Why Adequate Ventilation Makes A Difference During Summer

When the summer heat hits Oklahoma, it is vital that your home is properly sealed. If not, cooled air will flow out and hot air will infiltrate your home, greatly increasing the demand on your air conditioner and costing you a ton on energy bills. But you still need fresh, clean air to keep your home healthy. That's where your ventilation system comes into play.Proper and adequate ventilation:

• Removes pollutants - Over time, pollutants and toxins will make their way into your home and they need to be removed. Quality ventilation equipment exchanges your interior air for outside air at the recommended rate of roughly 15 cubic feet per person per minute.

• Balances moisture - Humidity levels in your home are critical to your comfort. If there is too much moisture, you will feel uncomfortable and set your thermostat higher during the summer. That means your A/C has to run longer and you have to pay for more energy.

There are three strategies for ventilating your home:

• Natural ventilation - Older homes had natural ventilation because they were not airtight, so air flowed in and out fairly easily. That was good for bringing in fresh air, but bad for controlling cooling costs. You can naturally ventilate your home by opening windows or doors, but this is not a reliable way to balance humidity and remove pollutants.

• Whole-house ventilation - These systems are becoming more popular. They use vents and fans throughout your home to work in conjunction with your thermostat and A/C unit to maintain the needed air exchange rates consistently.

• Spot ventilation - Fans and vents are placed in areas where moisture, heat and pollutants are concentrated. Bathroom fans, exhaust fans and oven vents are examples of spot ventilation that remove air before it reaches other parts of the house.

To speak with an HVAC expert about ventilating your home, contact Air Assurance. With over 25 years of service to Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas, we can help you find the best equipment and strategies.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 website to see our current promotions and get started today

Ice Dams: Take Preventive Measures To Keep Them From Forming

Ice dams can occur in almost any climate, but they're more likely to happen in colder climates like Oklahoma’s. There are preventive measures homeowners can take to keep ice dams in check and avoid costly damage to roofs.When temperatures rise during the winter, most Broken Arrow residents are happy to strip off cumbersome jackets and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. But it is often these conditions that lead to dangerous ice dams. So just how do ice dams form?First, temperatures must be cold enough to produce freezing conditions that lead to the formation of ice on the roof. A long or large snowfall could also cause snow to accumulate on the roof. Then two things can happen:

• A warm weather system moves in, and the warm air starts to melt the snow and ice that’s gathered on the roof.

• Warm air from your home rises up into the attic space and warms up the room, which causes the ice and snow to begin melting.

The ice and snow then drains in the form of water, dripping underneath the snow and ice, and down to the overhang where your home’s eaves are located. Since the eaves are still cold, the water refreezes and creates what is known as an "ice dam." As the water builds up around this “dam,” it can seep back into the attic and even extend into the home.There are several steps you can take to prevent ice dams from forming:

• Have a contractor evaluate your roof.

• Seal air leaks in the attic space, especially those that exist between the attic and the home.

• Increase the effectiveness of attic insulation to stop the movement of heat between the attic ceiling and the out of doors.

• Use a ventilation system in the attic to maintain a consistent temperature between the roof and the outside.

If you’d like expert help with ice dam prevention and creating an efficient and durable attic, or if you have other heating and cooling questions, contact Air Assurance today! For over 30 years, we’ve proudly served homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area.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 website to get started today!     Preventative Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Attic-Sealing Strategies Give Tulsa Area Residents A Solid Plan For Efficiency

Energy costs on the rise? Perhaps these attic sealing strategies can help put you on the road to energy efficiency.Roof LeaksA leaky roof can lead to a variety of problems, including:

• Water damage.

• Wood rot.

• Mold growth.

• Soaked, ineffective insulation.

With this in mind, perhaps the first step in your attic sealing strategy should be to seal off roof leaks with the appropriate flashing material.Air LeaksAir and moisture can also enter the attic from inside of the home, presenting some of the same moisture issues as roof leaks, while wasting your conditioned air and increasing your annual energy costs. In some homes, this is further complicated by exhaust fans, such as those found in kitchens and bathrooms, being vented directly into the attic. These fans should always exhaust moisture and air directly outside. Of course, most common air leaks occur around wiring, plumbing and ductwork, and are easily addressed using some form of weatherstripping or caulk.VentilationOne of the most important aspects of proper attic sealing is ventilation. While that statement may seem contrary, a well-ventilated attic ensures that moisture and contaminants that do enter the attic have a means of escaping your home. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, consider adding continuous ventilation.InsulationWith your attic tightly sealed and proper ventilation in place, you can now finish off your attic sealing strategy by boosting your insulation. If you already have three to four inches of existing insulation, consider adding insulation with an R-value of 25-38. If you have no attic insulation at all, you may need R30-R60. For a more accurate assessment, consult a professional.A properly sealed attic will reduce moisture issues, improve household comfort and significantly increase your annual energy savings. For more information on improving the energy efficiency of your household, speak to one of our trained technicians. We're always standing by to serve your heating and cooling needs. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurancetoday.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 website to see our current promotions and get started today!     

The Two-Pronged Approach To Surge Protection

Did you know that each year, the average home or business experiences more than 300 potentialy damaging power surges? Power surges can damage the various electrical devices in your home, and in the worst-case scenario, they can cause computer system failures and the loss of important data because of temporary power outages. Power surges can wreak havoc on your costly appliances such as televisions, stereos, refrigerators, and yes...even your home comfort system.  Power surges can be caused by the ongoing demands of high-energy appliances, particularly when more than one such appliance is drawing power from a single circuit, as well as by power blackouts and lightning storms.Protecting yourself against them requires a two-pronged approach: You need a whole-house suppressor as well as plug-in protectors for the individual circuits within your home. Both types essentially act as valves that relieve electrical pressure.  I'm sure you've been in the Big Box store where you've just purchased hundreds of dollars in audio/video equipment, only to be sold additional surge protection that sometimes seems as though the cost for those is as much as the equipment you're buying them to protect?A whole-house suppressor system is typically fused to your main electrical box or panel. At minimum, you should get a whole-house suppressor capable of withstanding a surge of at least 40,000 amps. You can supplement whole-house systems with individual modules designed to protect telecommunications equipment, such as land line telephones, fax machines and modems. A whole-house system should be installed by a trained and licensed electrician.You may be wondering why you need protection for individual circuits even when you're installed a whole-house suppressor. This is because even whole-house systems can experience so-called, "leaks," in which surging power manages to get past the protections created by the system. Thus, supplementing them with plug-in units for individual rooms or outlets is recommended for the utmost in surge protection. These individual protectors can be installed on your own, without the help of an electrician; they simply plug into the power bars that act as buffers between outlets and appliances.  But how do you buy a plug in protector for your heating or air conditioning system?  That's where we come in, we have surge protection to protect these costly investments!  Some that even have guarantees in which might pay for your deductable should catastrophic failure occur.At Air Assurance, we understand that your home's electrical demands may occasionally cause power surges and the problems associated with them. We're here to give you advice on how to best protect your home and its appliances, and we're happy to answer any and all questions you may have.In addition, we offer a full range of residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning services to customers throughout northeastern Oklahoma. If you have any questions or would like to arrange service or a consultation, please don't hesitate to contact us.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Broken Arrow Homeowners In Oklahoma Can Avoid Common Air-Conditioner Problems Using These Tips

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to panic when their air conditioner seems to be malfunctioning, especially in the dead heat of a Tulsa, OKlahoma summer. Luckily, many common issues are easily addressed, with most being the direct result of simple, albeit unintentional, neglect.Perhaps the most common issue is a lack of cooling. Often, the cause of this problem is as simple as an improperly programmed thermostat or a thrown circuit breaker.

• Check the thermostat for desired temperature settings and ensure that the cooling system is actually turned on. If everything is as it should be, the next option is to try resetting the thermostat. If this does not correct the issue, a professional assessment is recommended.

• If the culprit is a thrown circuit breaker, resetting the breaker should correct the problem. Of course, if this is a common occurrence, there is likely an underlying electrical issue that needs to be addressed by a professional.

If lack of airflow is the issue:

• Dirty filters can restrict airflow and put a strain on your system in terms of efficiency. If filter replacement doesn’t seem to correct the problem, consult a trained technician.

• If you suspect a frozen indoor coil, try adjusting the thermostat for a few hours to unfreeze the system. If this doesn’t work, contact your HVAC contractor.

Another common complaint is spiking energy costs. This can be the result of several factors, including:

• New appliances

• Extreme summer heat

• Extreme thermostat settings

• Local utility rate increases

If your energy increases can’t be explained away logically, you may be the victim of improper system cycling or some other system malfunction. Of course, the best way to ensure that your system is running properly when you need it most is to maintain a routine preventive maintenance schedule. This allows your technician to evaluate and adjust every aspect of your cooling system, including:

• Proper system cycling

• Thermostat accuracy

• Electrical safety

• Air filter maintenance

• Cleanliness and efficiency of indoor and outdoor coils

• Condensate drains

Last but not least, during extreme temperatures, your system may not be able to keep the temperature as low as it does normally.  This can be due  to several factors:1. Your system may not be sized properly for your comfort.  A professional is needed to do a load calculation on the house to determine the correct size. Maybe your system cooled better in previous years?  Did something change like the loss of a large shade tree or did you replace wood shingles with asphault shingles?  Has your ductwork or insulation been disturbed by remodeling or other services?  Is the system clean?2. Your attic may have inadequate attic ventilation.  With extreme temps comes extreme attic temperatures.  And if your attic can't properly remove the extreme heat, this puts excess heat gain on your home's interior.3. With extreme temperatures come extreme heat on your duct system.  If your ducts are not properly insulated, this can cause your air to "lose it's cool", therefore making your unit run longer and less efficient.4.  What is the level of attic insulation in your home?  If this is not at least 12" you are putting extreme pressure on your system to cool at levels it was probably not designed for.If you’ve been experiencing problems with your air conditioner, don’t wait until the entire system shuts down. Call the trained technicians of Air Assurance today for an expert consultation.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Invest In A High-Efficiency Air-Conditioning System Now, And Enjoy The Savings For Years To Come

Depending on the age of your current air conditioning system, a high-efficiency upgrade has the potential to reduce your annual cooling costs by as much as 40 percent. In fact, if your air conditioning system is more than ten years old, the federal government recommends a replacement due to the relative inefficiency of older systems.To see how your current system measures up to today’s high-efficiency models, you can compare Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER). The higher your system’s SEER, the more efficient your system is in terms of energy consumption over the entire cooling season. While older units may rate a SEER of 10 or below, today’s high-efficiency air conditioning units carry a minimum SEER of 13. Thus, a high-efficiency upgrade can equal significant savings over the long term.Of course, proper sizing is required to maximize the efficiency of any air conditioning system. Often, older systems have become oversized thanks to energy efficient upgrades to the home such as insulation or weather stripping. As such, these systems are not as efficient and tend to have issues with improper cycling leading to high relative humidity levels in the home.Bigger isn’t always better, and having a proper load calculation performed during a high-efficiency upgrade can help ensure that the system you choose is the most appropriate for your household.There are also several innovative features available with today’s high-efficiency air conditioners that are designed to further increase long-term comfort and energy savings. For example:

• Fan-only switches give you the option of reducing cooling costs without sacrificing household ventilation.

• Filter check lights prevent filter neglect and reduce the chances of the system inefficiency -- or even damage -- that can result from clogged filters.

The sooner you make the initial investment in high-efficiency air conditioning, the more you stand to save in terms of energy costs over the long term. Depending on the system you choose, you may also be eligible for federal energy-based tax credits. If you’re interested in a high-efficiency upgrade, let our trained technicians help you make an informed decision. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma today!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

How To Determine The Kind Of Air-Cleaning Equipment You Need

The process of selecting air-cleaning equipment is not something that you should have to think about on a daily basis. But  that decision impacts your everyday life, so it's important to make the right call. If you spend some time evaluating your home's needs, you'll enjoy peace of mind -- and cleaner air -- year 'round. The first step in improving your home's air quality is to determine which pollutants are present in your home. Indoor air pollutants break down into two categories.

• Particulate matter includes dust, animal dander, pollen, tobacco smoke and the presence of small organisms like dust mites, bacteria, molds and viruses.

• Gaseous pollutants include fumes from gas stoves, paint, varnishes, tobacco smoke, cleaning products and pesticides.

Once you have a good idea of what pollutants affect your house, the next step is to pick out an air-filtration system that meets your needs.For particulate matter, you'll want a filter system that is either built into your ducts or functions as a portable, standalone unit. Gaseous pollutants can be removed using a gas-phase air filter or a PCO cleaner. The latter relies on UV light and chemical conversion.  Remember, portable units are only designed to do the area in which that unit is located, while whole-home cleaners are designed to take care of the entire structure.Since there are so many different pollutants that can affect your home's air quality, a professionally-administered air quality test can help pinpoint a solution. Much like a doctor works backward from a patient's symptoms to find a treatment, a fitting air cleaning solution can be found by correctly identifying the pollutants present in your home.If you have questions or concerns about your home's air quality, the staff at Air Assurance is happy to answer them, and to provide expert advice. We can set you up with the best air-cleaning equipment for your situation and your budget.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

What Is Microbiocide (BBJ) And How Can It Help Indoor Air Quality?

Operating costs for heating and air conditioning systems continue to rise year after year. So, we make sure our homes are sealed and insulated, weatherstripped and caulked, in order to reduce the infiltration of outside air and the loss of our precious, indoor conditioned air. That saves us money; but, it also creates another problem.Indoor air quality in homes is the new problem. The air we use gets circulated and filtered and we think all is well. Filtration is a tremendous help; the problem is that mold, mildew and bacteria can live in our homes with us. As they breed, their presence can cause allergies to flair and can contribute to other, more serious, respiratory conditions. Poor indoor air quality has become the price we pay for keeping our homes tight, more comfortable and for reducing our energy costs.When pollutants and contaminants leave our home to be filtered they travel through the duct system. Not all bacteria and mold spores go to the filter. Many cling to the ducts and other components in our heating and air conditioning system. As they breed, their numbers increase and they become unwelcome guests in our homes. They can live on anything that provides a comfortable, humid environment. The biggest example of where mold growth can occur is in our air conditioning evaportator coils.  This is most likely the darkest, wettest, area in the home, which provides an ultimate safe harbor for these culprits to live, eat, and reproduce.  A product that can fight mold and mildew in our home air ducts and coils is MicroBiocide.Microbiocide is a harmless chemical thats been approved by the EPA, to help reduce mold and other contaminants in our home comfort system. A treatment with this approved organic chemical can substantially improve the indoor air quality of any home.Reducing microbial irritants in the ducts can reduce duct odors, inhibit the spread and growth of mold colonies and greatly reduce allergens in the indoor air.  Not only that, but by reducing these things that attach themselves to the coils, airflow and temperature transfer is less inhibited, therefore allowing your system to cool or heat more efficiently.Get more information on reducing mold and mildew and increasing the healthy level of indoor air quality by going here. For other information regarding the maintenance of quality indoor air for your family, log onto Air Assurance. We want everyone to enjoy both home comfort at the lowest possible cost and clean, healthy indoor air.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Ventilation Without Wasting Energy: Check Out An Energy Recovery Ventilator

Energy recovery ventilation units (ERVs) allow you to recapture energy produced by your HVAC system while ventilating your home. They bring in fresh, filtered air while expelling used, stale air. They also “recycle” energy by collecting humidity and warmth (or coolness) from outgoing air and essentially “giving” it to incoming air. This allows them to help maintain indoor temperatures and humidity levels. ERVs can recover around 70 percent to 80 percent of outgoing energy, making them some of the most efficient ventilation options on the market.Energy recovery ventilators differ from heat recovery ventilators in that they capture humidity along with the outgoing temperature. This occurs in the heat exchanger. Here the currents of incoming and outgoing air cross, and energy from the outgoing stream is collected. The two currents don’t combine.Most ERVs are complex ventilation systems, but there are smaller models that attach to pre-existing ducts, or even wall-mounted or window-mounted models. ERVs typically require more maintenance than a standard system. The heat exchanger is also susceptible to frost in cold weather, which can damage the system, so keeping them serviced is important.According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside 60 percent of US homes is hazardous due to the build-up of indoor pollutants such as off-gassing from carpets, fumes from household cleaners, dust, mold and other dangerous microbes. This is an unfortunate side effect of homes that are tightly sealed to maximize energy efficiency. Air cleaned by an ERV can dramatically improve the health of many people suffering from chronic respiratory conditions.ERVs are generally most efficient when used in climates with very hot summers or very cold winters, but they can be utilized year round in temperate climates like ours to help maintain humidity levels in drier weather and preserve energy created by the HVAC system. Energy recovery ventilation systems often cost more to install than regular units, but choosing a model that attaches to existing ducts can help with the financial costs, offering great savings that recoup costs over time.Give Air Assurance a call to learn if an energy recovery ventilation system is right for your home.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.  To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.