Does Air Quality Improve During the Colder Months?

You might think air quality is better when the weather is colder. It would seem that warm air encourages pollution, but that's not so, say the experts. It turns out that various factors are at play to make cold air more polluted than warmer air. Let's see what they are and what that means for your breathing when you're outside. Cold, polluted air can also have an effect on your indoor air quality.

Why Cold Air Is More Polluted

It has to do with the fact that cold air sinks and warm air rises. Cold air is denser, with less space between the molecules of air. When there is a plunge in temperature, warm air is forced to pass over a blanket of cold air. This cold air keeps a cap on the environment, and pollutants can't escape and disperse. 

Being denser than warm air, this cold blanket of air moves slowly. Thus, cold air traps pollution and keeps it in place. In fact, it keeps it in place much longer than in the summer. 

Most efforts in this country to reduce air pollution have been focused on the summer. Smog is actually a greater concern in our bigger cities during winter.

Rainfall can also have an effect on pollution. When it rains, the pollution is washed away; after a summer storm, the air is nice and clean. In the winter, the same thing can happen, but it tends to rain less in the wintertime. 

In the wintertime, we also leave our vehicles running for longer periods so they can warm up. This adds to pollution, as does the greater use of HVAC equipment, both residential and commercial.

What's more, in the home, we tend to keep doors and windows closed in the winter. This allows airborne pollutants to build up until the home's air quality is very poor. The only way to improve it if you can't open windows or doors is to install some type of ventilation. 

Want to know more about how temperature affects air quality? Contact Air Assurance, serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding area. 

Do You Know What Can Contaminate Your Home's Indoor Air?

Perhaps you've heard that indoor air can be many times more polluted than the air outside your house. The reason? Most of our houses are now created with airtight construction, without those cracks that used to allow fresh air in and stale air out. We also use air conditioning or heating most of the year, so we tend to keep our houses shut. That means the air inside the home can get very stale unless you have a ventilation system.

What's Polluting Your Home?

You may be surprised at all the pollutants that can end up in your home. Here are some of them:

• Tobacco

• Gas, kerosene, coal, and wood

• Pressed-wood products

• Carpet fibers

• Deteriorating, asbestos-containing insulation

• Products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies that contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

• Central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices

• Outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution

• Mold

• Pet dander

• Decaying insect particles

• Dust mites

• Pollen

All these pollutants enter the home by different means, but experts say that the best way to control them and keep them from affecting your indoor air is to keep them out of the home. For instance, in the case of tobacco, stop any smoking of these products in the home. In the case of radon, you may need a professional to install a radon barrier to protect your indoor air. Vacuum carpets and upholstery with a HEPA filter to control dust mites, pollen, dust, and pet dander. Brush pets frequently outdoors. Brush your clothes and pets off before entering the home to control pollen. For pressed-wood products, air them out before coming indoors. For substances that tend to off-gas VOCs, keep the lids on tight or store the products in the garage, away from people and pets that might breathe them. To control mold, eliminate damp places where it may grow, such as leaking roofs and ceilings or leaking plumbing. 

Consider installing ventilation to remove stale air and replace it with fresh air. Use a quality air filter in the HVAC. For gassy substances, look into a charcoal-activated filtration system. 

For more on indoor air, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. 

Ways You Can Improve Indoor Air Quality This Summer

As summer weather heats up, you might spend more time in your home with the air conditioning on. Being inside so much means it’s important to think about indoor air quality (IAQ). Improving IAQ gives you healthier air to breathe in your Broken Arrow home. The following tips can help you boost IAQ this summer.

Change Your Air Filters

Put in a new air filter if you haven’t done so in awhile. A brand new filter in your HVAC system helps ensure that you have cleaner air inside your home. Air filters collect pet dander, pollen, dust, and other debris over time, which lowers air quality. While your AC is running, the debris on these filters gets blown into your home.

Adjust Humidity Levels

The humidity levels in your home should be anywhere between 30% and 50%. Too much humidity allows bacteria, mold, and other harmful organisms to grow and spread. Using a dehumidifier and running your air conditioning remove excess moisture in your home.

Use Natural Ventilation

On days when heat and humidity levels are low outside, consider opening your windows. This lets fresh air into your home and pushes stale or even toxic air out. Use ceiling fans to keep indoor rooms cooler when you have the windows open.

Use an Air Purifier

Air purifiers help eliminate odors, germs, and other particles in your home, which raises IAQ. You can set up portable air purifiers around your home or invest in a whole-house air purifier. This type of air purifier works with your HVAC system to remove harmful particles and improve indoor air quality in all areas of your home.

Clean Frequently to Help Indoor Air Quality

Dusting, vacuuming, and wiping down surfaces in your home helps cut down on dust and other harmful particles. Doing these tasks often can help keep the air inside your home healthier this summer.

If you’re looking for more ways to improve indoor air quality in your Broken Arrow home, contact Air Assurance. We offer effective IAQ solutions, including air purifiers, humidification, and more.

Whole Home Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers in Tulsa

Whole Home Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers in Tulsa

From dry, itchy skin, to chapped lips, and static electricity, low humidity in the home affects your quality of life. It can affect breathing, irritate the nose and throat, cause nosebleeds, and is especially hard on asthma and allergy sufferers. It can also suck the moisture out of hardwood floors, pianos, guitars, furniture, and other expensive wood-based items, costing you a small fortune.These things can happen if the relative humidity in your home falls below 30 percent.

Benefits Of Whole-House Humidifiers

In the winter, that level can easily dive as low as 15 percent, drier than the air in most desserts. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma should not feel like the Sahara desert. To regulate moisture in your home you need a good humidifier.While most portable units don’t regulate actual humidity levels, and can only humidify one or two rooms, whole-house humidifiers have an immediate connection to your heating system, providing comfort and consistency throughout the home. Portable units run the risk of adding too much moisture to the air, which can lead to mold, mildew, dust mites, and insects. If portable units are not cleaned often, they can become sources of mold and bacteria. Some benefits of whole-house units are that they only need to be cleaned once or twice a year, and don’t use a reservoir, eliminating the dangers of stagnant water in the home. Once ideal humidity levels are set, whole-house humidifiers regulate moisture levels, humidify air as needed, and distribute it to every room in the home.Maintaining humidity levels reduces the chance of respiratory infection by reducing viruses, bacteria, and dust. By eliminating dust you also reduce the time, effort, and cost of cleaning your home. In addition, as dry air feels colder, maintaining proper moisture levels will help you to feel warm naturally, allowing for lower thermostat levels, and lower utility costs.In terms of health, cost, and energy efficiency, whole-house humidifiers are the most beneficial way to regulate humidity in your home. With several models available, the best humidifier for you will depend largely on your existing heating and cooling system, as well as the size of your home.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.

Tulsa Air Quality Concerns?

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Indoor Air Quality Concerns | Tulsa, OK

Because most of the breaths we take each day are inside our own home, unhealthy air in the house can be a real concern. As homes have become more tightly sealed to conserve energy and improve temperature control, airborne irritants and toxins accumulate in this enclosed environment. In fact, the environment inside a home can be more than five times more polluted than outdoor air.

Indoor air pollution may trigger immediate effects, as well as impose long-term health issues. Here are some common contaminants that can contribute to unhealthy air in homes today:

• Airborne dust and lint that cause allergic reactions

• Toxic insecticides and pesticides

• Pet dander

• Carpets, upholstery, and other materials that release formaldehyde fumes

• Volatile organic compounds from paints, glues, solvents, and building materials

• Naturally occurring radon gas

• Biological sources including mold, viruses, bacteria, pollen, and dust mites

• Combustion byproducts from gas-fired appliances, furnaces, and water heaters

Fortunately, you have options to reduce household pollutants and maintain a more healthy home environment. Here's a sampling to clear the unhealthy air:

• Replace the HVAC air filter regularly. The entire air volume inside a home passes through the system air filter multiple times per day.

• Utilize vacuum cleaners with HEPA filtration, capable of removing more than 99% of dust and other particulates, down to a size of 0.3 microns.

• Control indoor humidity. A humid environment breeds biological pollutants such as mold, bacteria, and fungus. Maintain indoor relative humidity between 30% and 50%.

• Schedule annual professional preventive maintenance on gas-fired furnaces and appliances with a qualified HVAC contractor.

• Vent the basement properly to remove accumulating radon gas if it's present in your locale.

• Install exhaust fans in the kitchen and in bathrooms to remove fumes and water vapor.

• Store chemicals including glues, paints, solvents, and pesticides outside the living areas of the home.

• Open windows when weather permits to flush the house with fresh outdoor air.

For more strategies to minimize the consequences of unhealthy air inside your home environment, talk to the air-quality professionals at Air Assurance.

Indoor Air Quality

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Indoor Air Quality - Tulsa, Ok

Indoor air can expose you to more pollutants than outdoor air. Failing to address issues with indoor air quality can lead to health problems like allergies and asthma. A good starting point for improving your home's air quality is identifying the levels of contaminants. Here are ways to test your home's air quality.

Evaluate Your Health Symptoms

Assessing any signs and symptoms you may have and your home's age and location may help narrow down the potential indoor pollutants. Seek medical attention if you believe your health issues are connected to your living environment. Your doctor will help you identify the health problems resulting from exposure to pollutants like mold, carbon monoxide, or radon.

Install an Air Quality Monitor

Purchase a monitor that measures the specific indoor pollutants you're worried about. For instance, if you live in an older house, you could get a monitor that detects carbon monoxide and radon. If you live in an area with lots of outdoor air pollution, you could buy a model that detects particulate matter.

Install Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and it can build up to dangerous levels in a poorly ventilated space. If you own appliances such as gas furnaces, gas-burning stoves, and gas dryers, installing CO alarms on all levels of your home is crucial.

Carry Out a Radon Test

Long-term radon exposure is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Radon can seep into your home through the foundation, walls, floors, and areas around your pipes. You can use short-term radon test kits, long-term kits, or continuous tests to find out whether your home has high radon levels.

Call a Professional

You can opt for professional indoor air quality test if you fear you may have severe air-quality issues and are experiencing health problems like asthma and humidifier fever related to exposure to pollutants.

Once you identify the potential indoor air quality issues in your home, you can address them by installing an air purifier, sealing up trouble areas, improving your home's ventilation, and ensuring your HVAC system is working at peak efficiency. If you need any HVAC service or indoor air quality assessment in the Broken Arrow area, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

How to Clean the Air in Your Home

Do you ever think about your indoor air quality? If not, you're like many other homeowners who, while they would never neglect cleaning their homes, don't give clean air a second thought. That's too bad, because research has shown that the air quality in most homes — particularly those with newer, tighter construction — is several times more polluted than the air outdoors. It may not be on your radar unless you have allergies or respiratory problems, but read on to learn what you might be breathing in your home. Then, maybe you'll decide it's time to do something about cleaning the air.

What Types of Pollutants Do You Have in Your Home?

The air in most homes is positive for a variety of airborne pollutants, including:

• Humidity

• Volatile organic compounds

• Dust mites and other decaying insect parts

• Pollen

• Dust

• Mold

• Pet dander

Over time, the pollutants build up, particularly if you keep windows and doors closed or if you do not have some type of ventilation equipment installed.

Cleaning the Air in Your Home

There are a number of ways to effectively go about cleaning the air in your home:

• Fix plumbing leaks, condensate drain obstructions, and leaks in the roof and ceiling to lower humidity in the home. Also, changing the HVAC filter often will help the HVAC remove moisture from the home's air properly.

• Install bathroom and kitchen ventilation to lower humidity in the home.

• Air out dry cleaning or articles made of pressed wood to shed volatile organic compounds, which are types of gases given off by certain products. Also tightly cap chemicals such as thinner, paint and cleaning solutions. Put them away in a cabinet or outside.

• Don't smoke indoors.

• Vacuum with a HEPA filter.

• Brush pets outdoors.

• To get rid of pet dander and insect particles, vacuum and clean rugs, carpets, and drapes.

• Use a quality air filter, changing it as often as the manufacturer recommends.

• Use either a portable air purifier or install a whole-home air purifier in the HVAC system.

For more on cleaning the air, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Which Winter Allergens Are Most Common?

Most winter allergies are triggered by indoor allergens. Although these allergens are usually in your house throughout the year, they may flare up during the winter because you spend more time indoors with your windows closed. Your heating system may also circulate them throughout the house. Find out what these common winter allergens are and how you can avoid them or minimize exposure to them.

Common Winter Allergens

The indoor allergens that commonly trigger allergy symptoms in the winter include:

• Pet dander. You can find pet dander from cats and dogs on almost any surface in your home. They can cause more allergies in the winter due to your furry friends spending more time indoors, particularly in the living room or bedroom.

• Mold. Indoor mold thrives in damp areas such as under sinks, basements, and bathrooms. Humidifiers and leaky faucets or pipes can encourage mold growth.

• Dust mites. These are commonly found on carpets, bedding, and upholstered furniture in your home. Their poop can become embedded in your household dust. Use of indoor heating and failure to wash bedding regularly can increase exposure to these allergens.

• Cockroach droppings. They are commonly found in dark, moist spaces like under sinks, behind appliances, or inside kitchen cupboards.

How to Combat Winter Allergens

Here are some useful preventive measures you can take to guard against common winter allergens:

• Use a humidifier to combat winter air dryness, but make sure the indoor humidity doesn't exceed 50%.

• Put hypoallergenic cases over your pillows and mattresses to keep out dust mites.

• Wash your bedding, removable upholstery covers, and clothes in hot water regularly to reduce the buildup of dust mites and pet dander.

• Seal crevices and cracks, fix leaky pipes and faucets, and clean up any crumbs or leftovers.

• Vacuum your home regularly using a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.

While removing the common winter allergens entirely may not be possible, you can significantly reduce your exposure to them using the steps above. Contact us at Air Assurance for the best heating, cooling, air-quality, and plumbing solutions in the Broken Arrow area.

Should You Be Sleeping with the Window Open in Winter?

No doubt you've tried sleeping with your window open when the weather allows, either in spring or fall, when it's not too cold or so hot you need the air conditioning. So have you ever noted during these occasions whether or not you seem to sleep better with the window open than you do when it's closed? Some sleep researchers maintain that sleeping with window a open in winter has some benefits, including getting a better rest. Let's take a look at them.

Benefits of Sleeping With the Window Open in Winter

1. Helps to exhaust CO and CO2. Although your carbon monoxide monitor may not be alarming you, there may be small levels of poisonous CO in your home, given off by gas-burning appliances such as the furnace or pilot lights. Cracking a window can help dispel some of this CO, which, though not significant enough to trip an alarm, might give sensitive individuals a headache. Further, there can be a buildup of CO2 or carbon dioxide which can occur when we close the bedroom door. It seems we give off CO2 when we exhale and our oxygen is converted. CO2 can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
   
   Opening a window can relieve the stuffiness that is likely to occur when our doors and the house in general is all closed up because it's chilly outside.

2. Better sleep with lower temperatures. Sleep researchers in recent years have maintained that we may sleep better when temperatures are lower. It seems we produce more melatonin (the chemical in our brains that helps us sleep) when it's chillier. During cold spells, try cracking the window an inch or so to lower your bedroom temperature.

3. Outside noises may promote sleep. As long as your outdoor noises don't include parties, traffic, and midnight street construction, some nocturnal noises may help you sleep. If by opening your window a bit you can hear crickets and the sighing of gentle winds, you may find the white noise you need to help you sleep.

For more on sleeping with a window open in winter, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. 

How to Avoid and Combat Mold in HVAC Equipment

Although your HVAC equipment can be one of your best weapons for combating mold, under certain conditions, it can also become a haven for mold. Fortunately, there are some reliable methods for treating and preventing mold in your HVAC system.

How to Detect Mold in HVAC

Generally, you can tell if you have mold in your HVAC system if you smell a strong, musty odor. Here are some other signs:

• Mold around air ducts or intake vents

• Leaks or puddles inside the HVAC or on the floor

• Household occupants are subject to coughing or congestion

Why Do You Have Mold in HVAC?

Mold usually occurs in the HVAC system because of these factors:

• Warm, damp conditions in the home

• Leaky ducts allowing damp air into the system

• An overflowing condensate drain

• A dirty air filter that prevents good airflow, resulting in excess condensation on evaporative coils

To get rid of the excess moisture in your system, have your HVAC consultant fix the disconnected or damaged ducts. If the condensate drain is plugged to overflowing, it's an easy fix with bleach and flushing it with water. And, be sure to change the air filter regularly. You might also need to have the evaporative coils cleaned now and then.

Other Treatments for Mold in HVAC

If your home has high humidity in the summer, you may want to address that. Besides the already-mentioned remedies, try removing humidity with a portable dehumidifier. If this doesn't help, you might discuss installing a whole-house dehumidifier with your HVAC consultant. Also, discuss installation of UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) lights in your HVAC to get rid of mold. 

Other actions you might ask your HVAC consultant to take:

• Treat the HVAC system with an EPA-approved disinfectant, manufactured for HVAC systems.

• Apply a mold inhibitor to all the components of your HVAC.

• Find which ducts are most affected by moisture and mold, and clean, fix, and replace them as needed.

• Have air intakes near areas where organic materials might accumulate checked and cleaned if needed.

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

How Do You Handle Mold in HVAC Systems During the Summer?

Mold colonies can damage property and possessions and cause health problems for those in your home. Significant mold growth will emit a foul, musty, and earthy odor. During the summer, mold in HVAC systems can also become a substantial problem that affects your home's indoor air quality, the health of its occupants — and your pocketbook. Read on to learn where to look for mold in HVAC systems and how to go about mitigating mold problems.

Mold in the HVAC Filter

The HVAC filter is an important device that protects vital parts and ductwork from dirt and grime buildup. However, the air filter also traps mold spores that can develop into mold growth. Check the filter and surrounding area each month for mold in HVAC filters. If you do see mold, remove the filter, clean the affected area, and install a new filter.

Mold in the Evaporator Coil

One of the vital components of the HVAC system that the air filter helps protect is the evaporator coil. Mold spores that aren't trapped by the air filter can collect and grow on the coil. If you see mold on the evaporator coil, use a spray-on foam coil cleaner to destroy the mold and to remove dirt and grime.

Mold in the Condensate Pan and Line

The condensation that collects on the evaporator coil drips into a condensate pan. From there, condensation flows through a condensate drain tube. If you want to find and remove all mold in HVAC systems, you'll need to check the condensate pan and line. For mold removal, pour a quart of a 50/50 concoction of water and bleach into the pan.

Mold in the Ductwork

The air ducts are the lungs of your HVAC system, and they are just as susceptible to mold growth as the other HVAC parts are. Mold growth in the air ducts should be mitigated by a professional duct cleaning done by a professional, such as your HVAC contractor. Duct cleaning and mold removal will improve your indoor air quality only if it is done correctly.

If you need help mitigating mold on the HVAC parts and in the drains and ducts in your Broken Arrow home, please contact the HVAC professionals at Air Assurance right away.

What Is the Best Whole House Air Purifier?

We might not have to worry much about urban smog around Broken Arrow, but dust, allergens, and harmful microbes are still common air-quality issues. By using multiple air-cleaning methods, the best whole house air purifier models help protect you from all these pollutants.

Choosing Air-Purification Methods

Some in-duct systems use a prefilter, such as a HEPA filter, to trap dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particles. Those that include an electronic ionizer catch particles too small for filters to handle. Air purifiers do more than just trap particulate pollutants, though. Many include ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps that neutralize even the smallest viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. Rather than physically trapping these microbes, the light breaks them down to prevent them from reproducing. Systems that use a gas-phase air filter, such as activated carbon, absorb harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors that slip through particulate filters and are among those that are the best whole house air purifier.

Relatively new on the market are photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) systems. These systems neutralize organic air contaminants by shining UV light at a catalyst (usually titanium dioxide), which breaks down organic pollutants in the air passing through. These systems handle both microbes and gaseous contaminants.

The Best Whole House Air Purifier Options

REME HALO In-Duct Air Purifier. Using proprietary Reflective Electro Magnetic Energy technology, this system safely oxidizes and neutralizes mold spores, bacteria, viruses, VOCs, and smoke particles. It was originally designed to correct sick-building syndrome.

D200 Dual Lamp Air Purifier. This PCO system neutralizes viruses, bacteria, and mold spores as well as VOCs. It also includes an activated carbon filter to absorb gaseous pollutants and odor-causing compounds not broken down by the PCO light.

REKO Lighting R2000 Air Purifier. This easy-to-install UVGI light system neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores but doesn't work against any other type of pollutant. If mold is your main problem, though, it's a good choice. 

If you could use some help finding the best whole house air purifier for your needs, contact us at Air Assurance.

The Science Behind Air Purifiers

Looking to improve your indoor air quality? Then look into air purifier science for ways to deal with a variety of airborne pollutants. 

Air purifier science reveals how the air inside our homes is often worse than that outside. While stopping pollutants at the source is the best way to deal with them, you may need extra help from air-cleaning devices.

Have a look at how knowing more about air purifier science can help you make the right choice for cleaning your air. Here are some of the most popular devices for residential air cleaning. You may also find purifiers that combine the technology of some of these products in one device. 

Mechanical Filter

Many homeowners choose flimsy fiberglass air filters for their HVAC systems. These are only good for keeping larger particles of dirt out of your system. If you want to clean the air, you'll need dense pleated filters. These trap small particles, including pollen, pet dander, and dust mite particles — the cause of many allergies in the home.

Washable Filter

Washable (or permanent) filters catch particles as they pass through the system with the return air by means of an electrostatic charge. The collection plates must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

HEPA Filter

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are extra dense to catch the finest particles. While you would have to modify your HVAC system to use one, you can buy stand-alone HEPA air purifiers.

Ozone Purifiers

These purifiers clean the air by means of a negative ion that attaches to fine particles. The drawback with this device is that they produce ozone, which can be harmful to those with allergies.

Activated Charcoal

This type of air purifier helps get rid of gases such as cigarette smoke.

UVGI Lights

UVGI (Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation) lights are installed inside the HVAC system. They disrupt the DNA of living pollutants such as germs, mildew, and mold.

For more on air purifier science, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Spring Cleaning Tips to Improve IAQ

Not only will spring-cleaning make your house look beautiful again, it will also improve its indoor air quality, which can benefit the health of those in your household. To get you started, we've compiled a few of our favorite tips that will make improving IAQ in spring quick and easy.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Spring-cleaning should always begin by ensuring that your HVAC equipment is running properly. If you haven't had it checked out in the past year, it's time to call a professional and get it done. This will help maintain its efficiency — and even prolong its operational life span.

Change the Filter Every One to Three Months

Your HVAC equipment's air filter is essential to maintaining healthy air quality, but unfortunately, it gets clogged up pretty quickly. On average, the filter must be changed every one to three months to work properly. Check each month and then either clean or replace it, depending on what type you have installed.

Don’t Forget Fan Blades

Whenever you dust around the house, it's very important that you don't forget about the fan blades. In fact, we're guessing that when you do clean the blades, you might be surprised at the amount of dust that has collected up there. If you don't clean this area on a regular basis, then the accumulated dust will be spread out each time you turn on the fan.

Get Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned

Your air ducts might be acting as a haven for harmful particles without you even knowing it. Left unchecked, this can greatly hurt your indoor air quality every time your HVAC equipment is in operation. To keep this from happening, hire a professional to clean the ducts at least once every five years.

If you follow these simple housecleaning tips, then improving IAQ during the spring will be a cinch. If you need more advice or have any other home-comfort concerns that you would like to discuss, the HVAC experts at Air Assurance can assist you. We've been servicing the needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities for more than 30 years.

HVAC Tips to Prevent Spring Allergies

Spring allergies wreak havoc on millions of people across the country every year. The good news is that you can keep the discomfort at a minimum by following a few simple tips.

Schedule Annual System Maintenance

To keep your HVAC system running efficiently, which will help reduce allergens in your air, be sure to schedule annual maintenance with a qualified technician. By doing so every year, you'll also help prolong the operational life span of the equipment.

Check and Replace Filters

Filters quickly clog up during normal operation as they remove contaminants from your air. To enable the filter to help with spring allergies, check the filter once per month and either clean or replace it whenever it gets dirty.

Remove Dust and Debris from Ducts

Over time, a great deal of dust and debris will collect inside your home's air ducts. These irritants are then distributed into your air every time you turn on your HVAC system. The best way to keep this debris from re-entering the air is to schedule regular cleanings once or twice per year.

Don’t Leave Windows Open

Spring allergies often occur because people have a tendency to leave their windows open during the season because they want to let the fresh air inside. This may feel good, but by doing so, you're also letting more allergens into your air.

Clean Up the Outdoor Unit

Dirt and debris that has built up on your outdoor unit can quickly find their way into your home whenever your HVAC system is in operation. You can help prevent this by removing large debris from the outdoor unit and then washing off what's left with a hose.

By following these tips on improving indoor air quality, you'll be able to reduce the severity and frequency of spring allergies. If you're interested in learning more about how to reduce allergens or need to schedule any type of HVAC service, the professionals at Air Assurance are ready to assist you. With more than 30 years of servicing the needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas, we've earned the trust of our community.

How to Prevent Irritants From Getting Into Your Home

Everyone wants clean, breathable air in their home, but so many homeowners seem to struggle with this. We don't want you to suffer any longer, so we've put together a quick list of ways that you can prevent irritants from entering your air.

Upgrade Your Air Filter

If you want an air filter that's even more effective in reducing the number of contaminants in your air, then you should upgrade to a HEPA-style filter with a MERV rating of 10 or better. This will help provide optimal filtration for your entire household.

Replace Your Air Filter Every One to Three Months

Your HVAC system's air filter does a great job keeping harmful pollutants from being recirculated into the air. Unfortunately, while it's doing its job, it doesn't take long before the filter gets clogged up. Checking the filter each month and replacing it every one to three months will ensure that it continues to work properly.

Use UV Lights to Kill Contaminants

Ultraviolet lights can be used to kill several different types of pollutants that can cause irritation and respiratory issues. These lights are installed within your HVAC equipment and will treat the air as it passes through on its way to get recirculated into your home.

Get Your Ducts Cleaned

Over time, your home's air ducts gather dust and other allergens as air moves through them. These allergens can be picked up at any time and delivered back into your air. Getting your ducts cleaned by a professional is a great way to keep your air clear of irritants.

Use a Humidifier or Dehumidifier

To maintain healthy air in your home — air with fewer irritants — it is recommended that the relative humidity level be around 40%. Depending on your current humidity level, this can be achieved with either a humidifier or a dehumidifier.

Once you learn how to prevent irritants from circulating in your home, the members of your household will breathe a lot easier. For more expert advice on this or any other home-comfort subject, contact the friendly professionals at Air Assurance. We've been handling the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Indoor Air Quality Testing - Tulsa, OK

Indoor Air Quality Testing - Tulsa, OK

We spend a great deal of time in our indoor environment, whether it’s at home or at work in our place of business. Air Assurance provides many air quality services including air duct cleaning, air duct sealing, and indoor air quality testing. The professional at Air Assurance can also help correct and improve your indoor environment with a number of options. Call on Air Assurance when you need air quality testing - We service all of Greater Tulsa, including Jenks, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Sapulpa and more.

Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Maintaining indoor comfort involves more than keeping your home's living spaces warm or cool. Indoor air quality is also a major factor that affects how comfortable your home will be. When particulates and contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, and related materials get into your home's air, you can have problems such as allergy and asthma attacks, worsening of respiratory conditions, and the onset of physical discomforts such as irritated eyes and scratchy throats. Here are some suggestions for improving the indoor air quality in your home this fall and year-round.

• Change HVAC system filters: The air filters in your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump help remove particulates from your indoor air. They capture these materials as air from your home circulates through the system to be heated or cooled. Make sure these filters are kept clean and fresh. They should be checked at least once a month and changed when they get dirty.

• Maintain your HVAC equipment: Regular preventive maintenance will improve the function of your HVAC system and boost its ability to remove particulates, reduce humidity, and keep your indoor air cleaner.

• Clean, dust, and vacuum regularly: Keeping your indoor environment clean and free of dust, mold, and other contaminants can significantly improve indoor air quality. Dust and vacuum at least weekly.

• Increase ventilation: Ventilation keeps a steady flow of air moving through your home, which helps remove particulates and send them outside. When weather and outdoor conditions permit, open windows and doors to let breezes move through your indoor spaces. Install a whole-house ventilation system that provides effective airflow for your entire home. Turn your window air conditioner to fan-only to provide extra ventilation.

• Install air filtration and cleaning systems: Install high-efficiency air cleaning and filtration equipment that provides additional removal of particulates and indoor pollution. Use the highest-quality filters possible in these devices.

Air Assurance is a premier source for professional HVAC services in Tulsa and the surrounding Oklahoma communities. Contact us today for more information on indoor air quality and how to keep your home's air cleaner and fresher throughout the year.

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: “Zurijeta/Shutterstock”

Indoor Air Quality in Your Tulsa Home - Ways You Can Improve It

How's the Indoor Air Quality in Your Tulsa Home? 3 Ways You Can Improve It

AIR DUCT CLEANING - Broken Arrow

At Air Assurance, we provide many indoor air quality solutions. Many homeowners have dealt with allergies, dust, or other problems in their home never realizing that the indoor air quality can be improved. If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants such as dust, mold, bacteria, fungi, and other contaminates can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Health concerns, such as allergies, asthma or the hazards of carbon monoxide can often be attributed to a poorly maintained, designed, or installed heating and air conditioning system. We provide duct cleaning service in Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Coweta, Tulsa and more!

AIR DUCT CLEANING REQUIRED?

Indoor Air Quality is important. Air duct cleaning helps maintain the hygiene of your household. Unclean ducts make the air unfit for breathing. Bad indoor air quality is one of the major causes of many respiratory problems like asthma and allergies. But did you know, you don't always need a duct cleaning? Often times we can help elimnate the source of the duct problem.

The system cleans your air ducts by brushing and removing debris and dirt directly out of your HVAC system and into our hepa filtration silencing box. We can then apply an anti-microbial protectant inside your duct work that kills most germs and microbes on contact for up to an entire year, greatly reducing or eliminating air-borne pathogens.

An HVAC air filter captures only about 7 percent of airborne debris in the average home. That means that roughly 93 percent of the dust in your air keeps circulating through the heat vents and HVAC system. To improve your air quality and protect your costly HVAC equipment from damage, it's wise to have the condition of your ducts checked every two years. When duct cleaning is needed, make sure you hire an experienced professional who adheres to standards established by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and uses the correct cleaning procedures to safeguard your home and HVAC system.In between checkups, watch for these telltale signs that your ducts need cleaning.

About indoor air quality

Everyone deserves to breathe healthful air, especially at home. Doing so can be a challenge in today’s modern world, however, when homes are well insulated for energy efficiency. Airtight homes have a downside: They trap contaminated air inside. Many products that we use daily at home contribute to bad indoor air quality, too. Cleaning fluids, pesticides, hobby materials, home improvement dust and even wet carpets emit harmful particles, polluting your air supply. Combustion debris and gases from cooking/home heating float through our indoor air along with pet dander, dust and bacteria. Here in the Tulsa area, we have the added challenge of a humid climate, which encourages mold growth.  

Safeguarding indoor air quality: the three ways 

• Source control: Your goal is to eliminate or minimize sources of poor indoor air quality. Limit the use of harmful chemicals in your home and ensure proper storage. When cooking or showering, use your exhaust fans (properly vented to the outdoors) to clear out cooking odors and humid, moist air. Schedule preventive maintenance to ensure your appliances and HVAC system work properly, limiting the possibility of gas leaks. For safety, install CO (carbon monoxide) monitors/detectors near sleeping areas and test regularly.

• Ventilation: Proper, balanced airflow throughout the home depends on a properly designed, sized and maintained duct system. Have your ductwork sealed to prevent energy loss and maintain air quality. Duct cleaning is advisable in some cases. Since A/C systems can’t provide adequate ventilation, whole-house mechanical ventilation is recommended.

• Air cleaning: No one air sanitizing method is perfect, but using a few specialized tools in combination can provide greatly improved IAQ. Whole-house air cleaning with UV lighting, when incorporated into your home’s air cleaning, heating and cooling system, helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Consider asking your home comfort contractor to apply broad-spectrum antimicrobial microbiocide to further inhibit harmful bacteria. For the best air quality, include a whole-home air cleaner with an advanced filtration system and highly effective air filter.

Concerned about indoor air quality? Contact the experts at Air Assurance. Visit our website to learn more or give us a call.

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). 

Your Guide to HVAC Air Purifiers: What to Know Before You Buy

Air purifiers, once a bit of a curiosity among ultra health-conscious individuals, have become mainstream, as more homeowners snap to the fact that the airtight construction of their homes is contributing to greater levels of airborne pollutants. These levels are much greater, in fact, than the level of pollutants found in outdoor air.

But before you go out and plop your money down for an air purifier, it's good to know something about the different pollutants in your home, and the technology needed to corral them. Here's the latest on HVAC air purifiers.

Airborne Pollutants

Among the airborne pollutants you may have in your home are these:

• Pet dander

• Viruses

• Bacteria

• Pollen

• Volatile organic compounds

• Cigarette smoke

• Dust and dirt

• Dust mites

These pollutants can all aggravate allergies, trigger asthma attacks and cause other problems for those who are sensitive to them.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

While the best way to control airborne pollutants is to eliminate them at their source, air purifiers can help.

One of the best air purifiers is the flat media filter in your HVAC system -- that is, if you use a good quality, pleated filter. These should be changed regularly to effectively trap dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander and dust mites. Electrostatic filters may also help, although the collector plates have to be washed now and then or they can't trap particles effectively.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) filters are lights installed in HVAC ductwork and near the coils. They can help dispatch bacteria and mold. The lights must be changed every couple of years.

Activated carbon filters are helpful for absorbing tobacco smoke and VOCs from the air. These may be used in a separate unit, or installed in an HVAC system.

If you don't have an HVAC system, you might choose a portable air purifier, with either a flat media-type or electrostatic filter. Some portable models use extremely effective HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters, which are too dense for your HVAC system. The drawback is these HEPA filters are quite expensive.

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

Fall IAQ Concerns: Pumpkins, Candles, and More

Some day soon that bridge of high pressure that's been driving the extremely hot weather in the Southwest will break up and we'll start feeling some relief in Broken Arrow with cooler fall temperatures.

As the weather cools, we think about Halloween and fall harvest parties. Perhaps you enjoy enhancing the autumn ambiance by burning candles in carved pumpkins or by simmering clove-scented potpourri.

Some people find the airborne pollutants these items give off harmless, but others may suffer irritating symptoms, such as burning eyes, coughing and runny nose. What's more, closing up the house for cooler fall weather can trap these pollutants and worsen symptoms.

Read on for some information about dealing with fall IAQ concerns.

Fall IAQ Concerns

Candles. Candles may look pretty and add entrancing fall ambiance to your home, but depending on the type you burn, they can give off a lot of pollutants. Soy and beeswax candles are less harmful, while paraffin, which is petroleum based, gives off the most harmful pollutants. Also, these airborne pollutants, which include soot and volatile organic compounds (a product of off gassing), can dirty your air filter so that you have to change it more often.

Potpourri. The fact is, no matter how good or bad the fragrance, potpourri gives off VOCs, so may adversely affect allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Air fresheners. Just as with any scent-producing devices, these give off VOCs and can be harmful to those who are sensitive to them.

Fire logs. Artificial fire logs give off fewer emissions than wood, but are made from sawdust, cellulose and wax. They provide some ambiance for the home but give off less heat than wood.

Reducing VOCs and Other Pollutants

Obviously, the best way to reduce airborne pollutants in the home is to eliminate them. If you're not willing to do that, use a good quality air filter in your HVAC system. Exhaust ventilation to the outdoors and an air purifier with activated charcoal filter may also help.

For more on fall IAQ concerns, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.