What Types of Home Insulation Can You Get This Winter?

If you're working on combating drafts and improving the efficiency of your HVAC system, you have likely come across several types of home insulation. How do you know which option for home insulation is right for your needs? Here are some of the benefits of different types of home insulation.

Fiberglass Insulation

If you are dealing with an area that is easy to reach and does not have nooks to fill in, fiberglass insulation may be the right choice for you. Fiberglass insulation tends to be less expensive than other options, and the installation process is simple enough for a homeowner to take on the job themselves. Fiberglass is the traditional insulation option that many homeowners think of when they are working on insulating their home against the cold.

Sprayed Foam

Areas that are hard to reach or have an irregular shape that makes other insulation materials more difficult to install efficiently and effectively can benefit from the use of sprayed foam. This type of foam insulation is applied via a spray that then expands to create a seal against air leaks. While sprayed foam tends to be a more expensive option when it comes to home insulation, it is also one of the most effective options.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is made from plant fibers and comes in several forms that are applied differently depending on which option you choose. Loose-fill cellulose is an option that is used in older homes, as it can be blown into existing walls to provide a protective layer against drafts. While other types of cellulose insulation are applied wet, loose-fill cellulose is dry when it is blown into the wall. No matter what form is used, cellulose insulation is a cost-effective option due to its lower cost when compared with spray foam.

To learn more about the different types of insulation and how they can work for your home, contact Air Assurance today. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.

Does Your Home Have Enough Attic Insulation?

Attic Insulation Installation Tulsa

When it comes to improving your home's efficiency, don't forget about the attic. Experts calculate that leaks in the attic floor can drain away 30 to 50 percent of your heating or cooling.Heat rises upward and migrates through cracks into the unconditioned attic space, eventually escaping through the roof or vents. In the summer, a hot attic and uninsulated attic floor can make it more difficult for you to cool your home, as heat moves through conductivity into the living space.What's the solution? In most cases, more attic insulation will do the trick.

Adding Insulation

Start your attic sealing project by identifying the various areas where energy is being lost. Lay wooden planks across joists to walk on before you start moving around.

1. Check for gaps around fixtures, pipes, wires, ducts and anything else that enters the attic space from the living space. Roll back existing insulation batts to get at all the holes; if you have loose-fill insulation, it might be better to get a professional to locate the leaks. Fix all the smaller leaks you find with caulk. For holes up to an inch wide, use expanding urethane foam. For still larger holes, use a piece of drywall to plug it, sealing edges with foam. You can also use fiberglass insulation.

2. Seal gaps around stove flues and chimneys with a sheet metal collar and heat-resistant caulk, separating these structures from insulation.

3. Put extra insulation on top of the attic hatch door. Place weather stripping around the edges of the hatch.

4. Next, check to see if the insulation on your attic floor reaches the top of the joists. If not, add more to the top or over the joists. Make sure it is evenly distributed, and reaches the sides of the attic.

5. Insulate behind knee walls.

6. Build airtight boxes with rigid foam insulation to cover recessed lighting canisters. Get professional advice about how any insulation you are considering might overheat when used in proximity to the lighting canisters.

To learn more about attic insulation, contact Air Assurance of 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). For more information about attic insulation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “travellight/Shutterstock”

Tulsa, OK - Where Does Your Home Need Insulation Most?

Tulsa OK - Insulation Services

Making sure your home is well insulated is one of the best things you can do to boost energy efficiency and lower your utility bills. If you're planning to replace or supplement your home's insulation, it's important to know how to evaluate insulation, and which parts of your home need it the most.Where to startSome areas in your home are a higher priority than others when it comes to insulation. If you can invest in adding insulation to only one area, it should be your attic. Heat rises, and it can easily flow right out of your house if your attic doesn't have enough insulation.Other areasOf course, insulation should never end with your attic. An energy-efficient house should be well insulated throughout. A few other important areas include:

• Exterior walls

• Cathedral ceilings

• Foundations

• Floors, especially over an unheated garage

• Ducts

• Basements and crawl spaces

Evaluating insulationBefore you add insulation to your home, you should get an idea of how much insulation you already have, and what types of insulation are being used in your house. There are a few ways to do this.

• Contact a home energy auditor to perform a whole-house energy assessment, including an insulation check.

• Inspect the insulation yourself in unfinished areas where it might be exposed. Good places to check include exposed floors and walls in your attic, basement and crawl space.

• Inspect exterior walls through electrical outlets. To do this, first turn off the power to an outlet, then remove the outer cover. Shine a flashlight in to see the insulation, and remove a small piece if necessary.

R-valuesYou can judge the efficiency of new and existing insulation by its R-value. Insulation's R-value is a simple way to judge its resistance to heat conduction, and thus its efficiency. R-values are listed on the packaging when you purchase insulation. Most homes should be insulated with an R-value of at least R-30.For more information on adding insulation to your home, contact Air Assurance Heating and Air Conditioning. We've been serving the Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     Insulation Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Insulation: What's The Difference Between Cellulose And Fiberglass?

Choosing between cellulose and fiberglass insulation remains a hotly debated topic among homeowners, considering that these two are very common and affordable insulation options. Both materials have advantages and limitations, so let's take a look at the main differences to determine which type works best for your home and why. CompositionCellulose is made from shredded recycled paper mixed with chemicals to bind the fibers together and reduce the flammability of the material. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is made from recycled glass and sand.Fire Resistance When exposed to high temperatures, fiberglass will melt but will not catch fire. Cellulose, while made of paper, is treated with fire retardants to prevent combustion. However, these chemicals could leach out over time and decrease the material's ability to resist fire.SettlingFiberglass rolls and batts do not have settling issues. The loose-fill type, however, will settle slightly over time, although the settling is negligible. Cellulose material, on the other hand, can settle by as much as 20 percent, thus affecting the final thickness of the material and requiring an additional layer.Low Temperature PerformanceFiberglass loses heat more quickly than cellulose and often registers a lower R-value in cold weather.MoistureWater is used for installing cellulose insulation, so vapor retarders are added. It has to be completely dry before the wall cavity is closed up. Otherwise, the material will absorb moisture and become susceptible to rotting. Fiberglass does not have this issue.InstallationMost DIY projects involve fiberglass because it is easy to cut and install. It does, however, require careful, meticulous attention to install properly, which takes time. With cellulose, however, the process is quicker provided you have an insulation blower and you are not likely to do a sloppy job.So which type of insulation is right for you? Let our technicians at Air Assurance  help you decide. We have been providing top quality products and services to our clients in Broken Arrow for nearly 30 years. We can work with you to identify the best solutions for your needs.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). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Here's How to Check Insulation Levels in Your Home

Attic insulation costs - tulsa ok

If you'd like to lower your energy bills and improve your home comfort, addressing sources of air leakage and areas with inadequate insulation can help. Checking two key areas where these problems often occur can help you decide if it's time to hire a professional to boost the insulation level and seal up air leaks.

Up in the Attic

For home attics in our region, the Department of Energy (DOE) advises insulating the floor to R-60, and correcting air leaks to reduce heat transfer with the living areas below. You can perform a couple of easy checks to assess these issues:

• When it's dark out, turn on the lights in the rooms below the attic. Go up there, close the hatch and take a thorough look around the floor to locate any leak sources where light bleeds through from below.

• To judge the insulation level, turn on your attic lights and look around again. If you see the tops of the floor joists in any spot, there's not enough insulation. If the joists are well-hidden, you likely have a sufficient amount installed.

You can fix areas of energy waste and increase the efficiency of your home by sealing the attic, installing a vapor barrier on the floor, and increasing insulation to the recommended level.

Your Exterior Walls

According to the DOE, your exterior wall cavities should have R-19 in insulation installed, and you should seal leaks in the exterior shell by weatherstripping and using caulk and expandable foam insulation. To assess these areas:

• Take off the electrical box covers on the exterior walls, then shut their breakers off. Using a flashlight, look inside each box for signs of insulation. If none is visible, your walls probably need insulation.

• At night, shut off all the interior lights in your home, then walk around shining a flashlight at the exterior walls. Get a helper to follow you outdoors to identify any spots where leaks let the light shine through from inside.

Contact us at Air Assurance for more advice about increasing the insulation level and sealing leaks in your Broken Arrow 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 insulation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “john-kasawa/Shutterstock”

How to Combat HVAC Energy Loss in Winter

In the winter, HVAC heating use naturally goes up to combat the colder weather. During the cooler parts of the year, HVAC energy loss can be an issue. Energy loss not only causes you to have to run your HVAC system longer to stay comfortable, it can also drive up energy costs. The financial costs and increased wear on your HVAC system are things you want to avoid. The following tips can increase your home’s energy efficiency this winter. 

Three Tips to Reduce HVAC Energy Loss

1. Check for drafts. Drafts allow heat to escape from your home and let colder outside air in. Windows and doors are a common source for drafts and are responsible for roughly a quarter to a third of the heat loss homeowners experience every winter. Simple maintenance and replacing your aging doors and windows with newer, more energy-efficient models can address this common source of heat loss.

2. Improve insulation. Another common cause of heat loss is a lack of insulation in areas such as attics and crawl spaces. Adding insulation to these areas can greatly improve your home’s ability to retain heat.

3. Have a professional inspect your HVAC system. Common maintenance needs such as a dirty HVAC unit and clogged filters can reduce your ability to keep your home heated. A professional can perform any maintenance needs, do a proper cleaning, replace filters, and attend to any other issues that can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency.

When You Need the Best to Prevent HVAC Energy Loss

When you need HVAC service and repair in Broken Arrow, you have many options to choose from. At Air Assurance, we set ourselves apart by offering not only top-of-the-line service but a commitment to your complete satisfaction. If you’re having trouble with HVAC energy loss, we can help. No matter if it's maintenance or repair, we can have your home ready for the winter. Contact us today to learn more and see how we can help you. 

How to Best Prepare Your HVAC System for the Next Winter Storm

Winter preparedness calls for you to know how to combat snowstorms to keep your family safe and cozy. Although your HVAC system is durable, you'll need to do some preparation to keep it running efficiently and avoid the need for emergency repair service in extreme weather. Follow the tips below to prepare your HVAC system and home for the next winter storm.

Check Your Insulation and Seal Leaks

Proper sealing and insulation help your HVAC system run safely and more efficiently. They also provide an excellent way to keep the temperatures in your home well regulated. You can lose plenty of indoor heat through the roof, so ensure your attic has the recommended amount of insulation. Seal and insulate your ducts to eliminate air leaks. Check for drafts around doors and windows and seal any leaks you find.

When your heating system doesn't have to compete with the outside air infiltrating your home, it won't be overworked during the next winter storm.

Schedule Heater Maintenance

One of the best ways to prepare for the next winter storm and bout of extreme cold is having preventive maintenance performed on your heating system. During a professional tuneup, an HVAC contractor will check everything, including the belts, electrical switches, motors, and thermostats, and fix any issues.

You could subscribe to a service agreement with a trusted company to ensure your HVAC system gets regular service as well as priority service in case of unexpected breakdowns.

Keep Your Vents Clear

Blocking the vents can limit airflow severely, leading to temperature drops. Make sure no objects are covering your vents and that nobody has accidentally moved the levers and caused the vents to close.

Invest in a Generator

A storm can leave your home without power. A generator will keep your HVAC system running in case power goes out for days or hours. However, you'll need to read the user manual to make sure you use the generator in the prescribed manner.

Being proactive and acting fast on this information will ensure you're adequately prepared before the next winter storm. If you need preventive maintenance in the Broken Arrow area, contact Air Assurance. We also offer an exclusive Extended Service Plan that entitles you to priority service, discounts, and VIP specials.

How to Combat a Drafty House This Winter

Older homes are notorious for being drafty, but guess what? Lots of newer homes are drafty too. So whether you have a new or an old home, what's a beleaguered homeowner to do? You're tired of trying to heat your home in winter, knowing the warm air just rises up to the ceiling and seems to be lost in space while your home's occupants shiver at ground level. 

There are some solutions for a drafty house, but be advised, it's not necessarily an easy or cheap fix. Nevertheless, let's take a look at what you might be able to do. 

Why Do I Have a Drafty House?

Quite often, a house is drafty because of minute cracks around window and door frames, at baseboards, around an attic hatch, and because of holes in exterior walls for pipes, wires, and cables. These holes contribute to draftiness but aren't the main culprit. 

As warm air rises, it creates a vacuum and pulls in cold air from the outdoors through the cracks we just mentioned. The warm air is forced upward, where it might heat up a second story, making it stuffy and uncomfortable, and then travel farther into the attic, where it is lost to your efforts to heat your home. 

While air-sealing those cracks with insulation, caulk, and weatherstripping will help diminish the draftiness of your home, it's not the only remedy.

You also need to insulate the attic to stop those warm-air losses. Furthermore, you may also need to add insulation around the foundation of your home. 

Insulating the Attic and Foundation to Prevent a Drafty House

You should bring the R-value of the insulation in your attic up to about 49 — the R-value being a measure of how effective your insulation is at stopping heat transfer. R-49 translates to as much as 15 inches of insulation on the floor of your attic.

You may also need to hire a professional to air-seal and insulate with two-part foam or foam board and apply sealant to the wooden panel where your foundation meets the rest of the house.

For more on fixing your drafty house, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. 

What Is the Best Window Draft Blocker as the Weather Cools Off?

Think back to last winter in your Broken Arrow home. Can you remember areas in your home that had uncomfortably cool drafts? Do any of your windows whistle, howl, or rattle on windy days? Those noisy and drafty windows are telling you something. Those windows are making your home less comfortable and increasing your energy costs.

Losing heating dollars and putting up with drafty spots in your home is probably unacceptable now that you know the source of those problems. Keep reading and you'll find out how a window draft blocker can be your solution to these comfort and efficiency problems just in time for cooler weather.

Understanding Window Draft Blockers

Window draft blockers (also called window draft stoppers) are literally many different devices, features, coverings, and treatments for windows that do exactly what their name implies. They block drafts. If you have drafty windows, discovering draft blockers is a big deal! Consider which draft blockers will work well in your home.

Window Draft Blockers for Your Home

Window draft blockers are available as draperies, solar shades and blinds, caulking, and many more materials and devices. What follows are some popular choices:

• Door sweeps and snakes. Door sweeps use some type of material, such as foam, on both sides of the door. Door snakes are used on one side of the door.

• Removable caulk. Removable caulk is a great solution to stopping air leaks around windows.

• Permanent caulk. Permanent caulk is used to seal cracks at the juncture of window frames and exterior walls. Use a water-resistant caulk that can take paint.

• Thermal drapes. Thermal drapes use multiple layers and thickness to block drafts and also to block light.

• Weatherstripping. V-strips work great for sealing long gaps in window sills and between doors and door jams. Do you have an attic hatch or door? Stop drafts and air leaks using foam tape.

Could a plan to install a window draft blocker at each drafty window and door make a difference for the better in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact the HVAC and indoor-air quality pros at Air Assurance to find out.

What Summer HVAC Tips Are Least Known and Most Helpful?

It's probably not news to you that it's important to change your filter regularly and have your air conditioner tuned up in the summer. But what about sealing and insulating your home and checking your AC vents and your drainage hole? Here are some lesser-known but useful summer HVAC tips.

Add Insulation to Your House

Believe it or not, insulation is just as important to your home in the summer as it is in the winter, making this one of the most important summer HVAC tips. Insulation helps stop heat from flowing into your home, which improves your AC unit's efficiency. Make sure your home is adequately insulated. Replace any rotted or damaged insulation around the outside AC lines. You can also prevent heat gain in the summer by maintaining the seals around skylights, doors, and windows.

Clear Your AC Drainage Hole

Most AC systems have a drainage hole for clearing out the buildup of fluid resulting from condensation. A clogged drainage hole can cause water buildup and damage your AC unit. You can clean the hole out with a piece of wire or a paper clip.

Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat can help you stay cool and save money. You can adjust it remotely and program it to keep your home comfortable when you're around and warmer when you're away, saving energy. Some models can even communicate more ways that you can use to lower your energy use and save more money.

Keep Vents Clean

Dust and debris can accumulate in your vents and impede airflow. One of the best summer HVAC tips is to clean your vents to avoid blockages and allergies. An excellent way to ensure your vents stay clean is by scheduling routine maintenance. Make sure your vents are not blocked by furniture, draperies, or carpeting.

Have Your Ducts Cleaned

Dust, mold, and mildew can accumulate in your ducts over time. Clogged ducts make your cooling system work harder to push air throughout your home. Have an HVAC professional clean out your ductwork every few years to make your indoor air healthier and your air conditioner work more efficiently.

Following these lesser-known summer HVAC tips together with the more common pointers will be greatly beneficial to your health, comfort, and finances. If you need any heating, cooling, or air-duct cleaning services in the Broken Arrowarea, contact us at Air Assurance.

Does Winter Require Specific HVAC Checks That You Don't Need in Warm Weather?

As temperatures drop in Broken Arrow, you'll want to turn the heat higher and higher. But how sure are you that your furnace will be ready to face the significant challenges that winter poses? Be sure to carry out these winter HVAC checks to keep your heating system in tiptop condition all through the winter.

Check the Thermostat

Your thermostat and HVAC system work as a team. One can't operate effectively if the other is slacking. Your thermostat should have fresh batteries and be set appropriately to meet your comfort needs. Save energy by setting it to a lower temperature when you're at work or asleep.

Ensure There's Adequate Insulation

Without enough insulation, your home will suffer heat loss. As a result, your furnace will run overtime to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, wasting energy and money. Check for adequate insulation in your attic and around your ducts. If you're unsure of your home's insulation needs, contact an HVAC technician for assistance with winter HVAC checks.

Replace Your Air Filter

If you haven't changed a dirty filter in a while, your furnace will be forced to run harder than necessary. This will increase your energy bills. Clean or change your filter at least once a month to prevent it from being clogged with dust and debris.

Schedule a Heating-System Tuneup

Your furnace won't be able to handle whatever winter brings if it's not working correctly. For that reason, you should schedule an inspection of your heating system as part of your winter HVAC checks. During the tuneup, your technician will inspect your system and uncover any potential issues that need to be addressed. He or she will also clean and optimize your system.

Performing these winter HVAC checks will get your system ready for the colder months and help cut your heating costs. If you need to schedule furnace repair or maintenance in the Broken Arrow area, contact us at Air Assurance. We've served the heating and cooling needs of our satisfied residential and commercial clients since 1985.

How to Check Your Home Insulation Levels

On cold winter nights, people start thinking a lot more about proper home insulation levels. Insulation installed in the attic and often inside walls prevents both heat loss from the house during winter and heat gain in the summer. Most homes are insulated by either fiberglass batts or cellulose loose-fill.

How Much Is Enough?

Insulation is rated according to its R-value per inch. The higher the R-value, the more effectively the material inhibits the movement of heat.

In our Oklahoma climate zone, current standards recommend insulating the attic to a level of R38 to R60. For fiberglass batts, this translates to 12 to 18 inches. For cellulose, the depth should be 10 to 16 inches.

Wall cavities should be insulated to at least R13. The material should fill the cavity from top to bottom.

Checking Your Level

As the prime location for heat loss and heat gain, the attic is the most important part of the house to insulate adequately. Here's how to measure the level in the attic:

• Wear a long-sleeve shirt and long pants. A face mask to prevent inhalation of insulation fibers or other airborne particulates is a good idea too.

• Take a yardstick with you.

• Stay safe. Make sure you step only on the center walkway boards. Don’t step on insulation, as the ceiling below may collapse.

• To measure fiberglass batts, insert the yardstick down between the edge of the batt and the adjacent attic joist until it stops.

• Measure cellulose loose-fill by pushing the yardstick down into the mound of material until you feel it contact the ceiling below. Because cellulose depth may vary across the attic, take several measurements at different spots to arrive at an average.

Wall Insulation

If your home has insulated wall cavities, measuring isn’t a practical option for the do-it-yourselfer. Manual measurements would require opening up walls to access the enclosed insulation. A better alternative is to have a qualified HVAC contractor utilize thermal imaging to verify the amount and type of insulation inside the wall.

For professional advice and service to determine your home-insulation levels, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

How Your Roof Affects Your HVAC System

Running the HVAC system accounts for about half of the total energy used in an average home. If you're looking for ways to reduce your household energy consumption and save money, one vital factor to consider is how your home's roof affects the HVAC system.

The HVAC System – Roof Relationship

The amount of energy needed to maintain comfort in your home is directly affected by the sun beating down on the roof. When there's a lot of heat getting absorbed through the roof, and it radiates down into your attic and living space, your HVAC equipment has to work harder to compensate, and you'll pay higher energy bills.

Factors Affecting Rooftop Heat Absorption

Research in recent years has given us a greater understanding of the role roofing material plays in how much solar heat enters homes and other buildings. This has led to the development of roofing with two key qualities that help it stay cooler and more energy efficient:

• High solar reflectance. This allows a material to reflect sunlight better, so there's less solar heat absorbed into the roof system.

• High thermal emittance. These materials release a high percentage of solar radiation that does get absorbed, which reduces how much heat can be transferred into an attic and conditioned living space.

Roofing Options That Improve Efficiency

If you want to increase your home's efficiency and you're planning to have new roofing installed in the near future, here's are some materials to consider:

• Cool asphalt shingles. Regular asphalt roofing is a poor solar reflector, so it tends to soak up heat. New cool shingles are topped with specially-treated granules to reflect the sun's rays.

• Coated metal. Bare metal can reflect sunlight, but it doesn't emit heat well. More efficient versions feature painted or granular-coated surfaces that provide both qualities.

• Clay or concrete tile. While some types of tile roofing naturally reflect sunlight and shed heat, there are also products available with treated surfaces to provide better solar reflectivity and heat emittance.

To learn more about improving HVAC system efficiency in your Broken Arrow home, 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.

Insulation Costs - Winter Attic Safety and Savings

Tulsa Insulation Costs

Getting your attic sealed and insulated can boost your family's comfort and help you save energy both winter and summer. In our climate, temperatures in an unfinished attic can climb too high for safety many months of the year, so winter is the ideal time to have more insulating R-value added. Attic safety should still be a primary concern even when there's less risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, so be sure to take these steps before you or a hired pro begin insulating:

Always Wear Protective Gear

Your attic can contain all sorts of injury hazards, so anyone going up there to work needs to wear proper protective gear. This means durable clothing that fully covers the arms and legs, and head protection such as a sturdy hat or helmet. Gloves and safety goggles to protect hands and eyes are needed too, and a respirator to prevent inhalation of insulation fibers.

Set Up Walking Paths

Creating walkways in your attic can make it safer and easier to access areas that need sealing and insulating. First, move any obstacles so you have clear paths to different areas, then lay down 1x4 boards to form a one-foot wide walkway. To keep the boards from slipping and wobbling, screw or nail the ends of each one to the attic floor joists.

Prevent Accidental Shocks

Do a detailed check of your attic to find any obvious or hidden electrical hazards that may cause shocks or electrocution. Check for loose wiring at floor level, gnawed or damaged wires, and open junction boxes. If you find any problems, have them fixed by an electrician before you insulate.

Light Up the Space

Good visibility is paramount for safely working in an attic. If yours only has one or two single-bulb lights, one option is to have your electrician install more. Alternately, you can put a couple of appropriately-rated extension cords and movable work-lights up there so there's plenty of illumination to safely air seal and insulate the entire attic.

For more advice about attic safety in your Broken Arrow home, contact us today 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 Check Your Insulation

Adding a little more insulation can go a long way towards making your home more energy efficient, not to mention more livable at the height of the winter and summer months. If you need to check your insulation, the following offers a few ways you can do just that.

Checking Attic Insulation

A quick way to check your insulation in the attic is to look across the attic joists. If the insulation barely reaches the top of the joists, then chances are you’ll need to add more. If the insulation is well above the joists, then there’s ample amount of insulation and adding more may not help you save money and energy.You should also make sure your insulation is evenly distributed throughout the attic. If you see any low spots, then you’ll want to fill these in to create an even surface.If your attic happens to contain vermiculite insulation, a gray, flaky pea-shaped material, you should avoid contact with it. Vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos and it should be tested by a professional to see if it poses a danger to your home.

Checking Wall Insulation

Checking your insulation in the walls can be a bit trickier because you won’t have a way to visually confirm how much insulation exists. Most professionals use borescopes and infrared imaging cameras to check insulation levels without disturbing the wall, but chances are you won’t have that equipment Lane around.Instead, you can remove the protective plate from your wall switch and peer into the gap between the electrical junction box and the surrounding drywall. Sometimes you’ll be able to see if you have any insulation, but you may have to go a step further. You can use a thin wooden or plastic stick to snag a small amount of insulation if it’s there. Avoid using wire coat hangers or other metal objects, since this could pose an electrical hazard.

If you want to check your insulation and need a helping hand, contact the professionals at Air Assurance today. We proudly serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding 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). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Lowering Your Heating Load For Your Home

You might be surprised to hear how much control you have over the amount you pay in heating bills, as well as how big a furnace or heat pump is required to heat your home. Furnace sizing is directly related to your home's heating load, as is the amount you pay in monthly energy bills. If you lower the heating load, you can get away with a smaller furnace and lower heating bills.Following are some effective ways to reduce the heating load of your home:

• Seal air leaks. When warm air is escaping your home via gaps in the outer envelope, the furnace has to work harder to replace that warm air. In the summer, when warm air is infiltrating your home through the same openings, your A/C has to work harder. Using caulk, weatherstripping or spray foam (depending on the location and size of air leak), seal your house so it's as airtight as possible.

• Upgrade insulation. Without adequate insulation in walls, foundation, ceilings and attic, heat energy has an easier time transferring to the outside in winter and inside in the summer. As with air leaks, this forces your furnace to work harder, wasting energy and stressing parts. Attic insulation especially is important to keep heat inside.

• Get a programmable thermostat. These devices allow you to set energy-saving programs to match your daily schedule. The thermostat will lower heating when nobody's home or when everybody's asleep at night, and return it to your comfort level shortly before home occupants are expected to awaken or return home from work or school.

• Use ceiling fans. In the winter, set the fan blade rotation to clockwise. This blows air upward, where it displaces warm air that collects near the ceiling, pushing it down into the room where people can feel it.

• Schedule preventive maintenance. Make sure you schedule a maintenance tuneup on your furnace once a year, to ensure it's operating effectively, efficiently and safely.

More more information on how to lower the heating load in your Broken Arrow area home, please call 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 heating loads and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “OpenClipart-Vectors/Pixabay”

How to Perform Your Own Energy Tests

How's your home doing, energy-wise? If you're like most Americans, you probably don't know how efficient it is at using energy. A professional energy audit could probably enlighten you, but maybe that's an expense you're not quite ready to tackle. Until that day comes, you might perform some energy tests of your own and see what you can find out.

Air Leaks

Air leaks are one of the easiest energy wasters to locate, and correcting them can help you save 10-20 percent on your utility bill each year.Locate air leaks by waving a lit incense stick near obvious places for leaking air, such as around door and window frames, the edge of the floor, along baseboard gaps and where the walls and ceiling meet. Also check around plumbing and light fixtures, switch plates and electrical outlets. Places where two different types of building materials meet on the outside of your home are also likely places for air leaks.When you locate air leaks, repair them with caulk and insulation. Put door sweeps under doors and foam gaskets under the plastic covers of switch plates.

Insulation

Most homes, whether old or new, are insulation deficient and need a boost. Cover the attic floor with enough insulation to reach over the rafters. Make sure the attic door is insulated and weather stripped. Insulate ductwork in unconditioned spaces.You can blow in wall insulation this way: locate studs with a stud finder, cut out 2-inch holes in the drywall (saving the sections), then aim the applicator hose in the holes and blow in the insulation. You will have to reinsert the drywall hole sections and patch and paint.

Check Your Equipment

Check the efficiency of your HVAC system. If it's an older model, it could be time for replacement. Choose a more efficient Energy Star model.

Change to Efficient Lighting

Switch to efficient incandescent, fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs to save on electricity.Want to learn more about do-it-yourself energy tests? Contact Air Assurance. We provide safe, effective and efficient service and installations 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). For more information about energy tests and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”

The Most Important Places to Insulate in Your Home

Blown In Attic Insulation in Tulsa

Many homeowners take for granted the insulation that's hidden in the walls, floors and attic of their house, yet insulation plays a crucial role in both energy efficiency and comfort. While all houses have some level of insulation, many don't have enough, or else have it in the wrong places. Areas to insulate include the basement and attic and everywhere in between.

How Does Insulation Work?

Insulation, in whatever form, provides a barrier to slow down the movement of heat energy between the inside and outside of a building. Heat energy is always striving to move from warm to cold, which means in the summer, the outside heat is trying to infiltrate the inside of your house. During the winter, heat inside your home is seeking to escape. Insulation slows down that movement of heat energy (not the same as air movement). While insulation will stop some movement of air, a house also should be tightly sealed against air leaks. Insulation without air sealing doesn't work any better than air sealing without insulation.Without sufficient insulation, your house will suffer from heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. This will force your HVAC equipment to work harder than necessary to keep the house comfortable, which means energy is being wasted, equipment is being stressed, and your comfort is compromised.

Areas to Insulate

The walls of a house form the greatest amount of square footage exposed to the outside. Consequently, it's vitally important to have adequate insulation in your home's walls. The basement or crawl space are also areas that are prone to heat loss/gain, which means they also need insulation.Your home's attic is probably the area where the greatest amount of heat movement occurs — coming in through the roof down into the living spaces in summer, and stealing heat from those living spaces in the winter.A properly weatherized home should have an energy-efficiency strategy that combines insulation and air sealing with energy-efficient HVAC equipment.For help determining what areas to insulate in 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 insulation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “io-images/Pixabay”

Insulation is Important in Warm Summer Weather, Too

When we're trying to prepare our homes for the winter cold, one tactic we turn to is insulation. When you have enough in the right places around your house, you have a much easier time staying warm.

But what about in the summer? Usually, people are trying to cool their house in the summer, not keep heat in. Does that mean insulation is useless in the summer?

Definitely not! Insulation is just as important in the summer as in the winter. As strange as it sounds, insulation is doing the same job during both seasons. It just has a different result depending on the weather.

How Insulation Works

Insulation works on the principle that hot air will try to move where it's colder until the temperatures are equal. In the winter, the hot air in your home tries to reach the cold air outdoors. In the summer, the hot air outdoors tries to reach the cold air indoors. No matter which way the hot air is moving, insulation slows it down. The thicker the insulation you have, the slower the hot air is able to move.

Choosing the Right Insulation

When you are choosing an insulation for your home, you'll want to look at the insulation's R-value. This number is based on the insulation's density, thickness, and what type of material it's made from. If you're not sure what the best R-value is for your needs, your HVAC contractor can advise you.

You can also discuss with your contractor what type of insulation will work best in the areas you're wanting to insulate. Some common types include:

• Blanket insulation

• Blown (loose-fill) insulation

• Foam insulation

Foam insulation comes in boards as well as in an injectable, expanding form that can effectively seal off awkward areas.

Each type of insulation has its pros and cons in terms of cost, life span, and effectiveness. Whatever you end up choosing, you can rest assured that it will help keep your home more comfortable year-round.

Need some help figuring out if you have enough insulation in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact 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: “AKuptsova/pixabay”

The Essential Home Energy Evaluation Checklist

Broken Arrow's climate gives us a wide range of weather to deal with, but with a few simple upgrades, you can make sure your home is ready for whatever comes. A home energy evaluation helps you choose the upgrades that will benefit you most.

Perform a Basic DIY Inspection

Look for leaks — Tiny cracks around doors, windows, plumbing and wiring penetrations, exhaust vents, and other areas waste your heated and cooled air. Test for these by holding a smoke pencil up to potentially leaky areas. If the smoke blows sideways, there's a leak. Caulk and weatherstripping can be used to seal leaks like these.

Inspect your insulation — To block unwanted heat loss and gain, your attic needs at least an R-30 (9-inch) layer of insulation. Adding more to achieve an R-60 layer further improves your home's efficiency.

Check your ducts — Ducts with poorly sealed joints and insufficient insulation drag down your furnace and A/C's efficiency. Sealing the duct joints with mastic and applying duct wrap insulation helps.

Assess your appliances — Appliances more than 10 years old run inefficiently and are at risk for failure. Upgrading to new models will help lower your monthly energy bills.

Consider your lighting — If any of your light fixtures still hold incandescent bulbs, consider upgrading to more efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED lamps.

How a Pro Can Help

During a professional home energy evaluation, your technician will use specialized knowledge and equipment to pinpoint energy wasters you wouldn't be able to find by yourself. With blower door equipment, the technician can depressurize your house to spot small yet significant air leaks. Duct blaster equipment allows your technician to test your ducts for leaks, so they can be sealed for maximum efficiency.

To assess the insulation inside your walls and floors, your technician will scan your home with an infrared camera, which shows where your home is losing or gaining heat. If these areas are short on insulation, adding loose-fill insulation is a convenient solution.

To schedule a home energy evaluation, contact us 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: “Dusit/Shutterstock”