Daylight Saving Time and Your Programmable Thermostat

Your programmable thermostat gives you an easy way to set up a daily schedule of energy-saving temperature setbacks, without the inconvenience of making multiple manual adjustments.The one-hour change that occurs in early November with the end of daylight saving time can throw off your established schedule, though, unless your thermostat's internal clock is equipped to automatically “fall back.” If your model doesn't include this feature, you'll have to change the time for each scheduled temperature setback so your thermostat works accurately during heating season.

Additional Thermostat Recommendations for the Winter

While you're making needed scheduling changes on your thermostat to reflect daylight saving time, it's a good opportunity to make any necessary adjustments to the various temperature settings you've programmed in, to ensure your family's comfort throughout heating season.Here are some suggestions for beneficial changes:

• Set a temperature of 68 degrees for the usual time your family wakes up each morning.

• Program in a 10-degree temperature setback for the daytime periods when family members are away at school or work, and your home isn't occupied.

• Set the thermostat to raise the temperature up to 68 degrees again at the time when the first person usually arrives back home each day.

• For nighttime periods when your family is usually sleeping, program in a temperature setback of 15 degrees. Setting daily eight-hour temperature setback periods generate the greatest energy savings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

• If it's necessary to change your normal routine on occasion, simply use the thermostat's override feature instead of making manual adjustments, so it can automatically revert back to your established schedule.

• Once you've made all your needed scheduling and temperature adjustments, it's the ideal time to put fresh batteries in your thermostat. Tackling these thermostat-related tasks is also a good reminder to test and replace the batteries in each of your carbon monoxide detectors, so you know they're ready and able to protect your family throughout the coming heating season.

For help changing the thermostat programming in your Broken Arrow home at the end of daylight saving time, 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 programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “thatpalletguy/Pixabay”

Where It Pays to Have a Wi-Fi Thermostat

Thermostats have come a long way in the last few years. They've progressed from manual to programmable, and now Wi-Fi enabled devices. With the ability to connect to a home's wireless internet connection and remotely change the temperature, a Wi-Fi thermostat can do a lot for your homes – especially vacation and second homes.Let's take a look at how this thermostat can benefit you:

Comfortable Home Upon Arrival

A vacation home that hasn't been used for months will have stagnant, stale air. Walking into such a home can quickly dampen your spirits. A Wi-Fi enabled thermostat offers the convenience of adjusting your vacation home's temperature from wherever you are. You can turn on your heating or cooling system using your phone or tablet just before you arrive, and the home will welcome you and your family with the pleasant ambiance you desire.

Peace of Mind for the Traveling Homeowner

If you travel frequently, you should get a Wi-Fi thermostat to keep tabs on your home. You can monitor your home's environmental conditions and change the settings from anywhere as long as you have Internet access. In the winter, you'll be able to control your furnace to prevent issues like frozen pipes and water damage. You'll have peace of mind while you're away, knowing you won't come home to a disaster.

Planning Assistance

The mobile app of many Wi-Fi thermostats provides the latest local weather information. You can easily view the current temperature of where you're going to and get a good idea of what to carry with you to your vacation home.

More Savings

A Wi-Fi thermostat allows you to easily change the temperature settings of your second home when it's not in use. That saves you money not only on energy bills but also on expensive maintenance fees because it reduces the wear and tear on your HVAC system.

Upgrading to a Wi-Fi thermostat helps you gain more control over your home than ever before. For more information on Wi-Fi thermostats, please contact us at Air Assurance. We've been proudly serving the Broken Arrow area since 1985.

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 wi-fi thermostats and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Programming Your Thermostat for Colder Weather

Bravo if you know how to correctly set your home's programmable thermostat for maximum energy savings. But it's important to remember that the temperature settings need to be changed once the weather shifts from summer to fall and winter. A programmable thermostat with improper settings is no better than an old-school manual thermostat.

A properly set programmable thermostat allows you to program temperature changes (sometimes called "setbacks") to fit your lifestyle and schedule, or those of family members. It turns down the heating or cooling when nobody's home or when everybody's sleeping. A manual thermostat can save money, too, though it requires a vigilant human being to monitor the settings and adjust them constantly. It also doesn't allow for temperature changes when nobody's around to adjust the thermostat.

Resetting the programmable thermostat is necessary when cooling season changes to heating season, since the setbacks need to be adjusted to account for the shift from a cooling system to a heating system. Here's a sample schedule for resetting the programmable thermostat for the heating season:

• Program the temperature several degrees — as many as 10 or 12 — lower for times when you're going to be gone for more than several hours, such as at work or school.

• Set it to return to your comfort level shortly before you expect to arrive home. Leave it that temperature throughout the evening.

• Lower the temperature several degrees for overnight, since most people prefer it several degrees cooler while they're sleeping and are covered with blankets.

• Program the thermostat to return to your daytime comfort level shortly before you expect to awaken in the morning. You might decide to skip this temperature change if you're planning to go right out the door after a quick breakfast. It may strain your heating system to crank up the temperature several degrees, for a half hour or so, then reduce it again for the day.

For more advice on resetting the programmable thermostat for the heating season, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide superior HVAC services to 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). For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “sashkin/Shutterstock”

Does Your Thermostat Need to Be Replaced?

When your HVAC system suddenly stops working, it's easy to fear the worst and think that something is wrong with one of your costly components. There's another possible culprit that's easy to rule out: a failed thermostat. By following these steps, you can learn whether a thermostat replacement can get the system up and running again:

Change the Temperature Setting

Before doing anything else, try changing the thermostat's temperature setting by five degrees to see if this triggers the HVAC equipment. For the furnace, turn it up, and for the A/C, dial it down.

Check Whether the Thermostat is Receiving Power

Head to the main electrical panel and find the breaker that controls the thermostat. Even if it appears fine, shut it off and then on. If there are batteries in your thermostat, replace them.

Verify the Function Setting

Check the function button on the thermostat to make sure it's set appropriately for the season on either "heat" or "cool."

Check/Clean the Interior

Turn off the breaker again, then remove the thermostat's cover to inspect the interior. Make sure that all the electrical wires are tightly attached to the mounting screws. If any are loose, fix them. With a soft brush, gently clean any dust built up on the interior. Use a cotton swab dampened with electrical contact cleaner to clean the metal contacts. Then, turn the breaker back on and test if the thermostat is working now by making temperature adjustments again.

Bypass the Thermostat's Control

If these steps haven't helped, turn off the breaker again. Remove the thermostat from its wall mounting bracket and disconnect the electrical wires from the back. Find the red and white wires and gently twist the ends together. Turn the breaker on again and check whether the furnace cycles on. Using the red and green wires, repeat this process to test the cooling equipment. If the heating or cooling equipment cycles on when the wires are twisted together, you'll know the thermostat needs to be replaced.For expert help with a thermostat replacement 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “cdz/Pixabay”

Is Your Thermostat Temperature Correct?

If your thermostat temperature isn't accurate, your home can feel too hot or cold, and you can spend too much on energy because the HVAC system isn't cycling on and off as it should. If you're concerned that the temperature displayed on your thermostat isn't correct, here's what to do.

Clean Underneath the Cover

Dirt and debris on your thermostat's internal components can interfere with its ability to control temperatures accurately. Cleaning the inside may be an easy fix, so take off the cover and use a soft brush to gently dust the components. Then, put a dab of electrical contact cleaner on a cotton swab and remove any corrosion from the metal contacts.

Recalibrate the Unit

Sometimes, the sensor inside a thermostat goes out of whack and prevents it from working properly. If recalibrating your thermostat doesn't fix this, it's time to invest in a new unit.

Make Sure it's Level

If you still have a mercury thermostat, it may not read the temperature accurately if it gets knocked off level. You can try to fix this by putting a carpenter's level just above the unit and making minor adjustments in the thermostat's position until it's level again. If you're concerned that it's still not accurate, you should replace it.

Check the Location

The thermostat's location can affect how well it reads the room temperature. It needs to be centrally situated in your home and away from direct sunlight, drafts, heat sources and airflow from HVAC registers. If you think the location is causing accuracy issues, having it moved to a better spot may improve its performance.

Consider Advancing Age

Equipment often becomes less reliable as it ages, and this is true for thermostats too. If yours is still not accurate after you try all of the above fixes, it's wise to replace it. You can boost comfort and energy efficiency and benefit from convenience features by upgrading to a new Wi-Fi or programmable model.

If thermostat temperature issues are affecting the comfort in your Broken Arrow home and you need expert advice, contact us today at Air Assurance.

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Should You Invest in a Wi-Fi Thermostat for Your Home?

Maybe you've heard about some of the benefits of a Wi-Fi thermostat, but you're not quite convinced that installing one would be worthwhile for your Broken Arrow home. Let's have a look at some of these advantages and see if maybe the relatively modest extra cost of these amazing devices might not make one worthwhile for your home.

Smart Technology Enters the HVAC Industry

The most obvious advantage of a Wi-Fi-controlled HVAC system is that you don't have to be home to change the temperature. Say you're traveling in another state and you hear a storm is coming back home. No need to enlist the neighbors to turn up the thermostat to save plants, pipes and pets — you can do it from afar, as long as you have an app installed on a smart device. Even if you're just stuck at the office all day, no worries. You can adjust the temperature as needed.

Other Smart Benefits

There are a number of manufacturers that produce Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats with differing functions and a range of prices. Obviously, the more sophisticated the device, the more you will pay. Here are some of the functions you may opt for.

• Learning function — Some devices can detect the movements of your home's occupants, and will store and analyze this information, adjusting the thermostat to respond accordingly. For instance, the thermostat might learn when your family gets up or leaves home, and will raise or lower the temperature accordingly.

• Detects service needs — Some Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats are able to detect when service is required, such as a refrigerant charge, coil cleaning or filter change. They may also report potential malfunctions.

• Detects homeowner's approach — You might choose a thermostat that can detect your approach to home through a Wi-Fi signal, and adjust the temperature of the home for your comfort.

• Energy reports — A thermostat that can produce energy reports can help you plan more efficient HVAC operation.

To discuss whether a Wi-Fi thermostat might be a good investment for you, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

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Energy Saving Tips for Your Programmable Thermostat

If your home is outfitted with a programmable thermostat, you've already taken an important step toward saving energy and money. However, if you're not sure how to program or use this modern device, you're missing out on the potential benefits. These include both greater energy efficiency and enhanced convenience.

How Does a Programmable Thermostat Differ from a Standard Thermostat?

It's all about control. With an older, manual thermostat, you have to adjust temperature settings by hand. If you forget to adjust the thermostat for when you're not home or are sleeping, the temperature setting remains at whatever point you last set it. With a programmable thermostat, you can program temperature changes to match your daily and weekly schedules. Typically, people will lower (or raise, in the summer) the temperature while they're at work or school during the day, and then program the temperature to return to their comfort level shortly before they expect to arrive home.

Three Different Types of Programming Options:

• 7-day. This is the most versatile model, allowing a separate program to be set for each day of the week.

• 5-2-day. You'll be able to have one program for five days (usually the weekdays) and a separate program that applies to Saturday and Sunday.

• 5-1-1-day. Resembling the 5-2 model, it allows a separate schedule for one weekend day and another schedule for the other weekend day, with the other five days set to the same schedule.

Save Energy by Following these Guidelines:

• Try to schedule energy-saving setbacks for a minimum of eight hours for maximum savings. Frequently adjusting temperatures will handicap your efforts to save money.

• Avoid overriding temperature settings as seldom as possible. This just defeats the purpose of your programmable thermostat.

• Let the thermostat save energy and money while you're on vacation, by keeping the temperature eight to 15 degrees higher/lower than your comfort level. There's no reason to fully heat or cool a home when nobody's home for the week.

For more advice on optimum usage of your Broken Arrow home's programmable thermostat, 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “marinini/Shutterstock”

Should You Set Your Thermostat to Fan On or Auto?

When setting your thermostat, have you ever wondered about the difference between the "On" and "Auto" fan settings? If you fiddled with it, you likely figured it out quickly. What you may not know is why one setting is better than the other when it comes to energy efficiency and home comfort.

"On" vs. "Auto"

First, it's important to recognize that a central forced-air HVAC system has two interlinking modes of operation. The first is the equipment that cools or heats the air. The second is the system that distributes the air throughout the house and draws it back to the equipment to be conditioned again. The thermostat fan setting controls operation of the second part of that equation.When the fan is set to "On," the blower motor and fan run 24/7, regardless of whether the A/C, heat pump or furnace is cooling or heating the air. Setting your thermostat fan setting to "Auto," however, makes sure the fan only operates when the system is actively cooling or heating the air.

Advantages of the "Auto" Setting

Here are a few benefits of keeping your thermostat fan set to "Auto:"

• If your central HVAC system is oversized, which is common in residential systems, it will cycle on and off frequently. Residual moisture removed from the air during the cooling process is left on the evaporator coil. If the fan is running continuously, the moving air will re-absorb that moisture and circulate it through the house. Your A/C ends up working harder to dehumidify the air, and the cooled air will feel clammy.

• When the fan is running all the time, it uses more energy than it would if it were set to "Auto."

• If your ductwork isn't tight, the constant fan operation may result in more air infiltration into the ducts. Depending on the source of that air, it could be dirty or humid if it's entering the ducts from an attached garage or crawl space.

For more help setting your thermostat, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality HVAC services to residents 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). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Daniel Hodac/Shutterstock”

How to Use Your Programmable Thermostat Correctly

Using a programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to cut down on the costs of staying comfortable. For the greatest savings, though, it helps to follow some simple guidelines.

Choose Your Temperatures Carefully

The number of temperature schedules you can set depends on the type of programmable thermostat you have. For example, 1-week models allow only one schedule, 5-2 models let you choose separate workday and weekend schedules and a 7-day model allows you to select a different schedule for every day of the week. Most let you choose four temperature settings per day.Put your energy-saving set points at least eight hours apart. For example, you might set your air conditioner to 78 degrees or your furnace to 60 degrees while you're in bed. Then program your system to turn off while you're out at work and come on again an hour before you get home. Selecting extreme temperatures doesn't heat or cool your home faster. If it's important for your home to be at a specific temperature at a certain time, choose a thermostat with "adaptive recovery" or "smart" technology.

Use the Settings as Intended

The "override" option allows you to temporarily change the temperature on unusually hot or cold days without wiping out your programming. Avoid the temptation to use it whenever you're slightly uncomfortable or you'll negate your energy savings. If you're frequently too hot or cold, program in more comfortable temperatures.Use the "hold" or "vacation" setting to keep your home at a constant, energy-saving temperature when you're gone for more than a day. Using it to control your temperatures every day makes it hard to save because you're likely to forget to reset the thermostat to your energy-saving temperatures.

Change your thermostat's batteries at least once a year. Weak batteries can cause the thermostat to malfunction and fail to maintain your preferred temperatures.

For more tips on using your programmable thermostat or other ways to lower your energy bills, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

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Thermostat Batteries Need Replacing? These DIY Tips May Save You a Service Call

Imagine arriving home from a long day only to find your home unusually hot or cold and your HVAC system’s thermostat blank. So you attempt to diagnose the problem - you move a few controls, double-check the circuit breakers and...nothing. When this happens, the problem isn’t with your HVAC system – it’s usually as simple as a dead battery.Dead thermostat batteries are actually a common enough problem that elicits service calls to an HVAC technician. However, you don’t need a technician to take care of this issue. Here’s what you need to know when your thermostat batteries need replacing:

• Your thermostat will actually let you know days or even weeks in advance when your batteries need replacing, usually with a “dead battery” warning or symbol flashing on the thermostat display.

• Before changing your batteries, find out what size cells your thermostat uses. Most thermostats use AA or AAA alkaline batteries, while others rely on CR2032 3-volt lithium batteries.

• Read up on how to properly change the batteries without damaging the thermostat itself. Your operator’s manual should offer some instructional help, including a pictorial diagram of the thermostat and its battery location.

• Be careful when removing and replacing batteries, not just to reduce shock but also to avoid handling battery acid.

Knowing when your thermostat batteries need replacing and how to change them will save you a diagnostic fee and the embarrassment of an unnecessary technician visit.Don’t hesitate to contact Air Assurance for expert advice on your home’s heating and cooling needs. We’ve proudly served Broken Arrow and the surrounding area since 1985.

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How Your Programmable Thermostat Can Help You Heat Your Home More Efficiently

With fall rapidly approaching, the leaves are beginning to fall as well as the temperatures. Keeping your house consistently warm during the brutal Oklahoma cold months is a luxury that can quickly add up on your power bill. Using your thermostat at regularly planned intervals can help curb power costs, but some of us are so busy that we can't tend to the thermostat every few hours. Fortunately, using a programmable thermostat is a great solution to this that can help you heat your home more efficiently. Here's how:How Do Programmable Thermostats Work?Programmable thermostats operate at different intervals that you preset yourself. At each interval, the temperature of your house will adjust according to what you preset in advance. You don't really need to keep your house at 70 degrees all day, as this can be a huge energy dump. Programmable thermostats will let you control the temperatures of your house at various times of the day, even if you're not home at that time.How Can I Get The Most Efficient Use From My Programmable Thermostat?To save you the most money, it is recommended that you opt for a temperature setting on the low side when you're in bed or when you're not home. Reserve the warmer settings for all other times. Choosing this method can reduce your bill by up to 20 percent. Depending on which unit you have, you may be able to have multiple settings per day.The cold months don't have to leave you choosing between a cold home and an empty wallet. A programmable thermostat is a convenient way to save money and stay warm indoors, provided you use it the right way. For more professional advice about programmable thermostats and other questions relating to home comfort, feel free to contact us at Air Assurance. We've been working with the Broken Arrow area since 1985.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).

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Programmable Thermostats Can Save Your More Than Money

The primary reason that most homeowners buy a programmable thermostat is to save money on their energy bills. This is a great reason and is why programmable thermostats often pay for themselves relatively quickly. However, there are also some other ways that this type of thermostat can benefit you that you should consider.

How Programmable Thermostats Save You Money

A programmable thermostat allows you to schedule changes in thermostat settings ahead of time. For example, you can have the temperature setting rise during the day when you are out so that you aren’t wasting energy to cool a house when nobody’s there. Programming your thermostat for the main periods of the day will result in large savings over the course of the summer, and will be equally important during the winter.

How Programmable Thermostats Give You More Than Savings

There are multiple ways that programmable units are better than their traditional counterparts. Consider that once you program your thermostat, you typically don’t have to adjust it often. Instead of having to constantly tweak your thermostat back and forth, it will do it automatically for you, the ultimate convenience.

Secondly, programmable thermostats allow you to achieve those aforementioned savings without interrupting your comfort. With a traditional thermostat, if you want to come home to a cooled and comfortable home, you would need to keep the temperature down all day. With a programmable unit you can have it set to lower the temperature of your home 30 minutes to an hour before you arrive so you walk in to a comfortable home.

If you’re looking for even more benefits from your thermostat, you could consider upgrading another step to a WiFi thermostat. A WiFi thermostat is a programmable thermostat that allows you to connect and change its settings remotely.

If you have any questions on what type of thermostat is best for your Broken Arrow home, please contact the experienced professionals 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). 

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Programmable Thermostat on the Blink? Diagnose It With This Guide

Many people today are discovering the benefits of programmable or "smart" thermostats. A programmable thermostat can be a real help in saving money while keeping your home comfortable — but only if it's working properly.

If you suspect that your programmable thermostat may be malfunctioning, there are some simple steps you can take to find out.

• Check the displayIf the display is blank, the thermostat isn't working and may have been disconnected from its electricity supply.

• Check the batteries or electrical connectionSome thermostats are battery-powered, while others draw electricity from your home's domestic electricity supply. The easiest way to find out if the cells in a battery-powered unit are dead is to replace them. For thermostats that draw electricity from an external source, ensure that they are properly connected.

• Check the fuseThere will typically be a fuse to control the amount of power that a wired thermostat receives. If this fuse has blown, you'll need to replace it. Remove the fuse and take it with you to a hardware store so that you can get the right fuse to replace it.

• Check the "opposite" systemThe "opposite" system is the system you're not currently running. If you're trying to diagnose why your air conditioning isn't coming on, for example, you would run your heating. Set your thermostat to a sufficiently high temperature and see if it turns your heating on and off as it should.If your thermostat works with your heating but not with your air conditioning, the problem may be with your A/C rather than the thermostat. You'll need to call in a suitably qualified service technician to identify and fix the problem.

If you have tried all the above and the problem still seems to be with your thermostat, it may need to be replaced.

At Air Assurance, our aim is to inform and educate customers throughout Tulsa and Broken Arrow on energy and home comfort topics (relating to HVAC systems). To find out more about the proper maintenance and use of your programmable thermostat, or for help with other HVAC issues, contact us 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). 

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How Smart Thermostats Can Boost Savings, Comfort and Convenience

If you’re looking to save money on your heating and cooling expenses (and who isn’t looking to save money?), consider installing a smart/programmable thermostat.

Smart thermostats don’t simply allow you to raise and/or lower the temperature in your home. They function as a control panel for your heating and air conditioning systems. A smart thermostat allows you to pre-program temperatures during the day. In other words, you can program it to heat up the house in the early morning, allowing you to wake up to a comfortable temperature.

Similarly, a smart thermostat can keep the house at a lower temperature during the day when the house is empty, and raise the heat so you come home to a warm house. Units range from thermostats you program on the control panel (similar to programming a DVD-R device) to those that are controlled via the Internet.

So because you’re able to program your temperature beforehand (or in the case of advanced models, remotely), you’re able to genuinely save money, because you’re not turning on the heat or A/C during the hours when you’re not home. It also is a comfort factor, as you can program your unit to raise or lower the temperature automatically, so your home is at the desired temperature.

Programmable/smart thermostats are pricier than standard units. Obviously, the more advanced and complex they are, the more they cost. Units that are programmed on the front of the unit and work on a timer are less expensive then their web-enabled counterparts.

Also realize that installing a thermostat is not a job for novices. If you have no experience with home wiring, it’s best to leave it to a professional. And you also should factor in that the more expense you incur to install smart thermostats, the longer it will take to realize the savings.

Whenever you need expert advice with heating and air conditioning in your home or office, or any other issues related to home comfort, please contact us. Whether it’s heating, air conditioning or hot water, we’ve been servicing the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan area for almost three decades.

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). 

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Programmable Thermostats: Do They Really Save You Energy?

Programmable Thermostats: Do They Really Save You Energy?

You may have heard that programmable thermostats cannot save you money. That may be true, if you are not using it correctly. Just like any other tool or technology, proper use and knowledge is required for success. Below are nine best practices for using programmable thermostats to maximize energy savings in your Oklahoma home.

1. Pick set points and leave them alone; don’t mess with them more than you have to. This example program may not work for your home and require adjustments after you have fully evaluated your home and energy consumption, but it's a good start.

o    Winter: In the winter, set your thermostat for 68 degrees when home and awake, lower for when you're away or asleep.

o    Summer: Set your thermostat for 78 degrees while you are home and turn it off when you leave.

 2. Know the difference between your hold features. Generally you will have a temporary hold and a permanent/vacation hold. Be sure to use them accordingly. For example, the permanent/vacation feature should not be used for day-to-day control.

 3. If you are going away, set the permanent/vacation feature at en energy efficient temperature for the entirety of your trip.

 4.  You will not heat up or cool down your house any faster if you turn it all the way up or all the way down; that will just waste energy and money.

 5. If you use zone heating, you will need multiple programmable thermostats for each zone in order to maximize energy savings in your home.

 6. Stay on top of changing your batteries if your thermostats are battery powered.

 7. Try not to change pre-programmable settings. Each time you do this you are using more energy.

 8. Install programmable thermostats away from appliances, lighting, skylights, heating/cooling registers, and any other areas that create significant heat/cooling.

 9. If you are only using a few rooms in your house, turn your thermostat off completely and use space heaters/window air conditioners.

For additional information on programmable thermostats and for other home comfort concerns, contact us. We have been serving the Broken Arrow area since 1985.

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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). 

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Smart Thermostats: Check Out the Benefits of Going High Tech

Smart Thermostats: Check Out the Benefits of Going High Tech

With the advent of iPhones, tablets and advanced medical equipment, it stands to reason that HVAC systems would be getting smart too. Heating and cooling equipment on the market today is far more sophisticated and advanced than systems that were available 20 years ago. Thermostats, meanwhile, have kept pace. A new generation -- the smart thermostat -- has arrived. What can one of these neat little devices do for you in your greater Tulsa home? To put it simply: a lot.The development of programmable thermostatsFor decades, the thermostat was a simple, relatively uncomplicated device. It was a manually controlled box attached to the HVAC system that a homeowner used to change temperature settings and turn heating and cooling equipment on and off. Then programmable thermostats came along. These advanced devices offered customized heating and cooling, along with advanced digital displays. A homeowner could program different settings for certain times of the day and different days of the week. This gave gave the homeowner enhanced comfort and energy savings.Introducing the smart thermostatAs programmable thermostats have become invaluable to many homeowners, even greater advancements have been made possible. Today's smart thermostats offer all the bells and whistles of the programmable thermostat and then some. Among the sophisticated features available on today's smart thermostats:

• Greater accessibility: The standard programmable thermostat can be adjusted only when you're at home. The smart thermostat can be monitored and adjusted from anywhere that has a WiFi connection. Say you're at the coffee shop, and you realize you'll be home later than usual. From your laptop or smartphone you can send your thermostat the message to turn the air conditioner down or the heat up -- depending on the season -- shortly before your new arrival time. You can do the same if you're on vacation, and you'll be arriving home sooner or later than expected. In addition, the smart thermostat will alert you to any dramatic change that needs your attention -- if a system fails, for example.

• The capability to monitor your systems: The smart thermostat has the capability to track your home's energy usage, allowing you to have greater control over your energy costs. Some smart thermostats can even monitor energy prices and alert you to changes.

• Ability to learn your schedule -- In addition to allowing you to make changes yourself, smart thermostats can learn your daily patterns and adapt to them.

You've seen how smartphones and tablets can enhance your life. Why not upgrade to a programmable thermostat? To learn more about what they can do for you, contact the professionals at Air Assurance. We have been serving the HVAC needs of homeowners in Broken Arrow and greater Tulsa since 1985.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

How To Use Programmable Thermostats For Greater Energy Savings

Programmable thermostats are one of the primary solutions experts, like those at the Department of Energy, encourage homeowners to use to advance energy savings, while promoting optimal home comfort. However, achieving the goal of savings requires that homeowners follow some key tips when selecting a device, and then setting it. Here’s what you need to know.

Selection

In order to follow through on best practices for setting programmable thermostats listed below, homeowners must first select the right device. Most programmable thermostats allow you to schedule four different temperature settings over the course of the day, which jibe with how most people live their lives. Most homeowners are home for a short time in the morning, gone for the majority of the day, return home around 6 p.m., and then go to sleep. Some thermostats now have wi-fi connectivity, which allows you to access your themostat from anywhere via computer, smart phone, or tablet.  This allows you to always have control just in case you forget, or when plans change that are different from your regular schedule.

Programmable thermostats differ in terms of how often you can change these settings from day to day. This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to selecting a device. If you purchase a thermostat that only allows for one daily program from Sunday to Saturday, but your schedule changes with every day, you probably won't achieve optimal savings, because you'll likely change the settings frequently to accommodate changes in your schedule. Below, you'll see why changing the settings is not desirable.

Settings

With the right device in hand, you can begin setting it for energy savings. Here’s how:

• Program at least one setback in winter (or set forward in summer) for an eight-hour period. Many homeowners do this at night, or also during the day. This is the guiding principle for savings.

• Estimate 1 percent savings for every 1 degree that you dial back/forward the temperature.

• Frequent use of the hold button, which lets you bypass the next scheduled setting, tends to negate energy savings that consistent setbacks/forwards deliver.

Homeowners who’d like expert help using programmable thermostats for greater energy savings should contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We've served homeowners in greater Broken Arrow nearly 30 years. We’re happy to get your household on the road to savings, comfort and a lower carbon footprint.

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

Zoned Temperature Control -- Would It Be Beneficial In Your Home?

Zoned temperature control is a unique solution to home heating and cooling problems. By dividing your home into zones, and with dampers installed in ductwork that are controlled by a series of corresponding thermostats, you can better manage not only energy costs, but home comfort, too.Home comfort problemsTwo homes with the same square footage can differ dramatically in design; however, they might utilize the same-sized capacity air conditioner. Certain design features can greatly inhibit the ability of any one system to effectively cool a home, including:

• Rooms with cathedral ceilings

• Great rooms

• Two-story homes

• Rooms with large windows

• Additions over a garage or in an attic space

The problem with these types of features is that they often require more cooling than traditional spaces. But with just one thermostat monitoring your home’s temperature, it can be difficult to accomplish whole-house comfort. Further, if you were to turn up the thermostat to provide additional cooling to a great room, the rest of the home would become too cold—and you’d waste energy dollars.With zoned temperature control, you can achieve both goals: better comfort and decreased energy costs. By designating your great room as one zone, you can set the temperature for that space, and then the dampers to that zone’s ductwork will stay open until it reaches the pre-set temperature. With each zone independently controlled, the dampers will close once each space is appropriately cooled, limiting your energy costs.Zoned temperature control is convenient, too. It’s particularly useful when family members have differing ideas about what constitutes a comfortable temperature. You can set one temperature in the space you’re occupying, and another family member can set their zone to what they think is a comfortable setting. Zoned temperature control puts an end to thermostat wars!Consider how zoned temperature control can solve your home comfort problems and help you to manage energy costs at the same time. For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality today!  We've been serving homeowners in the greater 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!     

Remotely Control Your Home's Temperature With High-Tech Programmable Thermostats

Home automation increasingly utilizes the internet as a means of accessing devices like lights, security equipment and surveillance cameras. This connectivity has expanded to include remote control of your heating and cooling with internet-accessible, programmable thermostats. Also known as IP thermostats, these units give homeowners full monitoring and control of the home environment even while away from home. Internet thermostats incorporate a dedicated server with its own discrete IP address on the internet. Anywhere in the world there’s an internet connection, you can access your programmable thermostat using a standard internet browser. Like any other internet device, your thermostat is password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.Programmable thermostats automatically activate timed heating or air conditioning events during pre-determined spans in a 24-hour period. However, sometimes a homeowner may wish to override programmed events from a remote location or simply re-program the thermostat. Typical scenarios for internet control might include canceling a programmed activation of the HVAC system because you’re going to be working late or delayed returning from an out-of-town trip.Remotely monitoring the temperature of your residence during cold spells or heat waves also permits online activation of the HVAC system as needed to prevent pipe freezing or unsafe conditions for pets. Checking and adjusting interior temperatures while you’re away may be important if the residence has children or elderly at home who cannot operate the HVAC equipment.The link between homeowner and an IP thermostat is two-way. When you are away from home, many models will automatically send a text message or email to alert you to unusual or hazardous conditions like sudden temperature extremes or a component failure causing a shutdown of the HVAC system.Another advantage of internet access to your thermostat is ease in programming—even while you’re home. Some users find a browser-based programming tool more intuitive and functional than programming on/off events directly using buttons on the thermostat.For over 30 years, Air Assurance has provided Broken Arrow and Tulsa-area homeowners with the latest in HVAC technology. Contact us for more information on internet-controlled programmable thermostats.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!     Thermostat image via Shutterstock

How To Choose A New Thermostat For Your Home

Selecting a thermostat for your HVAC system can be a simple and very rewarding experience. If you pick the right type, you will enjoy energy savings for years to come. The cost of the new thermostat will more than be made up in the money that you save on your gas and electric bill.The first thing you must do is match your new thermostat to the type of heating and cooling system that you have. Most homes are equipped with a forced-air system that delivers heated or cooled air throughout the house using a series of ducts. The system might be powered by gas or electricity, and the thermostat tells the air handler when to cycle on and off.The best type of thermostats are the ones which give a digital readout of the temperature. They are simple to set and easy to understand. You can choose from a manual unit, which you set yourself, or a programmable one, which controls the temperature in your home for an extended period of time. The manual unit is good for someone who is home all the time, and the programmable one is best for people who work outside the house.A programmable thermostat gives you the option of automatically raising or lowering the temperature when you are not home. Why waste money heating or cooling an empty house? The Department of Energy estimates that you can save at least 10 percent off your energy bills just by switching to a programmable thermostat. The programmable models come in several varieties to match your schedule. There are ones that can be programmed for each day of the week, and others that have one setting for weekdays and another for Saturday and Sunday.Now, what about "High Tech" thermostats?  Did you know they have remote controls now available?  Now, you don't have to get off the couch or out of bed to change the temperature.  And most of those read the temperature from the controller, so wherever you're sitting is the exact temperature you want it!!Or, maybe you want to control your thermostat from your smart phone, tablet, or laptop?  Choose a thermostat in which you can control when out of town by just installing an App!Air Assurance can answer any questions you have about which model is best for your home, and we can ensure that your thermostat is properly installed and working correctly to maximize your energy savings. Contact us today, we have over 30 years experience taking care of the heating and cooling needs of Broken Arrow-area residents just like you.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!