high gas bills. You could lower consumption by nudging down your thermostat. Boosting your home's energy efficiency will also help you reduce the gas you consume each month. You could achieve that by installing multi-pane windows and more insulation.

Other tips to help you reduce gas consumption include:

• Turn the water heater temperature down to 120 degrees.

• Insulate your hot-water pipes to retain heat.

• Shorten your shower time.

Remember that the little changes you make could add up to significant energy savings. For more information on the average gas bill in winter, contact us at Air Assurance. We've helped Broken Arrow-area homeowners keep their homes comfortable and energy-efficient for more than 35 years.

What is the Two Way Pipe System for High Efficiency Services?

When it comes to heating and cooling your home, there are all sorts of ways to save energy. One of the best ways is to invest in a high-efficiency HVAC system. For high-efficiency furnaces, one method worth considering is the two way pipe system. It not only heats your home using less energy, it also improves indoor air quality and saves wear and tear on the unit. Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Two Way Pipe System?

Most ordinary furnaces draw air from inside your home. They heat that air and recirculate it back into your home. Exhaust is then vented out of the chimney.

A two way pipe system has a pipe connected to the outdoors, which leads directly to the furnace. That pipe draws in fresh, outdoor air, which is heated and circulated through your home. Then another pipe takes the exhaust and vents it back to the outside.

Benefits of a Two Way Pipe System

When air is drawn from inside your home, it creates extra pressure within your system. This makes it easier for cold air to get drawn into the house through cracks, gaps, and leaks. A two-pipe system creates a better pressure balance, which helps keep cold air from getting in, thus saving energy. The pressure relief also keeps your furnace from working as hard so it can last longer and not break down as often.

Finally, a two-pipe system provides better indoor air quality. In winter, the same, stale air tends to circulate through your HVAC system over and over again, becoming more polluted over time. By drawing air in from the outside, then exhausting it out of the house again, you can break the cycle and ensure you always have clean, fresh air in your home. (Remember that outdoor air tends to be much cleaner than the air in your home.) This way, you can eliminate those contaminants and breathe easier all season.

If you're considering a two way pipe system for your heating needs, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to the Broken Arrow area.

What Are the Best Energy Saving Tips for Summer?

With summer on the horizon and warmer weather on the way, it's time to get your Broken Arrow home more energy-efficient. Maybe you already use energy saving tips for summer, such as turning the thermostat up at night and during work hours and checking your HVAC filter each month. You can add to those two great energy savers with the following six energy saving tips for summer.

Prepare Meals Outdoors

When you prepare meals in the oven and on the stovetop, a substantial amount of heat is generated, warming your home. The thermostat senses the rise in temperature and your AC system turns on. Consider cooking more meals outdoors on the grill. Not only will you save energy, you can have a great time with family and friends.

Dry Laundry Outdoors

The higher temperatures of summer can be of service. Air dry your laundry outside. You'll save energy, your clothes will smell fresh, and the clothes dryer won't be generating heat inside your home.

Water Heater Energy Savings

Did you know that only your AC and heating systems use more energy than the water heater? Another point to ponder: Your water heater runs and uses energy around the clock all year. Your AC and heating units probably don't run 24/7/365, so turning back the water heater temperature on the thermostat to 120 degrees can save a lot of energy.

Seal Up Your Home

Sealing air leaks in your home's envelope helps reduce the cooling load on your AC system, making it one of the best energy savings tips for summer. Ensure the hatch or door to the attic is well sealed with foam weatherstripping. If you have drafty windows and doors, seal them with caulk and weatherstripping.

Schedule AC Maintenance

If you want your AC to operate at peak efficiency, it needs to be serviced each year, one of the essential energy saving tips for summer. Schedule AC maintenance with your HVAC contractor. Professional maintenance locates and fixes small problems before they become expensive problems, and it helps keep your home more comfortable for less money.

Start off with your list of energy saving tips for summer by contacting Air Assurance and scheduling professional AC maintenance.

Learn How to Compare Energy Costs

Heating and cooling systems, such as central air conditioners and furnaces, account for some of the highest energy costs in homes. That’s why it’s so important to compare energy costs when you need to get a new HVAC system. Keep the following tips in mind for comparing energy costs for different kinds of HVAC systems.

Consider the Energy Source

One of the first factors to consider when you compare energy costs is the source of energy an HVAC system uses. For example, some furnaces use natural gas to produce heat, while others use electricity. In this case, you would need to compare energy costs for natural gas vs. electricity as an energy source.

Gas vs. Electricity

Will it cost you less to get an HVAC system that uses natural gas or one that runs on electricity? You’ll need to find out the average costs of these utilities in your area to determine this. While these costs can vary, natural gas usually costs less than electricity overall. This means you’ll likely pay less when you heat your home with a gas furnace compared to an electric one. Keep in mind that both gas and electric costs fluctuate, so the cost of heating your home with either option could go up at times.

HVAC Needs

In addition to considering the cost of natural gas vs. electric, think about how much you normally use your heating and cooling system. This depends on local weather conditions, which can change drastically at times, as well as your individual comfort. If you usually turn your thermostat up quite a bit in winter, going with a lower energy source, such as gas, could save you money compared to running an electric furnace often.

If you need to compare energy costs for a new HVAC system, please contact the experts at Air Assurance. We can assist you with choosing the most cost-efficient HVAC system for your Broken Arrow home.

How Can You Eco Upgrade Your Home?

If you're like most homeowners, you make upgrades around your house from time to time. If you're concerned about your environmental impact, you'll need to make upgrades that save energy, conserve water, and improve your home's efficiency. Here are some simple eco upgrade ideas that will make your home greener.

Get an Energy Audit

An energy audit helps you identify the home upgrades that will increase your energy efficiency the most. The auditor will carry out a blower door test and thermographic scanning to determine how airtight your home is and where you're losing energy. Making the improvements that the auditor suggests can yield significant energy savings.

Upgrade Your Window Treatments

Did you know that heat and cold air could creep into your home even when your windows are closed? Upgrade your blinds and curtains to better maintain your indoor temperature, prevent your HVAC system from working harder, and make your house more eco-friendly.

Install Attic Insulation

Proper insulation is an excellent way to improve energy efficiency. The attic is the best place to start because a lot of heat loss and gain occur through that part of your house. Loose-fill and batt insulation are good options. Add more insulation if your existing attic insulation is less than R-30 (8 inches of cellulose or 11 inches of rockwool or fiberglass).

Get a Rainwater Barrel

Mother Nature gives you lots of water every year. Put it into good use by harvesting rainwater and then watering your lawn and garden with it. Buy a rainwater barrel and leave it outside when rain has been forecast.

Invest in a Low-Flow Showerhead

The flow rate of showerheads made in 1992 or earlier could be 5.5 gallons per minute. You can reduce your water usage by investing in newer, low-flow models, which can cut down the flow rate to 2.5 gallons or less per minute.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Make your house more environmentally friendly by using a programmable thermostat to control your heating and cooling system. It helps lower your utility bills.

These eco upgrades help you save money and the planet at the same time. If you want to make HVAC or plumbing upgrades in the Broken Arrow area, contact the award-winning experts at Air Assurance.

How to Achieve HVAC Savings This Winter

We're fortunate that over the past few winters, the price of energy has been lower than in previous years, and predictions are that this winter, it will be lower still. Furthermore, winters of late have not been as cold as in former times, so homeowners have gotten a break on HVAC savings. Nevertheless, when it comes to our energy bills, we're always looking for ways to extend those HVAC savings.

In fact, if you've noticed that your heating bill has gone up, it's time to look for the reason and do something about it. Sometimes the remedy is quite simple, such as air sealing your home. Otherwise, you may have to make a more serious investment, such as newer, more efficient equipment to replace an old heating unit that's seen better days.

Here are some tips on how you can realize HVAC savings:

HVAC Savings This Winter

1. Air seal your home. Once a year, you should go around your home sealing air leaks that allow heated air out and cold air inside. Using caulk, insulation, and weatherstripping, seal around these spots: window and door frames; baseboards; electric switch plates (install a foam gasket inside the cover); at the bottom of the door; the attic hatch; and around the openings in exterior walls for pipes, cables, and wiring. Also check the fireplace chimney, furnaces, and gas-powered water heater vents, fixing leaks with fire-resistant materials such as Sheetrock, sheet metal, and furnace cement caulk.

2. Schedule maintenance for your furnace. Your HVAC technician can help boost your HVAC savings by servicing your furnace. The tech will ensure that burners are clean and igniting properly, and they can test the blower motor for amp draw. The tech will also inspect the vent system for blockages and make sure the blower is clean and functioning properly.

3. Turn the thermostat down a few degrees. You can save as much as 15% on your energy bill by turning the thermostat down a few degrees at night when the household is sleeping and when the premises is unoccupied.

For more on HVAC savings, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Hidden Ways Your HVAC Bill Can Cost You

What if you could give yourself a little financial boost every month by cutting down on your electricity bill? It's possible by addressing certain hidden electricity costs around your home. What could be better than avoiding the monthly dread most of us feel when we look at the electricity bill and see how much more energy we've used than we calculated? You can do that by eliminating the hidden costs associated with electricity.

What Are Some Hidden Energy Costs?

Your energy bill can be reduced in many ways. Here are some top suggestions for reducing hidden costs.

1. Run energy-gobbling appliances at off-peak hours. Electricity generally costs more when it's being consumed at peak hours, such as between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Make a point of washing and drying clothes or running the dishwasher at off-peak hours, when demand is less, so that you are paying less for energy. Some homeowners with well-insulated homes make a practice of running the air conditioner at a colder temperature at night so they don't have to turn it up so high during the day while the house is still holding cool air.

2. Eliminate energy vampires. All over your house, you may have appliances and devices that are consuming energy while they are supposedly "off," such as DVD players, VCRs, cable and satellite boxes, digital TV converters, video game consoles, standby coffeemakers, and many other appliances, which may continue to draw energy when you think they are off. Plug all these devices into a power strip and turn the strip off when the appliances are not in use. 

3. Choose more efficient appliances. As your appliances age and wear out, be sure you replace them with models that are more efficient and that use less energy, such as those rated by the government's Energy Star program. 

4. When replacing your HVAC system, make sure the new system is sized correctly. Calculate the right size with industry software rather than going by square footage and guesswork. The wrong-size HVAC system will result in greater hidden costs.

For more on the hidden costs of running your HVAC system, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

What Local Laws Can Help You Save Money on Your AC Bill?

With hot temperatures throughout the summer in the Broken Arrow area, having air conditioning in your home is essential. One drawback to having central air is that it can cost a lot in terms of your energy bills. Local money-saving laws and a few other tips can help you lower the cost of cooling your home this summer.

R-22 or HCFC-22 Laws

If you have an older air conditioning system that still uses R-22 or HCFC-22 — also known as freon — keep in mind that these use a lot of energy. Throughout the United States, this type of refrigerant is being phased out gradually. With these phaseout laws in place, this is a good time to consider switching to a new AC system. In addition to using less energy to cool your home, you’ll also have an easier time having repairs made if needed. Although the phaseout laws don’t require you to buy a newer AC system that doesn’t use R-22 or HCFC-22, you can save considerable money on your energy bills.

Local Money-Saving Laws

In the Broken Arrow area, Power Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) offers ways to save money and energy. PSO has several instant rebates available for homeowners who have certain upgrades done, such as purchasing an eligible energy-efficient HVAC system. Homeowners can save up to $800 with this type of upgrade — or even more money when two or more qualifying upgrades are done. Air Assurance is among the service providers that can help you qualify for these HVAC upgrades.

Tips for Reducing Energy Usage

You can also save money on energy bills this summer by scheduling routine HVAC maintenance, which keeps your AC working efficiently. Using a programmable thermostat, changing your air filters, and turning your thermostat up a few (or more) degrees are other ways to lower the cost of cooling your home during the summer months.

If you’re looking for more ways to save money on cooling your Broken Arrow home, contact Air Assurance today.

What Can Send Your Summer AC Bill Sky High?

With summers getting hotter in recent years, it pays to keep close watch over your electricity bills. Sudden spikes in energy costs can signal that you're using more energy because it's hot, of course, but higher bills can also signal a problem. If you suspect that there's more to your summer AC bills than meets the eye, here are some things to check on.

Air Leaks

Unless you have a new home with tight construction, conditioned air may be leaking out, with unconditioned air finding its way inside, compromising your cooling efforts. It's not that difficult to air-seal your home once you know where the leaks are occurring. Wave a lit stick of incense around key places where the air may be leaking, such as around baseboards, windows and doors, the attic hatch, recessed lighting, and exterior walls where pipes, cables, and wiring come in. Plug the leaks with insulation, weatherstripping and caulk.

Leaking Ductwork

Your ductwork is probably out of sight and never gets checked for leaks, but it should be. Over time, the segments develop cracks and come apart, so that conditioned air leaks out and unconditioned air gets in. This can cause your HVAC system to work harder to cool or heat your home. Ductwork efficiency may be improved with fiberglass lining.

Aging, Inefficient HVAC

As your HVAC unit ages, parts start wearing out, causing the system to work less efficiently. What's more, older models were not designed to be as efficient as newer ones. Newer models can be rated as high as SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) 25, which is an extraordinarily efficient rating. To achieve this level of efficiency, modern ACs may come equipped with such technology as a scrolling compressor or a dual-stage compressor, variable speed fan, and variable refrigerant flow.

Hot Spots

Your home may develop hot spots, which are places in rooms — or whole rooms themselves — that are too warm, spurring you to lower the thermostat in an attempt to cool down. A zoned system may be the answer.

For more on how to lower your summer AC bills, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding community.

HVAC Cost-Savings to Help During Tax Season

Very few people look forward to tax season, and it's very easy to understand why. We thought it'd be a good idea to help you lighten the burden a little by teaching you some HVAC cost-savings techniques that you can begin implementing right now.

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Moving your thermostat up and down on a regular basis can increase your monthly energy costs. A programmable thermostat allows you to put your equipment on a schedule so that you'll have better and more consistent control over your energy usage.

Look for Air Leaks and Seal Them

Every home has air leaks, but if you have too many, then you're very likely wasting energy by forcing your HVAC equipment to run longer than it should. Seal any leaks you find with weatherstripping, spray foam, or caulk. Common areas to find leaks are around the edges of your doors and windows.

Lower the Water Heater’s Temperature

Many homeowners don't realize that their water heater's temperature is cranked up higher than it really needs to be, which will obviously lead to a waste of energy. The standard default setting from the manufacturer is very often 140° F, but most people are comfortable moving it down to 120° F.

Install a Zoned System

Traditional cooling systems aren't exactly efficient, because they're forced to treat the entire home even when only one or two rooms are occupied. A zoned system, which includes multiple thermostats and the ability to concentrate your cooling efforts on specified areas of your home, will help lower your energy costs.

Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs

In recent years, there's been a huge push to switch from traditional light bulbs to fluorescent models. It isn't difficult to see why: Not only do incandescent bulbs use more energy, but they also give off more heat, which will increase your cooling needs.

We hope these HVAC cost-savings strategies will help you get started toward lowering your energy bills. If you're in need of service, the team at Air Assurance can help. We've been fielding HVAC needs for Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Time-Variant Pricing & Energy Efficiency

More and more electric utilities across the country are offering time-variant pricing to residential customers. It’s not only a money-saver for those who take advantage of this new pricing method, it also makes basic energy efficiency habits pay off more than ever.

In years past, electricity was typically priced at a flat rate: no matter what time you used it, you paid the same price. Time-variant pricing, however, means electricity costs more in high-demand periods of the day and substantially less during periods of low consumption. By synchronizing electricity use to take advantage of lower-priced periods — as well as taking common sense measures to increase home energy-efficiency — you can realize meaningful savings on your monthly electrical bills.

Most time-variant plans divide electricity prices into three levels:

• Peak hours. This is typically daylight hours from late morning through early evening. Rates are higher during this period.

• Off-peak hours. Usually beginning at around 8 p.m. and continuing overnight, off-peak pricing provides electricity at bargain rates.

• Critical peak periods. During limited periods of unusually high consumption—for example, a severe heat wave—utilities may temporarily impose above-market electricity rates. However, customers who keep consumption below specified levels during the period will frequently be exempt from critical peak cost increases.

To maximize the benefits of time-variant price scheduling, here are a few suggestions:

• Check with your utility to determine the exact timing of each price level, then set your programmable thermostat accordingly to enhance savings. For example, you may want to bump up the A/C thermostat setting a few degrees during the peak pricing period and lower it during off-peak hours.

• Schedule high-consumption activities—like running the washer and dryer or using the dishwasher—to take advantage of off-peak hours at nights and on weekends.

• If critical peak pricing takes effect, try to keep consumption below the trigger point that imposes special increased rates. Open windows at night for cooling, run efficient ceiling fans to keep air moving, turn off lights, etc.

For more ways to make the most of time-variant pricing, ask the professionals at Air Assurance.

10 Steps to a Green Home

The effort to build and live green is not going away. In fact, energy efficiency will just continue to be more important as we move away from fossil fuels and find alternative, more efficient energy sources. But right now, there's a lot you can do to have a green home. Have a look at some of these tips and adapt them in your dwelling space.

1. Change the air filter frequently. A dirty air filter makes your HVAC system work harder. Change the filter as often as is needed.

2. Switch to a permanent, washable air filter. This eliminates having to dispose of filters, which end up in the landfill. Make sure you clean it so it works properly.

3. Seal air leaks. You'll get greater energy efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint by sealing air leaks around plumbing, light switches, baseboards, doors and windows.

4. Use a programmable or Wi-fi thermostat. Set your schedule to reduce power use during the day when everyone's gone and at night when they are asleep. Stick to the schedule.

5. Reduce humidity in the home in summer. A humid home can make you feel warm so you use more energy to cool. Fix plumbing leaks, reduce shower times, and install exhaust ventilation to reduce relative humidity.

6. Look into solar solutions. Look into installing energy-efficient solar lights and other solar solutions around the home to reduce energy use. You may even want to install solar batteries for all your energy use.

7. Fix air duct leaks. If your air ducts are leaking, you're losing conditioned air. Have them checked out during HVAC maintenance.

8. Install efficient windows. Install double pane, efficient windows recommended by Energy Star to reduce solar radiation in the home, and to keep cold winds out.

9. Install window tinting. This can help reduce solar radiation in the home.

10. Install Energy Star appliances. As your older appliances wear out, look for efficient Energy Star-rated replacements.

For more on creating a green home, and to schedule repairs, maintenance and installations, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Measure Your Home's Energy Efficiency

While the Department of Energy recommends having a professional energy audit as the most effective method of accessing your home's energy efficiency, it is possible for DIYers to conduct their own audit to pinpoint some of the troublespots and improve efficiency.

What is Home Energy Efficiency?

Simply put, energy efficiency is the use of less energy to power more things. As a homeowner, the more efficient your home, the less you spend annually in electricity.

Major Problem Areas

Perhaps the greatest problem for most homeowners are the drafts that occur in your home. Air escaping through leaks around door frames, baseboards, and window ledges can reduce home energy efficiency by as much as ten to twenty percent each year. Check for cracks around areas where different materials join together. Simple caulk or weatherstripping will alleviate a majority of these issues.

Insulation

Another common problem is an inadequate amount of insulation. Insulation in the attic and walls helps to prevent energy loss throughout your home. While it is difficult to check and replace insulation in preexisting walls, checking the attic is far less intrusive. Review local building codes to identify the minimum required amount of insulation for your home and measure the amount you currently have. Chances are you can improve your home energy efficiency by simply adding insulation.

Lighting

It may be surprising but lighting your home can account for as much as ten percent of your monthly energy bill. Consider replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient bulbs like LED or compact fluorescent bulbs. Look for ways to better manage the amount of light you use. Dimmer switches and timers can be a viable option.

Heating and Cooling

Your HVAC system should be inspected annually to ensure proper performance. Change filters on a regular basis to reduce the amount of strain put on your unit. If your unit is older than 15 years, consider replacing it with a more efficient system.

Appliances

Appliances can affect your energy bill whether you use them or not. Unplug all appliances when not in use and always consider energy ratings when purchasing new appliances.

To schedule a professional home evaluation, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

How Cleaning Your Windows Enhances Energy Efficiency

Spring cleaning the windows is a great way to refresh your home's exterior and give its aesthetic a boost. Shiny window panes are great for zesting up curb appeal, but for improving HVAC performance and your home's overall efficiency, you also need to focus on window maintenance.

Why Windows Matter for Energy Efficiency

Statistics from the Department of Energy tell us that 25 to 30 percent of a home's HVAC-related energy consumption can be wasted by heat gains and losses through the windows. You can trim that percentage by cleaning and enhancing your windows' efficiency. Having more efficient windows also reduces your HVAC equipment's workload, which translates into better performance and longer component lifespan.

Tips for Enhancing Window Efficiency

Along with tackling your normal spring cleaning, try taking a few of these measures to improve your windows' efficiency:

• Before shining and polishing the glass, inspect the windows to locate any areas of cracked/missing caulking or damaged/missing weatherstripping. To stop air leakage in these spots, remove any damaged material, then seal them with add new caulking or weatherstripping.

• If your windows are leaking badly or in poor condition, spring is an ideal time to replace them with energy-efficient units. A less costly option is purchasing interior inserts. These acrylic or plexiglass units are made to size, so they fit tightly and prevent air leaks.

• If your home has casement or double-hung windows, pay special attention to the tracks and moving parts when you clean. You need to remove all built-up debris in these areas so the windows close snugly and won't leak air.

• Give your home's interior a revamp with new insulated window treatments that you can close during the day to keep out solar heat.

• Shade your windows by adding awnings on your home's exterior and/or by planting a few strategically-placed trees.

• Put window cleaning on your fall home maintenance list too, because squeaky-clean glass lets in more of the sun's energy, which can help warm the interior during the winter.

To learn more effective ways to enhance energy efficiency in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

10 Ways to Save Energy This Winter

The arrival of winter can put a real dent in your budget. Heating costs can send your utility bill through the roof. Fortunately, there are numerous tips you can use to enjoy energy savings this winter. They include:

1. Open the shades and curtains during the day to take advantage of the warming sunlight. Close them at night to protect your home from cold drafts.

2. If you have a fireplace with an external air intake, install an airtight door on it to prevent indoor air from escaping through the chimney. If you have a traditional fireplace that uses indoor air for combustion, install operable vents on it. Close the vents when the fireplace isn't in use.

3. Use a portable space heater to warm the room you're in and turn down the thermostat by 5 degrees or more. Every degree you turn down your thermostat by contributes to a lower energy bill.

4. Install storm windows over single pane windows to reduce heat loss.

5. Seal gaps and cracks in your doors and windows. These allow warm indoor air to escape and cold air to leak into your home.

6. Add loose-fill insulation to your attic. Heat rises, so ensuring the attic is well-insulated helps keep heat inside your home.

7. Install a programmable thermostat to avoid wasting heat. You can set it low when you're at work and increase the heat just before you return.

8. Decorate for the holiday with LED lights. They're more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lighting. What's more, LED holiday lights last much longer.

9. Lower the water heater if you're going on vacation to reduce water heating costs. If you're planning to be away for more than two days, set it to its lowest setting.

10. Switch off and unplug the electronics that you're not using. They continue to consume electricity even when they're turned off.

Use these tips to take your winter energy savings to the next level without sacrificing comfort. For more useful energy-saving and HVAC tips, contact Air Assurance. Broken Arrow residents have trusted us to handle all their HVAC and plumbing needs 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 other HVAC topics, us at 918-217-8273.

How Weather Affects Your Energy Bill

Americans spend about half their annual energy budget on keeping their homes comfortable, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The weather has a big impact on each month’s energy bill. When it’s mild, bills stay low. During extremes, daily energy use climbs.

Temperature and Humidity

The two aspects of summer weather that increases cooling costs include the air temperature and the humidity level. Of the two, it’s faster and easier for your A/C to remove the heat from dry air than it is to cool off hot, humid air. Keeping the humidity out of your home in the summer does help lower its cooling costs and keeps you more comfortable. Besides being energy-intensive to remove, humidity also increases discomfort indoors when it exceeds 50 percent.

The HVAC industry deals with the extra burden that humidity puts on cooling systems by consulting a software resource that identifies cooling systems better suited for humid climates. When replacing your current system, ask the HVAC contractor to verify that the new one can handle the area’s summertime humidity.

What You Can Do

If you find that your energy consumption is higher than you’d like it to be, making improvements that help your home resist heat transfer and air infiltration will help lower your energy bill and increase your comfort. Consider:

• Adding insulation to the attic. The DOE recommends at least 10 inches in the attic for the best thermal control.

• Using the kitchen and bathroom fans. Be careful not to run the fans too long. Although they’re small, they’re capable of pulling a lot of conditioned air out of your home.

• Sealing the air leaks in your home’s exterior to prevent air infiltration that could raise the indoor humidity. Use caulk, expanding foam and weatherstripping around windows and doors, as well as entry points for pipes and wires.

• Using specialty products like chimney pillows to stop air leaks from fireplace chimneys, or self-sealing dryer vents.

If your monthly energy bill seems too high, contact Air Assurance for an HVAC inspection. We provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners 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 other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

These Household Appliances Affect Your Energy Bills

Many of the causes behind higher monthly energy bills are obvious suspects. Others, however, may be "under the radar" and not often considered. Here are three household appliances that could be consuming more than their fair share of energy and pushing costs higher:

The Refrigerator

It has a big footprint in your kitchen but often doesn’t loom large as a potential cause of higher energy bills. It was 1997 before refrigerators were included in the Department of Energy’s Energy Star standards. Since then, technology to enhance efficiency has been gradually incorporated in new models. Refrigerators manufactured before that year, or early in the time span since, may be operating well below today’s norm when it comes to electrical consumption. If your refrigerator falls in that category, consider upgrading and start saving now.

The Washing Machine

Most washers last 10 years or so. However, if yours is that old or older it may be much less efficient than units manufactured recently. A new efficient clothes washer today will use about 100,000 gallons less water over the upcoming decade than a new washer sold in 2007. Since most of that water is heated by gas or electricity, the new units will cost their owners an estimated $150 less in energy costs per year. Today’s efficient washers also extract water more efficiently, which reduces time in the dryer and also cuts energy expenses.

The HVAC Blower

If your air conditioner and furnace are up-to-date but the blower motor that circulates air is old-school, you may not be getting the full benefit of more efficient HVAC equipment. When the furnace or A/C is running, an outmoded, single-speed PSC (permanent split capacitor) blower fan can account for fully 10 percent of household electrical usage. New, variable-speed ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) blowers are programmed to circulate air across a wide range of output and maintain more consistent indoor temperature. In addition, these highly efficient units use up to 75 percent less power than the old, original-equipment motors.

For more about lesser-known causes of high energy bills, in Broken Arrow ask the pros 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). For more information about appliances and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “deeptuts/Pixabay”