How To Know When To Change Air Conditioning Filters

Although we don’t usually realize it, we can actually reduce the running cost of a building by removing the dust from the atmosphere. The furniture, walls and fittings are preserved longer. It also improves the health of the occupants.

Removing dust is usually done by installing filters in the incoming air stream or the circulating air stream. In air-conditioning systems, these filters are installed at the air handling units or AHU’s.

How do we know when to replace the filters?

As more and more dust accumulates at the filters, the differential pressures between the inlet and the outlet will increase. By measuring the differential pressures, we will have a very good indication of how much the filter has been choked by dusts. Persons maintaining the air-conditioning plant should know at what differential a filter should be replaced. Some of the dust particles are so minute, that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. In all appearances, the filter looks as good as new.

These are some factors to consider when determining when to change the filter:

Mechanical strength of the filter

The final pressure of a filter is usually stated in the product. That is the strength of the filtration medium. However, other factors need to be considered – the strength of the filter walls, frames and holders if not adequately designed can result in the sagging of the filter housing that will result in leaks.

Changes in efficiency of the filter

This is particularly important in low efficiency filters. Their efficiencies can be radically impaired as a result of high final pressure losses. Particles that have been collected by the filter can become detached and accompany the air stream. Fibrous particles are less likely to become detached compared to granular particles. Because of this, higher final pressure drops are permissible for the former, although this should not exceed about 200 Pa in a pre-filter.

If you are looking for a Oklahoma heating and air conditioning company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

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Superior Service Maintenance Programs

Just like your car, your heating and air conditioning systems needs routine maintenance to keep it running at its best. Without regular servicing, heating and cooling systems waste energy and are more likely to break down. But with the proper attention, they can keep you comfortable year-round. Superior Service offers maintenance programs on maintaining your home comfort systems to the best level.

Proper maintenance of your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will:

1. Lower utility costs (by as much as 42%)
2. Increase the service life of the equipment (reducing replacement costs)
3. Provide a greater level of comfort to the occupants:
4. Demonstrates you are adhering to industry wide “standard of care”.
5. Reduce your risk of exposing the occupants to IAQ problems (which in turn helps reduce your exposure to potential IAQ litigation).
6. Minimize emergency and unplanned repair expenses.

Our maintenance plan helps you avoid unexpected repair bills, reduced operating costs and maintain the highest efficiency from your heating and cooling system. Precision tune-ups are performed by our expert technicians. We retain comprehensive records of your system’s operation. At your convenience, we’ll send one of our technicians to your home or business to perform a comprehensive inspection which includes a complete cleaning of the outside condenser and servicing of your system. Includes Semi Annual precision Tune-ups and professional cleanings of your equipment.

If you are looking for a heating and air conditioning maintenance plan in the Tulsa County area, please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Latest Home Comfort Articles

Important Home Maintenance Tips – Here are some basic tips to keep your system running efficiently. However, these tips are not designed to replace annual servicing by a qualified HVAC contractor. (Read Complete Article)

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April 2010 Newsletter

HERE’S WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH…

Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings and a very warm welcome to the exciting April edition of Around The House Newsletter!When you dig into this month’s issue of the newsletter, you’ll find an informative array of tips, new ideas, fun facts, and much more.

• Never Too Early For Next Winter. Find Out Tips On Page 2.
• Learn These Famous Tax Quotes! Flip To Page 5 For All The Details!
• Proper Care Really Does Help Your Skin. Learn Tricks On Page 6.

Spring is here! Have you had your air conditioner looked at yet? If you haven’t had your spring 2010 Preventive maintenance done by now just give us a call and I will be happy to set an appointment for you. How do you know if you need this done? If you have not turned on your AC since last year then it’s about time for a spring Preventive Maintenance safety check. Having a regular Preventative Maintenance safety check on your air conditioner and furnace can save you tons of money by preventing major preventable repairs.

As always, I’m looking forward to hearing from you. If you have any friends or neighbors who need help with any home comfort needs or would just like their own copy of my Around the House Newsletter, please contact me.

Yours truly,

Bry’wn Rigsbee

Customer Service Representative & Publisher

Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc.

http://www.357ac4u.com

PS If you would like your personal business card added to one of our monthly newsletters please fax it to me at (918) 770-8210. If you would be interested in sponsoring the newsletter on a recurring basis please contact me to discuss the terms.

PPS If you like my newsletter, or have any suggestions, please feel free to give me a call at (918)357-2248.We love hearing from all of our friends and clients!

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Oklahoma’s Air Conditioning Repair Professionals

Warm weather is right around the corner and it’s time to get your checkups and repairs to your air conditioning systems. We are licensed in AC repair as well as heating. Our heating and air conditioning technicians will provide you with fast, friendly, expert service.

We Offer Only The Best

• 100% Financing
• Free Estimates Available on Replacements and New Installations
• Up Front Pricing – So You Know Before We Work
• 10 Years “Can’t Write A Check” Warranties Available
• Only The Finest in Heating and Air Conditioning Products

Helpful tips for better comfort and efficiency:

• Clean or replace your filters frequently. Dirty filters will lower the performance and efficiency of your cooling and heating system, increasing your utility bill and could possibly cause damage to your system.
• Don’t turn your air conditioning system off. When you are away, your home will soak up the heat and become more difficult to cool, so it is best to leave your thermostat where you are most comfortable. If you need to change the temperature, adjust your thermostat only 2 to 4 degrees different than what you normally prefer to keep it at. This also applies to your heating system. If you have a programmable thermostat, be sure not to exceed a 2 to 4 degree setback temperature as well.

If you are looking for an Oklahoma a/c repair contractor, please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Read Full Post »

Energy Efficient Homes in Oklahoma

It is already time to turn on the furnace in your Oklahoma home. If you live in a part of the country that is cold during the winter, you spend a lot of money on heating costs. Some people are spending up to 50% of their monthly budget on heating.

Heating costs have gone up rapidly in the past two years. You may find that you are paying twice as much to heat your home. What can you do to save some of this money?

Start by walking through your home and identifying the areas where heated air is leaking out. Check around your doors, windows, fireplaces and any drafty areas. There are many ways to close off leaks. You can caulk, weather strip and use plastic to seal off drafts. Put door sweeps on all of your outside doors. If your home is poorly insulated, the additional money spent to insulate it will pay for itself in reduced heating costs. The more you prevent heated air from leaking out, the more you will save.

Most people never think of this, but you should minimize the usage of ventilation fans and kitchen hood fans during the winter. I’ve heard it said that one bathroom fan can pull all of the warm air out of an average sized house in a little over an hour. This could increase your heating costs by a surprising amount.

If you don’t use portions of your Oklahoma home, such as the guest room, why are you heating them? Close the heating vents in these areas and close the doors to rooms you don’t use.

Spend the money to have an annual maintenance performed for your furnace or heat pump. This will keep it in good operating condition and running efficiently. Poorly maintained units use more energy and fuel. Maintenance is often fairly inexpensive when compared to the savings in heating costs and the extended life of the unit.

Often, people get a little chill and crank up the thermostat in order to warm up the room faster. This doesn’t work. The heater won’t heat up any more quickly. Your furnace will only work harder than necessary. Don’t turn your heat completely off when you are sleeping or not at home. Turning it too low will cost you more to re-heat the air in your home. You should set the thermostat at 68 to 70 degrees while you are at home during the day, and drop it to 60 to 65 at night or when you aren’t at home. A programmable thermostat is great for this.

Take a look at your hot water heater. It should be set at 120 degrees at the most. This is one of the safest temperatures anyway. If it is in an unheated areas, like an unfinished basement, you should wrap it in an insulation blanket to prevent heat loss. When washing clothes, try to wash them in cold water whenever possible. They even make soap powder that works best in cold water now.

There are many ways to save on your heating costs. From grabbing a sweater to opening south facing curtains during the day, you will find many savings.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com , an Internet consumer banking marketplace. RateEmpire.com is a destination site of personal finance, banking, investing, taxes, debt management and mortgage rates. RateEmpire.com provides mortgage guides and financial rates and information. RateEmpire.com also operates a financial portal #1 American Financial, found at http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com and San Diego loan portal http://www.LendingSanDiego.com

If you are looking for a Oklahoma HVAC company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Read Full Post »

Important Home Maintenance Tips

Just like your car, your home comfort system needs routine maintenance to keep it running at its best. Without regular servicing, heating and cooling systems waste energy and are more likely to break down. But with the proper attention, they can keep you comfortable year-round.

Below are some basic tips to keep your system running efficiently.

Blowers
Tuning up the distribution side of a forced-air system starts with the blower. The axle should be lubricated; blades cleaned and lower motor checked to insure the unit isn’t being overloaded. The fan belt should be adjusted so it deflects no more than an inch when pressed. Every accessible joint in the ductwork should be sealed with mastic or UL-approved duct tapes. Any ducts that run outside the heated space should be insulated. On a hot-water system, the expansion tank should be drained, the circulating pump cleaned and lubricated and air bled out of the radiators.

Thermostats
While thermostats rarely fail outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical parts stick or lose their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals if they’ve been knocked out of level or have dirty switches. To recalibrate an older unit, use a wrench to adjust the nut on the back of the mercury switch until it turns the system on and, using a room thermometer, set it to the correct temperature. Modern electronic thermostats, sealed at the factory to keep out dust and grime, rarely need adjusting. However, whether your thermostat is old or young, the hole where the thermostat wire comes through the wall needs to be caulked or a draft could trick it into thinking the room is warmer or colder than it really is.

Humidifiers
A neglected in-duct humidifier can breed mildew and bacteria, not to mention add too much moisture to a house. A common mistake with humidifiers is leaving them on after the heating season ends. Don’t forget to pull the plug, shut the water valve and drain the unit. A unit with a water reservoir should be drained and cleaned with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach to eight parts water or muriatic acid. Mist-type humidifiers also require regular cleaning to remove mineral deposits.

Filters
Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace filter made from loosely woven spun-glass fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork clean. Unfortunately, they don’t improve indoor air quality. That takes a media filter, which sits in between the main return duct and the blower cabinet. Made of a deeply pleated, paper-like material, media filters are at least seven times better than a standard filter at removing dust and other particles. An upgrade to a pleated media filter will cleanse the air of everything from insecticide dust to flu viruses.

Compressed, media filters are usually no wider than six inches, but the pleated material can cover up to 75 square feet when stretched out. This increased area of filtration accounts for the filter’s long life, which can exceed two years. The only drawback to a media filter is its tight weave, which can restrict a furnace’s ability to blow air through the house. To insure a steady, strong airflow through the house, choose a filter that matches your blower’s capacity.

If you are looking for a Oklahoma HVAC company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Read Full Post »

Energy Efficient Homes in Oklahoma

It is already time to turn on the furnace in your Oklahoma home. If you live in a part of the country that is cold during the winter, you spend a lot of money on heating costs. Some people are spending up to 50% of their monthly budget on heating.

Heating costs have gone up rapidly in the past two years. You may find that you are paying twice as much to heat your home. What can you do to save some of this money?

Start by walking through your home and identifying the areas where heated air is leaking out. Check around your doors, windows, fireplaces and any drafty areas. There are many ways to close off leaks. You can caulk, weather strip and use plastic to seal off drafts. Put door sweeps on all of your outside doors. If your home is poorly insulated, the additional money spent to insulate it will pay for itself in reduced heating costs. The more you prevent heated air from leaking out, the more you will save.

Most people never think of this, but you should minimize the usage of ventilation fans and kitchen hood fans during the winter. I’ve heard it said that one bathroom fan can pull all of the warm air out of an average sized house in a little over an hour. This could increase your heating costs by a surprising amount.

If you don’t use portions of your Oklahoma home, such as the guest room, why are you heating them? Close the heating vents in these areas and close the doors to rooms you don’t use.

Spend the money to have an annual maintenance performed for your furnace or heat pump. This will keep it in good operating condition and running efficiently. Poorly maintained units use more energy and fuel. Maintenance is often fairly inexpensive when compared to the savings in heating costs and the extended life of the unit.

Often, people get a little chill and crank up the thermostat in order to warm up the room faster. This doesn’t work. The heater won’t heat up any more quickly. Your furnace will only work harder than necessary. Don’t turn your heat completely off when you are sleeping or not at home. Turning it too low will cost you more to re-heat the air in your home. You should set the thermostat at 68 to 70 degrees while you are at home during the day, and drop it to 60 to 65 at night or when you aren’t at home. A programmable thermostat is great for this.

Take a look at your hot water heater. It should be set at 120 degrees at the most. This is one of the safest temperatures anyway. If it is in an unheated areas, like an unfinished basement, you should wrap it in an insulation blanket to prevent heat loss. When washing clothes, try to wash them in cold water whenever possible. They even make soap powder that works best in cold water now.

There are many ways to save on your heating costs. From grabbing a sweater to opening south facing curtains during the day, you will find many savings.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com , an Internet consumer banking marketplace. RateEmpire.com is a destination site of personal finance, banking, investing, taxes, debt management and mortgage rates. RateEmpire.com provides mortgage guides and financial rates and information. RateEmpire.com also operates a financial portal #1 American Financial, found at http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com and San Diego loan portal http://www.LendingSanDiego.com

If you are looking for a Oklahoma HVAC company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Read Full Post »

What Is SEER?

What is SEER? How does it apply to the energy efficiency of air conditioners?

The efficiency of central air conditioning units is governed by U.S. law and regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Every air conditioning unit is assigned an efficiency rating known as its “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” (SEER). The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.

Why is air conditioner efficiency currently an issue?

After finalizing a seven-year public review process, the Clinton Administration improved the air conditioner efficiency standard from SEER 10, which was established by Congress in 1987, to SEER 13. The change from SEER 10 to SEER 13 represented a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency. The Clinton Administration decision required all new air conditioning equipment sold in the United States to comply with the SEER 13 standard by January 2006. In April 2001, however, the Bush Administration addressed the possibility of weakening the standard to SEER 12, and in July, DOE formally proposed to roll back the standard.

Prior to the August recess, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the “Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001.” In H.R. 4, the House followed the Bush Administration and passed a weakened standard for air conditioners of SEER 12, instead of SEER 13.

In October 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially commented on the DOE proposed roll back ruling. EPA stated that DOE overstated the regulatory burden and the financial pressures on the air conditioning industry and understated the savings benefits of the SEER 13 standard. The Deputy Administrator of EPA stated, “EPA believes there is a strong rationale to support a 13 SEER standard.”

If you are looking for a Oklahoma HVAC company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Read Full Post »

March 2010 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings!  I’d like to welcome you to the all-new March edition of Around the House Newsletter!

This issue of the newsletter is bursting at the seams with fabulous tips for your home, fun games and much more!

Take a gander at some of the hot features in this month’s edition…

v  Do You Want To Sell Your Life Insurance? Learn How On Page 2

v  Healthy Lifestyle Cuts Risk Of Serious Diseases! Check it out on Page 4

v  Learn How To Bring Your Backyard Patio Back To Life On Page 6

Looks like spring is getting closer! Not long from now your air conditioners will be in full swing for the spring and summer season. Why not at the time your air conditioner is not in use have it serviced. Schedule your Preventative Maintenance Safety check. That way you will know full and well when it comes time to turn on the A/C your system is running properly.

As always, I’m looking forward to hearing from you. If you have any friends or neighbors who need help with any home comfort needs or would just like their own copy of my Around the House Newsletter, please contact me.

Yours truly,

Bry’wn Rigsbee

Customer Service Representative & Publisher

Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc.

www.357ac4u.com

PS If you would like your personal business card added to one of our monthly newsletters please fax it to me at (918) 770-8210. If you would be interested in sponsoring the newsletter on a recurring basis please contact me to discuss the terms.

PPS If you like my newsletter, or have any suggestions, please feel free to give me a call at (918)357-2248.We love hearing from all of our friends and clients!

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE NEWSLETTER

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Oklahoma’s Air Conditioning Installation Experts!

Purchasing a new air conditioning system should not be a frustrating experience. We will provide you with all of the information you will need to make the best choice for you and your family. We will install a system designed for your needs, with maximum efficiency, at a price you are comfortable with. Superior Service of Broken Arrow performs all installations to manufacturers standards to ensure an accurate SEER rating and proper airflow.

Why Buy Now?

• New technology has enabled the creation of air conditioning systems that use so little electricity compared to older models.  By investing in a new, higher efficiency system, you will save money on electricity bills each month.
• Air conditioning replacement is an investment in your Oklahoma home.  A new system will increase the value of your home as well as reduce your monthly operating expenses, making your home more attractive and affordable.
• Financing your investment has never been easier.  With a low monthly investment plan, a new home comfort package is affordable for anyone.

Not sure if you should repair or replace? Well, consider this: if you’re operating an inefficient air conditioning system that breaks down a lot, it’s likely that it’s going to break down again. That means more expensive emergency service calls or possible damage to the other components of your heating and cooling system.

Also consider the ongoing cost factor. You could save up to 60% on your energy bills with new high-efficiency equipment. You see, even if your air conditioner is only a few years old, it could be terribly inefficient by today’s energy efficiency standards. Installing a new, high-efficiency cooling system can actually pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short time.

If you are looking for an Oklahoma air conditioning company please call us today at 918-357-2248 or complete our online request form.

Latest HVAC Articles

How To Know When To Change Air Conditioning Filters – Although we don’t usually realize it, we can actually reduce the running cost of a building by removing the dust from the atmosphere. The furniture, walls and fittings are preserved longer. It also improves the health of the occupants. (Read Complete Article)

Read Full Post »