Learn How to Compare Energy Costs

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

Consider the Energy Source

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

Gas vs. Electricity

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

HVAC Needs

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

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

How to Achieve HVAC Savings This Winter

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

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

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

HVAC Savings This Winter

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

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

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

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

Attic Cleaning As It Relates to Strong HVAC Performance

Unless you use your attic as a guest room, office, or playroom, it's usually one of those out of sight, out of mind parts of the house. But that shouldn't be the case. A clean attic is essential to the optimal functioning of your HVAC system. Here are some of the ways that the condition of your attic affects your HVAC system.

Insulation

The attic is one of those areas of a home where a lot of energy is lost. Attic insulation adds a buffer that limits the temperature fluctuations in your home. It allows your HVAC system to regulate the internal temperature and keep it at a comfortable level with less effort.

If you don't clean your attic regularly, you won't know when your insulation is damaged. Damaged attic insulation won't offer a useful barrier to heat transfer. As a result, your HVAC system will work harder to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Additionally, pests like rodents are likely to find a home in an attic that's hasn't been attended to. These critters eat away at your insulation. Cleaning and sanitizing your attic thoroughly will prevent pests from becoming comfortable in your attic.

Cracks and Holes

Your attic will experience wear and tear over time. It may develop cracks and holes that may not only let animals in but also leak cool air or heat, making your HVAC system work inefficiently and contributing to higher energy bills. Cleaning the attic will help you know the areas where air might be leaking, so you can take the necessary measures to seal them — by having a clean attic.

Air Quality

If you have a dirty attic, a leak in your ductwork will make your HVAC system suck the dust, insect excrement, and other allergens into the attic. The system will blow these allergens throughout your house. That will make your items dusty in addition to aggravating allergies and respiratory issues.

Having a clean attic will improve the performance of your HVAC system and your home's overall health. For high-quality heating and cooling products and services, as well as advice on how to consistently maintain a clean attic, contact Air Assurance, an HVAC leader in Broken Arrow.

Can the HVAC Setup and Airflow of a Neighboring Home Impact Those Functions in Your House?

You've got a great HVAC system. It keeps your house comfortable. It keeps your air clean. What about your neighbors, though? Can what they do impact your home comfort? Here's what you need to know about neighboring HVAC systems.

Impact from a Neighboring HVAC

The main place a neighboring HVAC system will impact yours is in an apartment. The ventilation system for the entire building is connected, so fumes from nearby units can easily seep into your home. If your neighbors smoke, for instance, harmful carcinogens can enter through the building's ductwork. The same is true of other fumes, some of which are harmful and others of which are simply annoying.

What if you live in a house, though? Can a neighboring HVAC system still impact you? It can if it's a noisy one. Your neighbor's system's airflow won't impact yours, but an outdoor AC that runs loudly may be heard from your home.

Additionally, if your neighbors are outside painting, smoking — even barbecuing — the fumes can often travel into your home. A barbecue smell can't hurt you, but paint fumes can. Many paints are made with volatile organic compounds, which can irritate your respiratory system and cause other health problems.

Dealing with a Neighboring HVAC

If what your neighbors do with their HVAC system bothers you, your first step should be politely talking to them to sort out the problem. For instance, if their AC is too loud, you might suggest that they get a sound blanket to muffle the noise.

If talking with your neighbor doesn't work, you may have to deal with the problem on your own. Installing a high wooden fence between their house and yours — with no space between the slats — or a hedge can reduce the noise significantly.

As for harmful fumes in your house or apartment, consider an air purifier. HEPA filters can catch the contaminants that are too small for your HVAC system's filter, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and cigarette smoke.

You can't control your neighbor's HVAC system, but you can control yours. For help with home-comfort issues, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area's heating and cooling needs.

What Building Materials Are Best for Efficient HVAC Performance in Your Home?

What is your home made out of? The materials used to build a house are an important factor in its energy efficiency, particularly when it comes to your HVAC system. What are the best HVAC building materials to use? Here are a few.

Basic Materials

There are several options that have been used in building houses for millennia. Among them are stone, brick, and concrete. This is largely because they're strong, sturdy, and long-lasting. However, they have other benefits as well, in terms of temperature regulation.

All these materials are very effective at heat absorption, acting as natural insulation. In winter, the sun heats them up, providing warmth to the house's interior. In summer, they absorb the hot air inside the house, allowing it to cool more quickly. In both cases, it then becomes easier for your home to reach its ideal temperature, reducing the load on your HVAC system.

Cutting-Edge Materials

Stone and brick can be incredibly effective in temperature regulation. However, scientists are currently developing brand new HVAC building materials that can reduce HVAC energy use even more. Smart building materials are still in their infancy, but someday they may eliminate the need for AC and furnaces almost entirely.

These smart materials are modeled after the human body and that of other warm-blooded organisms. Whether there's a heat wave or a blizzard, your internal body temperature remains the same — around 98 degrees. Imagine if the temperature of an entire building could be regulated the same way and kept constant, regardless of outside conditions.

As it currently stands, the material is a gel-like substance, which would make it difficult to build with. However, it could line other building materials or be used as a window treatment to help with temperature regulation. It will likely be at least a few years before these materials become widely available. When they do, though, it could change the face of HVAC forever.

To learn about other HVAC building materials to improve your home's energy efficiency, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to Broken Arrow.

HVAC Cost-Savings to Help During Tax Season

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

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

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

Look for Air Leaks and Seal Them

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

Lower the Water Heater’s Temperature

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

Install a Zoned System

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

Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs

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

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

Does Your Home's Foundation Affect Its Insulation?

The foundation isn't one of the considerations that come to most homeowners' minds when thinking of the steps to take to insulate their houses against outside cold temperatures. But did you know that your home's foundation plays a significant role in the maintenance of ideal indoor temperatures? Here's a look at how a damaged foundation can affect HVAC efficiency and your ability to keep your house comfortably warm.

Improper Air Sealing

Does your foundation have many cracks that are bigger than a quarter-inch wide? Such cracks can create air leaks and temperature changes. As a result, your home may feel less comfortable. Your heating bills will also increase gradually.

Sloping Floors

A cracking or crumbling foundation can result in sloping floors. A sloping floor allows gaps to form between the floor and door jambs. This allows heated air from your home to seep through. It will also let in cold outdoor air.

Over time, sloping floors can also result in cracks around doors and windows, allowing more indoor air to escape. Your heating system won't perform optimally. Severe foundation damage can even cause separation of ducts, which throws your HVAC system completely off balance.

If you notice symptoms of foundation problems, such as sloping floors and cracks in your walls, coupled with steadily rising utility bills, you'll want to have your foundation professionally inspected.

Lack of Foundation Insulation

An uninsulated foundation allows for rapid heat loss, which reduces HVAC efficiency. Your home will retain much more heat if the foundation walls, as well as the foundation itself, are insulated.

Modern homes usually have their foundations insulated with materials such as concrete blocks and forms. Older houses often have damaged or no insulation. To fix your heating system's performance issues, you can have your older home retrofitted through the addition of insulation to the interior or exterior basement walls, crawl space, and around the foundation's perimeter underground.

Your home's foundation can cause poor HVAC efficiency, so inspect it to ensure it's in healthy condition. For more ways to improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort, contact Air Assurance. We help homeowners in the Broken Arrow area save energy by providing effective solutions such as duct sealing, air-infiltration sealing, the addition of insulation, and planned maintenance services.

How to Keep a Garage Warm in the Winter

An unheated garage is suitable for very little beyond storing your vehicles, your yard equipment and whatever else you can't stow away in the house.

But what if you'd like to make better use of that garage space? Maybe you'd like to create a workshop where you can do projects, for instance. Winters here in Broken Arrow can make that problematic.

The solution is to heat the garage. Read on for suggestions on creating a warm garage.

First, Insulate

Before you start shopping for heating equipment, do make sure your garage is air sealed and insulated. That can be a big project in itself, because some garage doors tend to fit loosely around the edges.

Finish the garage with drywall and don't stint on the insulation. Choose from these types of insulation: fiberglass batts or rolls; wet applied or blown-in cellulose; spray foam or injection foam.

Types of Heating for the Garage

Electric space heater: Electric space heaters are the simplest solution, but they are not necessarily the most efficient. While newer models cost less to run than in former days, they don't heat up the space as quickly as other types of heating.

Combustion space heater: These are inexpensive to run and do an adequate job of heating a small space, but a major concern is that they give off carbon monoxide. You will have to make sure the garage is well vented and that you are running a CO detector if using these.

Ceramic heater: These require electricity to run, but the heating element is ceramic instead of metal. Similar to the metal element heaters, they use a fan to distribute the heat.

Ductless mini split: These systems can provide cool air and/or heating. They are a type of heat pump, consisting of an outdoor condenser and an indoor air handler. They can be small and compact and are ideal for conditioning the air in a smaller space. They can be somewhat expensive but are efficient to run.

For more information on how to attain a warm garage, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

How to Get Energy Efficiency Improvement Rebates

Rebates offered by utilities and other public sources can help reduce the up-front expense of making energy efficiency upgrades to your home. Though most federal rebates expired by 2018, here in Broken Arrow, both Oklahoma Natural Gas and PSO (Power Service Company of Oklahoma) still sponsor rebate programs for local residents who make these energy efficiency upgrades. More information, as well as applications, are available at the utility websites.

Oklahoma Natural Gas

• $1,950 rebate for upgrading from an electric resistance furnace to a standard-efficiency, gas-fired furnace. If you upgrade to a high-efficiency gas furnace with 95%+ AFUE rating, the rebate increases to $2,500.

• A $400 rebate is available for purchasing a new natural gas-fired clothes dryer. If the dryer is a more efficient Energy Star-certified unit, the available rebate is $450. The plan also offers a $100 rebate on the cost of installing or extending natural gas piping necessary to connect the dryer.

• $250 rebates are offered for two types of water heater upgrades: a natural gas tankless water heater with an energy-factor rating of at least .82 or a natural gas-condensing water heater with a .82 energy-factor rating.

PSO

• Purchasing an Energy Star central air conditioner or heat pump with an efficiency rating of SEER 16 up to SEER 20 qualifies for a rebate ranging from $500 to $800, depending on the SEER rating of the unit.

• Replacing a standard HVAC blower with an efficient ECM blower qualifies for $25.

• Upgrading attic insulation above an R-22 rating can be eligible for a $400 rebate.

• Depending on your HVAC system capacity, rebates for ductwork sealing can range from $500 up to $800.

• Upgrade to a Honeywell Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat and receive a $110 rebate.

• Get $500 back on an Energy Star-certified heat pump water heater.

• $50 rebates are available on each of the following Energy Star certified upgrades: electric clothes dryer, refrigerator, and clothes washer.

For more information about energy-efficiency upgrades available from local utilities, contact Air Assurance.

Do Your High Ceilings Affect HVAC Efficiency?

High ceilings add a soaring, spacious feel that expands the enclosed indoor environment. While the standard 8-foot ceiling has been the norm for decades, increasingly, homeowners are opting for a high ceiling in at least one central area of the home.

However, a ceiling 4 feet or more above standard height may alter heating and cooling dynamics in a room. Here are some ways that high ceilings may affect HVAC performance and efficiency:

Heating

In a room with a vaulted ceiling, naturally rising heat collects much higher above floor level. Occupants of a high-ceilinged room may be more likely to feel heat-deprived in winter.

Cooling

A room with a high ceiling contains a greater volume of air that must be kept cool during summer. While rooms with standard ceilings may receive sufficient circulating cool air, a coolness deficit can occur in rooms with a high ceiling.

Strategies to resolve comfort issues in rooms with a high ceiling include:

• Install a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan mounted in a room with a vaulted ceiling can be set to continuously blow air downward. In winter, the fan gently circulates heat accumulating at the ceiling back down into the living area to optimize comfort.

• Run the system fan. Most central HVAC systems provide the option to run the system fan continuously, even when the furnace or air conditioner function cycles off. This continuous air circulation helps mix cool and warm air more effectively and tends to keep temperatures in rooms with a high ceiling more consistent.

• Make sure your air conditioner capacity is properly sized. Air conditioner cooling performance is rated by BTU capacity. If one or more rooms in the house has a high ceiling, however, an air conditioner with insufficient BTU capacity may not produce sufficient cooling power to accommodate the substantially larger air volume in the room. Higher cooling costs and a lower comfort level may result.

For professional advice about effective, efficient cooling and heating in homes with high ceilings, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

What to Know about HVAC Diffusers

As a responsible homeowner, you're always looking for new and better ways to improve the effectiveness of your HVAC system and save on your utility bills through better efficiency. Today, we thought it'd be a great idea if we explained how the use of HVAC diffusers in various rooms of your home can help you accomplish this.

What a Diffuser Does

When air blows directly out of your ductwork and through a register or grille, it is either being directly pushed out or down. Once installed, an HVAC diffuser will cause the air to spread out evenly in multiple directions, which allows for even distribution. Plus, a diffuser is also beneficial for the reduction of noise with a properly designed system.

Functionality and Decoration

HVAC diffusers not only improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your cooling and heating equipment by spreading air more effectively in a given room, but they also have an attractive appearance, too. These devices come in round, square, rectangular, and linear designs, which makes them a perfect complement to any home.

Difference Between Diffusers and Grille/Registers

There's a somewhat common misconception amongst many homeowners that diffusers function in the same way as grilles and registers. However, while those two latter items are put into place to block objects from entering your ductwork or HVAC system, diffusers are used to evenly distribute the air into a specific area.

Essential Oils as Part of the System

In addition to its primary functionality of air distribution, a diffuser can improve your home's indoor air quality through the use of essential oils. While you may be thinking that all these oils will do is make the air smell nicer, the fact is that they help purify the air, reduce mold, kill harmful contaminants, boost immune systems, and help you relax.

The use of HVAC diffusers can help improve your system's efficiency and save on utility bills. If you have more questions about this or have any other home comfort concerns, reach out to the team of experts at Air Assurance. We've been serving Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

10 Steps to a Green Home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Cleaning Your Windows Enhances Energy Efficiency

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

Why Windows Matter for Energy Efficiency

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

Tips for Enhancing Window Efficiency

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Fog Machines and Halloween Decorations Affect Your Home's HVAC Efficiency

Halloween celebrations might make a dent in your home’s HVAC efficiency if you use some kinds of candles and lamp oil or use a fog machine indoors. The sheer number of times you open the door may cool your home, but if you’re having a party, count on plenty of body heat.

Steps to Take:

• Keep your front door closed between trick-or-treaters if it’s a cold night. Make it more fun by decorating the outside so that the kids see it as they walk to the door.

• Nobody would argue that fog machines create an authentically scary ambience, but they’ll also cool the air off if you use the misting types. The other kinds that use “fog juice” create heat indoors. You may want to change your HVAC filter to get rid of any particulates that collect on the filter after Halloween is over.

• Burning candles creates a good deal of ambience but they also emit a lot of heat and soot if they’re made from paraffin wax. If the party is large enough or there are enough candles, it’s conceivable that you’d need to turn on the air conditioner to cool the air.

• Soot from candles and even lamp oil will also collect in your home’s air and could harm your air filters, The particles can quickly clog the filters and coat the inside of the air handler, reducing HVAC efficiency. If you must use candles, opt for clean burning beeswax or soy products. Look for smoke-free lamp oil. Adjust the wicks so that they don’t smoke.

• Parties create heat. If you’re hosting a party, it won’t take long to notice that your home is warming up from all the body and cooking heat. If your party will be crowded, prepare ahead by turning down the furnace ahead of time. You may need to switch from heating to cooling if it gets too warm or open the windows.

Having your HVAC efficiency checked before the celebrations start will help you maintain comfort regardless of the weather or party size. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

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.