The Best Way to Clean Out Vents

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Over time, dirt and debris build up in your vents, harming your home's indoor air quality. If you let it build up for too long, it can lead to mold and mildew growth in your ductwork. Therefore, twice a year, you should perform basic vent cleaning. Here's how to perform vent cleaning properly.

1. Remove the vents. Use a screwdriver to remove each vent and register and place them somewhere out of the way. If you have vents of different sizes, try to remember which one goes where so that putting them back later is easy and not a hassle.

2. Dust the vents. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the visible dust off of the vents. It might be a good idea to do this outside so dust doesn't end up in your air.

3. Soak the vents. Soak your vents in warm water and dish soap for 15 minutes.

4. Clean the ducts. While your vents are soaking, use a vacuum to get rid of dirt and dust that's accumulated in your ducts. You won't be able to reach the entire duct, so focus on the area just inside the vent.

5. Clean the vents. Once the vents have thoroughly soaked, give them a good cleaning with a scrub brush to remove the more stubborn dirt and grease that didn't come off with the dusting. Then, rinse the soap off.

6. Dry your vents. Use a clean dish towel to dry the vents off. Try to get them as dry as possible, but it's OK if they're still a little damp when you put them back. They can air dry the rest of the way in a couple of hours.

7. Put the vents back. Take your screwdriver and put each vent back in place. You're done!

If you find you need vent cleaning more than twice a year, try replacing the air filter more often. Debris from a dirty filter will continually recirculate through your home, getting onto your vents and into your air.

For more help with vent cleaning and keeping your ductwork clean and efficient, contact us at Air Assurance. We're Broken Arrow's trusted source for quality home-comfort solutions.

How Do You Know If Your Air Ventilation System Is Working Properly?

With energy conservation and better indoor air quality (IAQ) on the minds of consumers and HVAC manufacturers, air ventilation systems are earning the attention they deserve for their contribution to better home efficiency and IAQ. An air ventilation system delivers fresh outdoor air to homes, many being tightly sealed, that prevents indoor air from becoming polluted and stagnant.

However, there are key differences between various types of air ventilators that need exploring. What follows is information that could help you determine if your air ventilation system is on point.

Balanced Ventilation Vs. Unbalanced Ventilation: Which Is Best?

There are two types of ventilation systems. There are balanced air ventilators, such as a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). This category of air ventilators maintains equal air pressure between air in the living spaces, in unconditioned spaces, and in outdoor air.

Then, there are unbalanced air ventilators. Unbalanced ventilators create air-pressure differences between the indoor air of the living spaces and the air in unconditioned spaces of the home, as well as outdoor air. Balanced ventilators deliver two benefits over unbalanced systems.

The air-pressure differences created by unbalanced ventilators force contaminants from outside and the unconditioned spaces in the home into the living spaces. Secondly, balanced air ventilators with heat- and energy-recovery capabilities help reduce the costs of heating and cooling fresh intake air. That's better IAQ and better energy efficiency. Here are some different types:

• Supply and exhaust ventilators. These ventilator types use one or more fans to force outdoor air into the living spaces or force indoor air outdoors. Fans may be installed in walls, in ceilings, in floors, and/or in ductwork.

• HRV. HRVs use exhaust and supply fans that force fresh intake air and indoor stale air through a heat-exchanger core. Inside the core, heat is transferred between the two opposing airflows without mixing air. This saves heating and cooling costs.

• ERV. ERVs work identically to HRVs with one difference: ERVs also exchange moisture between air streams to promote better indoor humidity.

For professional assistance revamping your air ventilation system, contact Air Assurance for the right HVAC solution at the right price.

How You Can Maintain Good Airflow in Your Home

Taking a few steps to maintain airflow in your HVAC system supports improved heating and cooling performance, higher energy efficiency and lower costs. Conditioned air circulates through your HVAC system via two separate duct networks: supply ducts and return ducts. As the names imply, supply ducts deliver heated or cooled air to individual rooms while return ducts convey air back to the furnace or air conditioner.

Airflow may be thought of as the lifeblood of your HVAC system. Keeping all system components in good repair, including taking proper steps to maintain airflow, ensures consistent indoor comfort and affordable operation, and it reduces wear and tear on critical parts. Here are some suggestions to regularly maintain airflow and reap the benefits:

Replace the air filter.

Nothing disrupts proper HVAC airflow like a dirty, clogged air filter. During winter heating season, inspect the filter monthly and don’t go longer than two months without replacing it. In summer air-conditioning season, change the filter every month to maintain airflow.

Open all vents.

Don’t close or obstruct HVAC vents in individual rooms. The system generates the same conditioned air volume whether vents in rooms are open or not. Therefore, any savings will be insignificant. Meanwhile, wear and tear on system components as well as monthly operating costs will rise. Also, closing vents unbalances airflow volume to rooms throughout the entire house, resulting in cold spots and overly warm areas.

Schedule a duct inspection.

All the airflow to rooms in your home passes through the system supply and return ductwork. Leakage from ductwork joints and deteriorating duct segments allow conditioned air to escape into unconditioned zones like the crawl space and attic. Maintain airflow by scheduling a duct-leakage test plus a full inspection to accurately determine the rate of leakage and identify needed sealing repairs.

For qualified service to maintain airflow and keep your HVAC system functioning at optimum performance, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

How the Type of Vents You Have Affect Airflow

Good airflow is essential to an efficient HVAC system. Airflow is affected by a number of things, from possible leaks in your ductwork to how often you replace your filter and other factors. One possibility that tends to get overlooked is vent types. The kind of vents you have impact how air flows through your home. Here's what you need to know about vent types and airflow.

Vent Designs

Most vents look similar. They're square or rectangular, with horizontal slats. However, there are also decorative vents, with patterns and designs. The problem with these vent types is that they're designed for aesthetics, not functionality.

Your home's airflow depends on your vents being relatively unobstructed. As a rule, an effective vent should be at least 75% open space. The slats are there to direct the air. Decorative patterns are not.

Patterns mainly get in the way of the air as it flows into your home. If your system was designed specifically for decorative air vents, they'll likely be OK. However, if you're replacing your existing vents with decorative ones, be careful and keep functionality in mind.

Vent Materials

Some vents are made of alternate materials, such as wood or plastic, to fit with your home decor. Be careful of these vent types, since wood and plastic aren't as sturdy as metal. To make them strong enough to replace metal vents, they need to be significantly thicker — especially for floor vents that get walked on. That thickness often means less open space on your vent, which restricts your airflow. Stick to metal vents.

They also make magnetic vent types, so you can close the vents in little-used rooms and create a seal, so air can't leak out. This is a bad idea. Even if you don't use a room often, keep the vents open. Closing a vent increases air pressure throughout the rest of your home. The added stress wastes energy and leads to air leaks.

To learn more about vent types and other factors that affect your home's airflow, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality HVAC solutions to Broken Arrow homeowners.

Is There Enough Ventilation in Your Attic?

Homeowners seldom understand the importance of attic ventilation. Attic ventilation has to do with that metal contraption on your roof and those vents underneath the soffits on the eaves. Perhaps you've never really been sure how attic ventilation works or why you should care. First, attic ventilation has a a big effect on your utility bill. Second, it can also help prevent roof damage. Let's have a look at how this happens. 

Why You Need Attic Ventilation

It may not make much sense at first glance, but air should flow freely through your attic to let out excess heat. This heat builds up in summer as warm air rises to the ceiling and migrates into the attic while you're cooling your home. By allowing fresh air to flow through the intake vents located at the lowest level of the eaves, it pushes warm air up through the exhaust vents at the peak of the roof. 

Removing warm air in the winter is also helpful in preventing ice dams. These form on the edge of the roof when the warm air in the attic melts snow and ice on the roof during the daytime and the moisture freezes overnight along the edge. Ice dams can damage the roof over time. 

Exhaust Vents

Exhaust vents are usually one of two kinds: ridge vents, which are elongated and run the length of the ridge at the peak of the roof, or static vents, which stand up from the roof line and have covers to keep out precipitation. Turbine vents are a type of static vent that operates as wind blows on an enclosed fan. A light breeze rotates the blades, which sucks out heat from the attic.

Powered exhaust vents, as opposed to the passive vents described above, also boost attic ventilation. These electric- or solar-powered fans turn on when the attic temperature reaches a certain level, and they run until the temperature drops. These effectively pull out heat, but they may also pull out air conditioning through cracks.

To learn more about attic ventilation, contact Air Assurance, serving the Broken Arrow area.

How Often Should You Open Your Windows for Natural Ventilation?

Maintaining good airflow throughout your home is important. Your HVAC system circulates and filters your air, but it also uses a lot of energy. Opening your windows, on the other hand, provides great natural ventilation that can reduce your energy bills while keeping your air clean.

Benefits of Natural Ventilation

The air in your home is filled with contaminants. Fresh, outdoor air is much cleaner. By opening windows to let that fresh air in, you can improve your indoor air quality. Opening two windows on opposite sides of a room provides a cross breeze, letting the bad air out and the good air in. This can also help your system's air filter last longer by filling your house with clean air.

Additionally, letting cool air in on a summer day reduces the burden on your AC. Fresh air provides natural cooling so your HVAC doesn't have to run as long. This not only saves energy but it may help extend the life of your system.

Drawbacks of Natural Ventilation

As great as fresh air is, you can't just leave your windows open all the time. The air may be cleaner, but there are still pollutants to worry about. Pollen and dust can get in, as well as exhaust from passing cars and other sources.

Moreover, while cool air may help you save energy, once the weather gets hotter, it has the opposite effect. If the air outside is warmer than your thermostat setting, you're raising your indoor temperature, making your AC work harder to cool your home.

So how often should you open your windows? It's recommended that you do so once a day, for at least five minutes. Fifteen to 20 minutes is preferable. However, when you open them is also important. Keep them open at night or in the early morning, when the weather is cooler. Then, before things start to heat up, close the windows and draw the blinds to keep that cool, fresh air inside as long as possible.

For more help with natural ventilation, contact us at Air Assurance. Broken Arrow's home comfort is our top priority.

Best Winter Ventilation Practices

Ventilation in winter, or anytime for that matter. can be tricky. You need to increase fresh air while you're exhausting stale air, but installing ventilation systems to solve the problem can carry some risks.

While the topic of winter ventilation can be complicated, here are a few pointers to get you started.

Types of Ventilation

First of all, it's important to understand the types of ventilation systems:

1. Exhaust ventilation sends air out of the house, such as the bathroom or kitchen exhaust system. While these systems remove excess humidity, they can create negative pressure, pulling polluted air and moisture into the home through cracks in the exterior.

2. Supply ventilation systems bring fresh air inside the house but can bring in moisture and pollutants.

3. Balanced ventilation means the exhaust and supply streams are equal. This is the most desirable system, but balance can be hard to achieve.

4. Energy recovery systems convert the humidity from the air into energy. This can be a problem in cold climates, where the moisture can freeze.

5. Heat recovery ventilation uses heat in the exhausted stale air to heat up the home. In cold climates, frost can build up in the exchange core, necessitating the closing of a damper so that the warm air is routed through the core.

Attic Ventilation

Another key type of ventilation is in the attic. There are several types of vents — located in gables, rafters, and under eaves — but all help exhaust the warm, moist air that rises into the attic in winter. Turbine and ridge vents, plus attic ventilation fans, can help with this process.

The Right Ventilation for Your Home

A ventilation system could be the answer to improving your indoor air quality this winter. It's best to meet with an HVAC consultant and discuss what you hope to achieve. A consultant can make recommendations about the right type of system for your home to improve your indoor air quality.

Be sure to also discuss the need to avoid unpleasant drafts of cold air from the vent location.

For more on winter ventilation, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Your Guide to Bathroom Ventilation

Effective bathroom ventilation is important for reasons including excessive humidity, potential mold contamination, odor control, and basic comfort issues. Bathrooms are generally the wettest room in the house and may affect general air quality throughout the entire home. In many locales, building codes today require some form of mechanical bathroom ventilation — beyond simply opening a window — to prevent these issues.

Bathroom exhaust fans are the most common method to ventilate bathrooms. Installed in the bathroom ceiling or in a bathroom wall, these electric units remove water vapor and odors rapidly, before damage or mold contamination is triggered. Here are some basics of bathroom fans:

• CFM capacity. The air-moving capacity of a bathroom fan is rated by its cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) capacity. While the proper size can vary according to the number and size of bathroom fixtures like the bathtub, shower, and sinks; generally speaking, a bathroom exhaust fan should provide at least 1 CFM of ventilation per square foot of bathroom size (length x width.)

• Exterior venting. Venting bathroom fans directly into the attic is a terrible option. Moist bathroom air in the attic space triggers toxic mold growth and accelerates deterioration of exposed wooden attic structure. Bathroom fans should be connected to a dedicated duct that extends all the way to the exterior of the house. Vent fans installed in the wall must likewise exhaust outside, not into the wall cavity.

• Timer operation. A bathroom fan should run long enough to effectively exhaust water vapor and odors, but not too long, so as to avoid excessive loss of heat or cooling as well as wasted electricity. Bathroom fans should be connected to a timer switch to automatically shut off the unit after a preset duration. For best results, the fan should run for at least 15 minutes following a shower or bathing.

• Safety factors. Bathroom fans should be wired to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) circuit to prevent electrical hazards in the wet environment.

For more about the benefits of exhaust fans for adequate bathroom ventilation, contact the air-quality professionals at Air Assurance.

Lingering Smoke Smell Solution

There's nothing worse than a house that smells like smoke. It doesn't just come from smoking, either. Maybe you burned something while cooking. Maybe you just lit a few candles. Whatever the reason, here are a few ways to get the smoke smell out of your home.

Immediate Solutions

Say the smoke smell came from something fairly recent. Maybe your kitchen isn't well ventilated, or you lit a fire in the fireplace while the flue was closed. Getting rid of the lingering smoke isn't too difficult. Open a window, turn on a fan in the area where the smoke is, and wait.

You could try to use your HVAC system to filter the smoke out, but it might not be as effective as you'd like. To remove smoke from the air, you'd need a high-efficiency air filter, which won't fit in a regular HVAC system without damaging it. There are, however, certain special air filters designed to fit your HVAC unit, which claim to be able to remove smoke. Or, you could invest in a dedicated air purifier for your home that uses high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

Long-Term Solutions

If the smoke smell has been building up in your home for years, such as from someone smoking, then you'll need to take more drastic measures. First, air out your home completely. Use your dedicated air purifier with HEPA filter, if you have it. Next, clean the carpets, drapes, and furniture. You can do it yourself, but if you want to be thorough, you're better off calling a professional.

Have your HVAC contractor examine your evaporator coil, as smoke can accumulate there. Finally, clean your ducts. This is another place where smoke residue can build up over time. As air flows through both the evaporator and your ductwork, it can then pick up that smoke residue and bring the smell right back into your home. Have them both thoroughly cleaned so your house can be smoke free.

For more tips on improving ventilation in your home, contact us at Air Assurance today. We provide the best home comfort solutions in Broken Arrow.

The History of Home Ventilation

The History of Home Ventilation

People have known about the need for ventilation in their dwellings since open fires were first used to warm human abodes millennia ago. Today, we have home ventilation guidelines incorporated into our Broken Arrow building codes, but this wasn't always the norm. The understanding of how much fresh air was needed to replace stale, polluted indoor air evolved over centuries of experimentation, trial and error.Here's a look at key advancements in the evolution of ventilation from natural to mechanical means:

17th Century

In 1631, England's King Charles I determined that due to home heating, bad indoor air was causing health problems. He decreed that dwellings in England must have ceilings at least 10 feet high, and windows taller than their width to provide ample natural ventilation.

Early 19th Century

In 1835 when the British Houses of Parliament were rebuilt, a ventilation system was added. Outdoor air entered into a heating chamber, then went across steam pipes before being distributed through the building's ductwork.

Late 19th Century

After completing various studies and analysis, American physician J. Billings recommended in 1893 that a minimum of 30 cfm of ventilation per occupant was needed in buildings, but 60 cfm was ideal. That minimum rate was adopted by ASHVE (American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers) in 1895. This amount of airflow could only be achieved using mechanical ventilation made possible by advancements in the electric power industry.

20th Century

Massachusetts made 30 cfm per occupant of ventilation the law in 1914. By 1925, this minimum was adopted in 22 states. In 1925, ASHRE published the first code of minimum requirements for home heating and ventilation.

21st Century

Nowadays, there are various mechanical ventilation methods used in homes and other buildings, such as:

• Exhaust fans that expel humid kitchen and bathroom air.

• Whole-house fans that draw stale air up and send it out through attic vents.

• Supply systems that introduce outdoor air into the HVAC's return ducting.

• Balanced whole-house systems with dedicated intake and exhaust ducting.

To learn about your home ventilation options for better indoor air quality, contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

How to Properly Vent your Kitchen During Thanksgiving Preparation

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house fills it with the aromas of the turkey, dressing, and pies baking, along with all the heat the stove and oven generate. Taking a few minutes to assess your kitchen ventilation before the holiday arrives might help you stay more comfortable while you put this celebratory meal on the table.The combination of heat plus the steam that the cooking creates is a recipe for discomfort in the kitchen. It’s the same thing that happens in the summer when the humidity combines with warm temperatures that has you reaching for the air conditioner’s thermostat. Add it all the body heat your guests will generate, and things could get uncomfortable.Fortunately, by Thanksgiving, there’s plenty of cool air outside to use instead of the A/C. Getting inside is all a part of ventilation methods for getting rid of the humidity and the heat. To start, determine if:

• Your kitchen fan exhausts outside or just recirculates the air. Look above the fan to see if there a vent pipe that leads up through the ceiling or goes out of a wall. If you see either, your fan exhausts air outdoors.

• Does the kitchen have a window that opens? Sometimes builders put in fixed windows or windows can stick over time if they’re not opened periodically.

• Is there a door leading outdoors or into the garage? A door that leads outdoors will give you ample kitchen ventilation.

• Do you have a portable fan?

This list of ventilation options will provide the basis for your approach to Thanksgiving dinner. If your kitchen fan vents outside, increase its speed from low to high as the heat in the kitchen increases. Opening a nearby window or door will pull in cooler, fresher air. If your kitchen fan recirculates only, place your portable fan inside the doorway or window and exhaust the air outdoors.Home and kitchen ventilation matter even when it’s cold outside. If you find that it’s hard to ventilate your home, contact Air Assurance for expert advice. We provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

How Does Ventilation Affect Temperature?

Keeping your home comfortable takes more than just your HVAC system. The amount of air that’s able to pass through your home can also have an effect on indoor temperatures. Most modern homes are designed to be as air-tight as possible, making proper ventilation a challenge. Read on to learn how poor air flow impacts indoor temperatures, as well as ways to make your home more comfortable.

Poor Air Flow Leads to Stuffy Rooms

Stuffy air is one of the most common complaints among homeowners. High humidity levels in poorly ventilated spaces can also raise indoor temperatures, which in turn allows the air to hold more humidity until simply becomes too saturated to hold moisture in vapor form. These issues contribute to a feeling of stuffiness from most people. High concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) can also make the air feel stuffier.

A home with good ventilation is able to push out hot, humid air and draw in cooler air with less moisture content. When your home’s not able to do that, the stagnant air simply collects more moisture, causing your improperly ventilated spaces to become progressively stuffier as time goes on.

Tips for Improving Air Flow

Here are a few ways you can improve your home’s air flow issues and bring temperatures back down to normal:

Open up windows and doors to improve air flow.

Cracking open a nearby door or window can help push hot, humid air out of a room and encourage cooler breezes to flow through. Good air flow also helps eliminate severe dust and debris buildup.

Use existing exhaust fans to promote better air flow.

Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans can draw away stuffy air and promote improved air flow.

Invest in balanced mechanical ventilation.

These systems provide both indoor exhaust and outdoor supply air flow, providing balanced ventilation that keeps indoor temperatures at comfortable levels throughout the year.

To learn more about how ventilation affects your home, turn to the experts at Air Assurance. Contact us today to explore heating and cooling options for your home.

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 refrigerant and other HVAC topics,  call us at 918-217-8273.

Supply Vents vs Return Vents: Identifying HVAC Vents in Your Home

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Most homes in our area have central, forced-air HVAC systems that distribute conditioned air through a system of supply and return ducts. The ducts are installed inside the walls, ceilings or floors, so all that's visible are covered HVAC vents at the duct openings. Learning more about these vents and their purpose can help you keep your HVAC system working reliably and efficiently, so you enjoy a comfortable home.

The Basics of Supply and Return HVAC Vents

An HVAC system with proper air distribution has a ductwork design that incorporates a certain number of supply ducts for conditioned air delivery, as well as return ducts to bring stale air back through the air handler to be reconditioned. You can easily tell the purpose of a duct by which of these two types of vent covers it has:

Supply register.

Individual rooms in a home generally have one or more supply vents with louvered covers called registers. This kind of cover typically has a built-in damper that opens and closes with either a roller or lever control. Although the damper control lets you close the register completely, doing so can have serious consequences for your HVAC system, including airflow imbalances, a loss of energy efficiency and a greater likelihood of equipment breakdowns or failures. To avoid such problems, it's best to always keep your registers fully open, even in seldom-used rooms.

Return grille.

The HVAC ducts that return air through the system have stationary vent covers called grilles. Your duct system design dictates how many return vents you have, but typically, there are just one or two on each level of a home. Airflow restrictions on the return side can cause the same efficiency and performance problems as closed supply vents, so once you identify your return grilles, make sure they're never obstructed by long window treatments, furniture, area rugs or other household items.

If you're experiencing discomforting issues like uneven cooling or a decline in cool air output in your Broken Arrow home, contact us today at Air Assurance for an expert assessment of your HVAC vents and duct system.

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.

Areas of Your Home That Need the Most Ventilation

When it comes to home comfort and energy efficiency, ventilation – aka effective air exchange – plays a crucial role. Without adequate fresh air in a home, indoor air quality will suffer, with the environment becoming stale, stuffy and unhealthy.Learn what areas of your home will benefit from effective ventilating strategies, along with why whole-house mechanical air exchange may be necessary as well.

Nowadays, with energy efficiency increasingly stressed in building construction, working mechanical ventilation has become more important than ever. In the past, much of a home’s air-exchange needs were satisfied incidentally, with abundant air exchange through cracks and gaps in the home’s exterior envelope. That’s not the case any longer with the tight home construction of today.

The most common type of mechanical ventilation in a home is the bathroom exhaust fan. Most bathrooms are equipped with this fan, which not only de-fogs the room but also carries away unpleasant and noxious odors and contaminants.Next on the list is the kitchen, which almost always has a stovetop fan that carries away smells from cooking and food preparation, keeping them from spreading through the rest of the house.

One area where many homeowners neglect ventilation is the attic. Yet, effective air exchange is essential in the attic. Without it, during the summer, an attic can get superheated, and that heat eventually will transfer into the living spaces below. During the heating season, an attic without proper venting may help cause ice dams on the roof that can lead to extensive structural damage in a home.

In many homes, mechanical air exchange is necessary on a whole-house basis. Increasingly popular are balanced and supply-only systems, with the most common balanced system being Energy Recovery and Heat Recovery ventilating systems (ERV and HRV, respectively). Using parallel air streams, one blowing out and one blowing in, these systems ensure fresh air while also transferring heat and moisture (in ERVs) to help with home heating and cooling and humidity control.

We can help devise an effective ventilation strategy for your Broken Arrow area home. Please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ventilation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “clker-free-vector-images/Pixabay”

If You Have Noisy Air Vents, Here's What to Do

It's normal to hear some noise coming from your air vents when the HVAC system is running. If the usual noise volume increases, or you start to hear flapping, rattling or high-pitched sounds from the supply vents, return grilles or ceiling diffusers, it's likely due to an increase in pressure caused by airflow restrictions somewhere in the HVAC system. Addressing the underlying cause of noisy air vents is vital, because operating the HVAC system without sufficient airflow makes the equipment work harder, so it consumes more energy and is more vulnerable to breakdowns and failures.

Solving Airflow Restrictions That Cause Noisy Vents

Airflow restrictions can occur for a number of reasons, and some are easy to diagnose and deal with on your own:

• Dirty air filter— Replace a clogged filter right away, then check it monthly and change it when you see any debris accumulation.

• Closed or obstructed registers— Make sure the supply and return registers are open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or long window coverings so air can circulate freely through the system.

• Closed duct dampers— If there are dampers on your ductwork and one gets stuck closed, it can impact proper airflow through the HVAC system. To prevent this, make sure they're all open.

• Debris in the ductwork— Items can fall down through the registers such as nails, screws, small toys or even construction materials and sawdust. If you can't access the debris, you may need to have the ductwork cleaned professionally.

If you check for and address all of the above issues but you're still hearing noise from the vents when the blower fan is running, it's time to have an HVAC professional evaluate the system's performance. A knowledgeable pro will inspect the components and check the static pressure and CFM of air movement through the system. An expert diagnosis can determine whether there are issues like undersized ducts, inadequate return airflow, or damaged or obstructed ducts that need to be addressed.If you need help finding and fixing the cause of noisy air vents in your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance today.

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: “altafulla/Shutterstock”

HRV or ERV? Choose the Right Ventilation System for Your Home's Needs

The choice between an HRV or ERV depends heavily on your climate. Because Broken Arrow sees both high summer temperatures and cold winters, the right choice isn't so obvious around here. Getting a better understanding of how these ventilation systems work will help you decide.

How HRVs and ERVs Differ

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) uses exhaust fans to draw out stale, humid indoor air and supply fans to bring in fresh, outdoor air. Equal amounts of air are removed and replaced to provide continuous, balanced airflow.

Because just blowing out indoor air and letting in outdoor air would waste energy, an HRV contains a heat exchanger to minimize this waste. In winter, the heat exchanger collects heat energy from the outgoing warm air and transfers it into the incoming outdoor air, effectively pre-warming the air. In summer, it does the opposite to pre-cool the incoming air.

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) work the same way as HRVs with one difference. Their heat exchanger also transfers moisture. This means ERVs let in less humidity than HRVs in summer.

Making Your Choice

In a cold winter or mixed climate, an HRV is usually the best option. That said, there are other factors to consider when choosing between an HRV or ERV. These include the age and energy efficiency of your home, its size and the number of occupants. A large, drafty house with only two or three people is more likely to suffer from uncomfortably low humidity in winter, particularly in the drier parts of town. In this situation, an ERV may be a better choice.

Modern homes are built to be airtight, increasing their tendency toward high humidity. These homes, especially the smaller ones, are best suited to HRVs. Older homes were often intentionally built with cracks to provide airflow, meaning they're more likely to become dry during our cold winters. This makes some older homes better candidates for ERVs, although air sealing should also be considered.

For help deciding whether an HRV or ERV is right for your home, contact the pros at Air Assurance in the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Jezper/Shutterstock”

Home Ventilation Options to Keep Your Home Cool

While separating your home environment from the great outdoors means that you can control your indoor temperature year-round, it also means that you're not getting the benefits of natural breezes and fresh air. Maintaining indoor air quality is one reason you should pay attention to your home's ventilation, but it's not the only one – you can also use the following home ventilation options to keep your living spaces cool.

Natural Airflow From Windows and Doors

While it might be more appealing during the temperate months, you can easily ventilate your home by opening more than one window. Ideally, you should have windows on upper and lower floors open at the same time, and a clear path for air to flow between them. Warm air will rise and push its way out of the upper windows, drawing in cooler air from down below.

Fans

Moving air cools you down the same way that the wind chills you in winter, so a standing fan can help to keep you cool. However, it's even better if you use a ceiling fan. The downward draft will displace the cool air that's sunk to ground level, making it more available to cool you. That can increase the efficiency of your air conditioner, or remove the need for it altogether on cooler days.

Whole-House Ventilation Solutions

A whole-house fan can bring in fresh outdoor air and circulate it through your home. When air is exhausted through your attic spaces, you're also preventing the heat of the sun from warming your attic and radiating downward into your living areas.

If you're curious about how home ventilation can keep you cool through the Broken Arrow summers, visit us at Air Assurance to learn more!

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: “Thinglass/Shutterstock”

5 Popular Myths About Attic Ventilation

Despite being located in one of the most beautiful parts of Oklahoma, Broken Arrow still faces some challenges when it comes to protecting homes from harsh elements. Attic ventilation helps, but only if you make sure your ventilation is optimally designed by avoiding a few common misconceptions.

Myth: Only homes in warm climates truly need attic ventilation.

Fact: Ventilation is important in all climates, but contrary to popular belief, it's even more important in climates with frequent periods of cold weather. Cool, damp weather increases the risk of moisture buildup in your attic, which can lead to mold growth. Ventilation removes this moisture, protecting your attic from damage.

Myth: One or two attic vents is enough.

Fact: Don't assume your attic was built with adequate ventilation because many attics aren't. Passive ventilation systems, including gable vents, soffit vents and turbine vents don't always provide sufficient air exchange. This is especially true if your roof cavity isn't properly insulated. Attic baffles don't always help and are often unnecessary.

Myth: Attics need as much airflow as possible.

Fact: In most attics, 1 sq. ft. of ventilation for every 300 sq. ft. of ceiling space is enough ventilation. Much more than this and you risk creating uncontrolled air leaks. The open spaces in your attic walls may also leave your roof vulnerable to wind damage.

Myth: Powered fans are ideal for providing continuous airflow.

Fact: While these fans can help in some cases, they're not a one-size-fits-all solution. When used, it's essential to seal any air leaks around the attic hatch, dropped soffits and recessed lights. Otherwise, the fan can suck air from rooms into your attic, wasting energy.

Myth: Attic vents make it harder to heat your home during the winter.

Fact: Air sealing and insulation can minimize the amount of heat that enters your rooms, so a cold attic won't make your home cold. It can also prevent ice dams that may damage your roof.

For professional guidance on assessing and optimizing your attic ventilation, contact Air Assurance in the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Enrique Ramos/Shutterstock”

Airflow 101: What's the Best Way to Ventilate My Attic?

While you should seal up your home to prevent wasteful air leaks, there’s one area in your home that should remain open to airflow -- your attic. During the winter, attic ventilation can help prevent condensation and reduce the formation of ice dams. During the summer, airflow through your attic can remove excess heat, protect roofing shingles and reduce cooling costs.

With these benefits awaiting you, you might be wondering, “What’s the best way to ventilate my attic?” You have two primary options -- natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation.

Natural Ventilation

A combination of soffit vents under the eaves and ridge vents at the peak of your roof lets air naturally flow in at the attic floor and exit through the top of your roof. This is the most common form of natural ventilation found today, although older homes may have louvered vents on gable end walls instead of ridge vents. Cupolas, a vented spire on top of the roof or wind-driven turbines that resemble spiraled mushrooms, are two additional options.

Building codes require your attic to have one square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of floor space. Half of your vents should be located at the soffits and the other half on the roof. It’s important to ensure soffit vents remain uncovered by insulation. You can install metal baffles between the rafters to provide an unobstructed path from soffit to ridge vent.

Mechanical Ventilation

If your attic isn't receiving the ventilation it requires, consider installing powered attic fans. Modern attic fans have sophisticated sensors that automatically open louvered vents and power up the ventilator when heat and humidity inside your attic reach a certain level.While this is effective for removing humidity and keeping your attic cooler, you're unlikely to notice significant, if any, energy savings. This is because the cost to run your fan will outweigh the decreased home cooling costs.

Now that you know the answer to the question, “How should I ventilate my attic,” it’s time to put your knowledge to good use. Contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow for the help you need.

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: “Enrique Ramos/Shutterstock”

Eliminate Black Mold From Your A/C Vents with These Cleaning Tips

Finding black mold on your A/C vents isn’t a reflection of your housekeeping habits. Often damp with condensation and supplied with continuous airflow circulating airborne microorganisms, air conditioner components offer the perfect environment for black mold growth, as well as common mildew. Since dormant spores that spawn mold are in continuous circulation through your ductwork, occasional outbreaks on your A/C vents aren’t unusual. Here’s how to get rid of them:Before getting to work, put on protective clothes, gloves and a high-efficiency face mask. You don’t need to be breathing black mold spores in if you can avoid it.

• Unscrew the vent grille of your A/C unit and place it in a large basin or tub. Then, add a few sprinkles of laundry detergent and enough water to completely submerge the vent grille.

• Vacuum the inside of the exposed duct to remove any dust within reach.

• After 15 minutes, remove the vent grille from the basin, rinse with clean water and allow it to air dry.

• Spray the interior of your duct with water to prevent spreading the dry mold dust around. Then, wipe down the duct surfaces with soapy water.

• Because simple mold removal is not sufficient to stop mold growth, you'll need to disinfect the vent surfaces to prevent recurrence. Make a simple cleaning solution, and use a mop or other long-handled cleaning instrument to swap the duct with the mixture. Also, don't forget to apply disinfectant to the blades of the vent grille.

• Let all components thoroughly dry before reassembling, and then re-attach the intake vent cover.

• Lastly, discard all rags and other cleaning supplies that may be contaminated with mold spores in a sealed plastic bag.

For more information on preventing mold growth on A/C vents and any other HVAC components, contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow.

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: “Joe Belanger/Shutterstock”