Manual J takes into account the conditioning load of your home, which includes these factors:

• Cubic footage
• Floorplan layout
• Number of windows, their orientation to the sun and efficiency
• Insulation levels in the walls and attic
• Air infiltration levels
• Heat-producing appliances and your lighting types
• Preferred indoor temperatures
• Number of household members and their ages
• Landscaping factors.

Once the contractor completes Manual J, he or she moves onto Manual D to determine the ductwork configuration and size you need. The layout of your home makes a difference in ductwork design, especially if you have an open floorplan or high ceilings. Another benefit of starting the HVAC replacement process with the load calculation using Manual J is seeing how improving insulation levels and sealing air leaks would lower the size of the HVAC system you need.

Using Manuals J and D eliminates the risk of installing too large or small a system. When they’re too small, they won’t be able to keep up with the conditioning load during weather extremes. Systems that are too large short-cycle, which means they run for short periods more frequently.

Short-cycling causes higher energy bills and more wear and tear on the system. During the summer, air conditioners that run for brief periods won’t remove as much humidity or airborne particulates, like pollen, dust and pet dander. In the winter, the heating system won’t run long enough to thoroughly warm solid objects in your home, which causes the furnace to turn on more frequently.

If you’re searching for a new HVAC system and would like to learn more about Manuals J and D, contact Air Assurance. We’ve provided HVAC services in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa areas 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 Manuals J and D and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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A GHP consists of an underground loop field and an indoor air handler. Heat from the home is conveyed through refrigerant in the air coil to the underground loops, where the heat is absorbed by the earth. The compressor turns the refrigerant back into a liquid that is recirculated back to the air handler. It flows through the evaporator coil, and once again, picks up the excess heat in your home. The cycle continues until your home reaches the thermostat’s setting.

These systems offer much higher efficiency than standard air-source heat pumps or air conditioners because the temperatures underground are much cooler than the outdoor air and remain stable day and night. If you combine a desuperheater with the GHP, you can heat your water during the summer with the waste heat from your home.

Besides conditioning bills that may be as much as 60 percent lower, your geothermal system lasts longer than conventional cooling systems. The loop field can last 50 years or more and the air handler 25 years with routine maintenance.

These systems are so efficient and advantageous for homeowners that a federal tax credit exists to cover 30 percent of the cost and installation of qualifying systems. It’s valid through the end of December 2016 and there’s no upward limit on it.

GHPs cost more than standard heat pumps or air conditioners, largely because of the loop field’s installation, which varies based on the size of GHP you need, the yard’s size, landscaping and soil conditions.

If you’d like to learn more about a geothermal heat pump, contact Air Assurance. We’ve provided HVAC services for Tulsa and Broken Arrow 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 going geothermal and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Step one: Find leaks

Aside from a professional energy audit, which employs specialized tools to measure air leakage and find leaks, homeowners can use this comprehensive list of locations that commonly leak to root out problematic areas. Check around:

• An air barrier, generally installed in the attic
• Kneewalls and soffits in the attic
• Protrusions in the attic’s building materials to accommodate plumbing, ducts or wiring
• Dropped ceilings
• The chimney or flue
• The access hatch or door to the attic
• Recessed lights
• A whole-house fan
• Protrusions through the building–other than the attic–made to accommodate plumbing, wiring or ducting
• Wall joints
• Basement rim joints and the foundation
• Window frames
• Door frames
• Connections where ceilings and walls meet

Step two: Air seal leaks

A DIY job, sealing air leaks involves choosing the right materials and then correctly applying them. You can seal most air leaks with standard caulk purchased from a home-improvement store. Apply the caulk by following these tips:

• Clean the area first and let it dry.
• Apply the caulk by pulling on the caulking gun’s trigger, holding the gun at a 45-degree angle.
• Force the caulk into the crack or gap, using one continuous motion, and releasing the trigger just before you reach the end of the crack, as the caulk will continue to stream out of the cartridge for a second or two.
• Run a wet finger or rag over the gap to force the caulk deeper, and wipe away any excess.

At Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re happy to help our neighbors in greater Broken Arrow with air sealing, upgrading insulation or boosting HVAC efficiency. Give us a call today or visit our website for more information.

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 air sealing your home and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Safeguarding indoor air quality: the three ways 

• Source control: Your goal is to eliminate or minimize sources of poor indoor air quality. Limit the use of harmful chemicals in your home and ensure proper storage. When cooking or showering, use your exhaust fans (properly vented to the outdoors) to clear out cooking odors and humid, moist air. Schedule preventive maintenance to ensure your appliances and HVAC system work properly, limiting the possibility of gas leaks. For safety, install CO (carbon monoxide) monitors/detectors near sleeping areas and test regularly.
• Ventilation: Proper, balanced airflow throughout the home depends on a properly designed, sized and maintained duct system. Have your ductwork sealed to prevent energy loss and maintain air quality. Duct cleaning is advisable in some cases. Since A/C systems can’t provide adequate ventilation, whole-house mechanical ventilation is recommended.
• Air cleaning: No one air sanitizing method is perfect, but using a few specialized tools in combination can provide greatly improved IAQ. Whole-house air cleaning with UV lighting, when incorporated into your home’s air cleaning, heating and cooling system, helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Consider asking your home comfort contractor to apply broad-spectrum antimicrobial microbiocide to further inhibit harmful bacteria. For the best air quality, include a whole-home air cleaner with an advanced filtration system and highly effective air filter.

Concerned about indoor air quality? Contact the experts at Air Assurance. Visit our website to learn more or give us a call.

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 improving indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Use ventilation

A mechanical ventilation system boosts air circulation in the home. Through a vent that supplies fresh air, and a vent that exhausts old, stale air, a ventilation system employs fans to boost the rate of air exchange, driving pollutants out of the home. This type of system is especially useful in tight homes that have little natural ventilation to drive pollutants out.

Try dehumidification

If allergy symptoms are triggered by molds or bacteria, allergens that thrive in humid conditions, installing a dehumidification may help to control relative humidity, and prevent conditions in the home that encourage the replication of microorganisms. For humidity control in the entire home, consider a whole-house dehumidifier.

Use filtration

You can also use your air conditioner’s air filter to your advantage to improve indoor air quality. Choose a high-quality filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating in the 8 to 11 range. These filters trap a higher percentage of smaller particles, without negatively affecting airflow. Change the filter regularly over the season, at least once a month, or even more often.

Employ an air cleaner

Give indoor air quality a boost with an air cleaner that targets the specific allergens that trigger allergy symptoms. Choose from whole-house ultraviolet light systems, electronic air cleaners, air purifiers or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) systems that target pollutants in the entire home. An air quality professional can help you identify the systems that best suit your needs, and conduct air-quality testing to determine which pollutants are present.

Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing has served homeowners in greater Broken Arrow for more than 30 years. If you’d like indoor air quality testing, or assistance selecting an air cleaner or ventilation system, get in touch with our indoor air quality experts, or visit our website.

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 indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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The development of programmable thermostats

For 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 thermostat

As 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).  For more information about smart thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• MERV ratings: All air filters have minimum efficiency reporting values. This value is a reflection of a filter’s ability to remove particulates such as dander, dust and smoke from the air stream. A MERV 1 filter is the least effective, and a MERV 16 is the most effective. A MERV 9 to 12 filter is generally recommended for homeowners who want highly effective dust control. If you decide to go with one of these filters, make sure you check it monthly. Because a filter in this range is denser than a filter with a lower MERV rating, it can get clogged more easily and restrict airflow, which can ultimately cause damage to your air conditioner. If you have any doubt about the type of filter you should be using, get in touch with your HVAC professional. There is no real Standard testing procedure that regulates how MERV ratings are established, so it’s best to consult your HVAC professional first.
• Whether to clean or replace: Some types of air filters are meant to be disposable. These filters should not be cleaned and reused. Check this type of filter every month, and change it when it looks dirty. Some filters, however, can be cleaned. A washable filter should be checked frequently and cleaned as often as every few weeks. Make sure it’s thoroughly dry before you return it to the air conditioner. If you’re wondering whether your filter is the disposable or washable type, check your owner’s manual or contact your HVAC-system professional.
• NOTE:  Filters can be rated high on the MERV scale, but low  in the ability to let air pass through easily.  This causes restrictions making the system less efficient with lower air flow, and could cause harm to your system.  Air Assurance carries Clean-Climate filters which are made to Air Assurance specifications and have been tested for both MERV and Static Pressure, giving you the best of both worlds.
• HEPA filtration. High efficiency particulate air filtration is the top-of-the-line option in particulate removal and is widely used in hospitals, where it’s important to have air that’s as free of organic pollutants as much as possible. But these filters are extremely dense and not appropriate for many cooling systems. If air quality is a special concern in your home, and you’re serious about HEPA filtration, consider a whole-house air purifier.

If you have any questions about air filters, don’t hesitate to contact Air Assurance. We can help you find the filter that’s best suited to your system. And we can help you with all your other home-comfort needs, as well. We serve homeowners in Broken Arrow and greater Tulsa.

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 air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Actually, A/C maintenance is a two-person job. There are things that you can do yourself. Other tasks are best left to your qualified HVAC-system technician. Here are some of the tasks that you can do yourself.

• Replace your A/C filter (or clean it, if that’s what your system calls for). Then check it regularly during the cooling season and change it as needed. A dirty filter can spike your energy consumption, because your furnace must work harder than it should. This raises your energy bills and can ultimately lead to breakdowns and repair costs.
• Check the outside condenser unit. Hose it off and clear away all vegetation and anything else that’s in it way, such as children’s toys. The space around the condensing unit, including the space above, should be entirely clear.
• Make sure the pad underneath the condenser is level.
• Inside your home, check all registers, and make sure they’re free of obstructions.

Here’s what your A/C technician will do when he tunes up your unit:

• Check the refrigerant and make sure it’s sufficient. He’ll also check for any leaks. If necessary, he’ll replace the refrigerant.
• Clean and tighten all electrical connections.
• Make sure the control sequences are in working order and correct any problems.
• Check all belts for tightness.
• Oil the motor.
• Check and calibrate the thermostat.
• Measure the airflow.
• Check ductwork for leakage.
• Make recommendations to make your system more efficient, or suggest options that would provide a safer more healthy indoor environment.

Taking care of your A/C maintenance now will help to prevent any problems this summer. And making a habit of tending to your unit will lengthen the life of your system. Have questions about A/C maintenance? Contact the experts at Air Assurance. We keep homeowners in greater Tulsa warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

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 A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Fan and compressor controls can wear out. Wiring and terminals can also become corroded. Your HVAC tech will check the controls during your tune-up and clean and tighten the wiring and terminals.
• The refrigerant charge can be incorrect. This can severely impede your air conditioner’s performance. Your HVAC tech will measure the refrigerant and correct any deficiency. He’ll also check for refrigerant leaks.
• The air filter can become clogged. Change the air filter at the start of the cooling season, and check it regularly after that. Change it as soon as it looks dirty, as a clogged filter can severely restrict airflow.
• The condensate drain can become clogged. Your HVAC tech will check it during your tune-up. But you should check it, as well, throughout the cooling season.
• It could be that your air conditioning issue has nothing to do with your cooling system, but with your ductwork instead. Your HVAC tech should check for any leaks in your duct system and repair them as needed. Alternatively, check your ducts yourself and make the necessary repairs, using mastic and mesh. While you’re at it, check all your registers, and make sure they’re free of obstructions.

For quality assistance in solving last summer’s A/C problems before the start of this year’s cooling season, contact Air Assurance.  We’ve been serving 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).  For more information about A/C troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Lubricating the motor to prevent friction.
• Testing the controls to ensure your air conditioner cycles on and off properly.
• Adjusting the refrigerant level and testing for leaks.
• Flushing the condensate drain to prevent overflow.
• Checking the blower motor and belts for wear.
• Checking the voltage and amperage for efficiency.
• Cleaning and tightening the electrical connections.
• Cleaning the outdoor condensing unit.
• Recording the operating pressures and temperatures.
• Checking and adjusting the thermostat for accuracy.
• Checking the ductwork for cracks and loose joints.

Air conditioning maintenance doesn’t end with your annual tuneup. Throughout the cooling season, there are several things you should do to keep your air conditioner operating efficiently:

• Inspect your air filter each month, and replace it when it’s dirty. Your air filter is your first defense against dust buildup in your system, which can inhibit efficiency and cause expensive damage. A clean air filter will also improve your indoor-air quality.
• Keep your outdoor unit clean. Remove debris such as grass and weeds that can restrict airflow, and hose down the unit regularly to remove dirt.
• Keep the area around your indoor unit clean and free of obstructions.
• Make sure your supply and return registers aren’t blocked by furniture or drapes, and don’t close off more than 20 percent of your registers to save money on energy costs. Blocked registers impede airflow to your system and can cause overheating.

For more expert advice on air conditioning maintenance or to schedule a tune-up with an expert technician, contact Air Assurance. We have proudly served 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 Air Conditioning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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