Irritants and allergens in the air can enter your family members’ respiratory systems. These pollutants can contribute to fatigue, lung irritation and headaches, as well as long-term conditions such as asthma, allergies or infectious diseases. Asthma afflicts more than 31 million Americans, a third of whom are younger than 18.

You can solve indoor air problems by using an air cleaner in your home.

An air cleaner can:

• Eradicate most common particulates in the air, such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, skin flakes and smoke.

• Eliminate most microbial contaminants, such as germs, viruses, bacteria, molds, fungi and spores, which are living organisms that can cause serious damage to people.

• Create a more comfortable home through the removal of contaminants that can irritate lungs and eyes and cause discomfort.

• Cut down on odors from cooking, pets and other sources.

• Keep your home cleaner. The filtering of dust and dirt in the air will reduce the need to dust wood furniture and other surfaces, thus preventing these contaminants from rising back into the air.

You can buy single-room air cleaners, or you can purchase a high-efficiency whole-house device that works with your existing heating and air conditioning system without adding energy costs. Your HVAC professional can give you advice on what kind of air cleaner is right for you and your home.

You can achieve not only home comfort, but also peace of mind as you recognize that you’re doing everything you can to keep contaminants out of your home that can cause harm to your family members.

For more expert advice about indoor air quality and other topics focusing on home comfort, please contact us at Hunter Heat & Air. Based in Ardmore, we’ve been serving Southern Oklahoma for more than 14 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

• Ultraviolet (UV) light purifiers utilize germicidal ultraviolet light to eliminate microorganisms from the air. Living microbes are vulnerable to the oxidizing effects of UV light at specific wavelengths. Regular filters are often ineffective at eliminating these organisms that will continue to replicate and disperse, even when trapped in filter media. Ultraviolet air purification doesn’t depend upon air drawn into the unit; the UV light produces oxidizers that blanket the living space, destroying both airborne and surface contaminants.

• Photohydroionization (PHI) air purification technology utilizes an electronic cell installed in your HVAC supply duct. As air passes over the cell, it generates advanced “friendly” oxidizers related to hydrogen peroxide. These spread throughout the living space by normal air movement, destroying mold, viruses, bacteria and other pathogens where they exist. As they sterilize the air, the oxidizers quickly convert back into oxygen and hydrogen. Photohydroionization also neutralizes toxic gases often present in household air, such as volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde emitted by building materials.

• Powered air cleaners are another option for removing inorganic particulates such as dust and other irritants such as pet dander. These units integrate filters that capture particles in the 3 to 10 micron range missed by your HVAC filter. Compatible with a range of gas and electric heating and cooling systems, they fit most standard ducts. Air cleaners also contribute to longer life of your HVAC system by removing the dust, dirt and grit that causes wear in the heating/cooling equipment.

Hunter Heat & Air has a solid 15-year record of ensuring the interior environment of homeowners in Ardmore and southern Oklahoma. Contact us today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air purification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

In many cases, duct cleaning is not necessary on a regular basis. It’s not uncommon for ducts to accumulate dust and debris, which can be forced back into your home with conditioned air. Duct cleaning may help to improve indoor air quality, which can prevent asthma and allergy irritation, and it helps your system to run efficiently. This cuts down on your energy costs. Determining when to clean your ducts can be tricky, but there are a few instances when duct cleaning is warranted:

• If you can see dust or dirt coming out of your heating or air conditioning vents or inside your vent returns;
• If you place your hand over a vent when the furnace or air conditioning is turned on and you feel no airflow, or you feel it is less than it should be;
• If you or someone in your home is sneezing without an apparent cause, or if asthma sufferers are experiencing more trouble than usual;
• If you have visible mold on the ducts, especially where they come close to your air conditioner or heat pump; and…
• If you have signs of animal or insect infestation in your ducts.

If you live in southern Oklahoma and would like more expert advice on duct cleaning, or you’d like to schedule an appointment to have your ducts cleaned, contact Hunter Heat & Air. On our website, we offer a coupon for whole-house duct cleaning with our special Rotobrush procedure. With more than 14 years or experience, we provide fast, professional service, and we never charge overtime.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about duct cleaning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

Therefore, it’s important to prep your air conditioning system for the summer heat so it runs optimally, extending the life of your unit, and cost-effectively, saving you money on energy bills. As a homeowner, you can take some easy maintenance steps to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and comfortably for your family:

• Filter:  The air filter captures dirt, dust and pollutants in the air flowing back to the unit. If the filter becomes blocked, dust and debris will flow into the system and either accumulate on the coils, causing them to lose their effectiveness or return to your rooms through the ducts. During the peak cooling season, check your filter monthly for clogging and clean or replace as needed.

• Condenser:  Keep the outside condenser/compressor area free of bushes or plants that will obstruct airflow. Clear the area of dirt, dried leaves and weeds, which can accumulate on the outside unit. Clean the fins and coils with a spray-on soap, found in hardware stores, to remove dust and dirt.

A homeowner can prep the air conditioning system with general maintenance but if your air conditioner is several years old and has had a professional inspection, contact a certified technician for a comprehensive evaluation of your system. A certified technician has the experience to locate and repair smaller issues before they become bigger problems. Annual professional maintenance is the best way to make sure your A/C doesn’t fall into disrepair and inefficient operation.

If you live in Ardmore or the surrounding area, contact our team of professionals at Hunter Heat & Air for more information on preparing your air conditioning system for the summer temperatures, or about the benefits of signing on to our VIP Maintenance Agreement.

Our goal is to help educate our customers 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.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!     

Typically built of flimsy, quarter-inch plywood, attic stairway doors warp quickly and the springs that keep them retracted to the ceiling lose their tension, causing the door to sag slightly. This opens an air path into the attic, allowing a huge amount of heating and cooling to escape. Additionally, the attic side of the stairway door is often uninsulated, lacking the deep bed of fiberglass that insulates the rest of the attic floor.

Attempts to seal pull-down stairways with sticky foam weatherstripping tape around the jamb may provide some help. Many homeowners also improvise with do-it-yourself measures such as eye-hooks to keep the door shut tighter and improve sealing. A better, more permanent method is an attic tent. Made of thick, cloth material coated with energy-reflective foil and backed with fiberglass insulation, the tent is first stapled, then caulked to the frame around the attic stairway door. The top of the tent zips together to form an enclosed tent around the attic stairway opening inside the attic.  Access to the attic is gained by lowering the stairway and simply unzipping the tent opening. An attic tent solves the problem of air escaping from the living space through a leaky stairway door, as well as the absence of fiberglass insulation above the door itself. It also solves the mystery of persistently high energy bills when you thought you had all the potential causes already covered.

The team at Hunter Heat & Air has been serving south-central Oklahoma for almost 15 years.  Homeowners in Ardmore and the surrounding area can contact us for creative solutions to hard-to-solve energy problems.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about attic tent and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

• Geology: The soil composition may determine the size and design of a geothermal heating and cooling system. For example, some soil types transfer heat better than others, which means less piping may suffice. Then, if there is widespread hard rock, the soil is too shallow to trench, and/or you have space limitations, vertical ground loops may be required in place of horizontal loops.
• Hydrology: The water on your property also plays a part in determining the type of geothermal heating and cooling system that can be installed. Depending on the depth, volume and quality of the water, a lake or pond may be used as a water source for an open-loop system or a repository for closed-loop piping coils. Ground water is another potential source for open-loop geothermal heating and cooling systems if the quality of the water is high enough. Make sure the installer has done adequate research about the area’s hydrology before installing an open-loop system so problems such as groundwater contamination can be avoided.
• Land Availability: Your property’s layout, landscaping and underground utilities contribute to the system’s design as well. Horizontal geothermal system designs are usually the most economical choice, but they may only be possible in new construction projects that have sufficient land and no surrounding buildings to disturb. Installations that take place in existing buildings must usually be vertical or compact “slinky” designs to minimize the disturbance of surrounding buildings and landscaping.

These planning tips will help you prepare to have a geothermal heating and cooling system installed on your property. A knowledgeable installer should inspect your land to determine what type of design you may be eligible for. Contact Hunter Heat & Air in Ardmore today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about geothermal heating and cooling and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

Insist on Insurance

This is immensely important, considering that the work is being conducted inside your own home, and should any sort of mishap occur, you want to be covered. Therefore, be sure to ask for proof of the contractors general liability and worker’s compensation insurance prior to proceeding with any project. Also, read it closely, making sure that it is current, and always keep a copy for your records.

Look Up Their License

Check the contractor’s state-issued mechanical contractor license, which is available for viewing online at the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. A legitimate contractor will have one of these, which confirms their skills and qualifications for servicing or installing delicate HVAC equipment. You may have to enter a person’s name rather than a company name, as all technicians are individually tested and authorized to work within their state. While you’re at it, make sure that there aren’t any serious complaints or violations filed against them.

Remember

At Hunter Heat & Air, we’re confident you’ll find the right answers to all three of these questions. We’ve been providing indoor relief to residents of Southern Oklahoma for 15 years. We have the credentials and the capability to ensure your complete comfort from the moment we arrive until well after we leave. Contact us for all of your home-comfort needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about choosing a contractor and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

Conventional fiberglass insulation produced in the past utilized volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as formaldehyde. Studies have shown a link between exposure to formaldehyde in the form of fumes or insulation fibers and an increased risk of cancer. Exposure to fumes may result from the out-gassing process as the material ages and decomposes as a result of heat and humidity. In a tightly sealed, energy-efficient home, out-gassing formaldehyde from conventional fiberglass insulation may reach a cumulative level sufficient to cause health concerns. In addition to the potential of long-term carcinogenic effects, the formaldehyde fumes may also cause short-term problems for residents sensitive or allergic to the compound. Another source of exposure to formaldehyde comes from microscopic fiberglass insulation fibers that migrate into the living space of a residence and float in the air.  Research has identified a cancer risk if fiberglass fibers containing formaldehyde are inhaled over a long period of time.

InsulSafe insulation is formaldehyde-free. It has been certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute and meets all standards for low or non-existent VOC contents such as formaldehyde.  Greenguard also certifies InsulSafe insulation for use in schools and other environments where children are present.  These rigorous additional standards certify not only zero emissions of VOC fumes but also determine that levels of fibers that can inhaled are below recognized safety standards.

Contact the pros at Hunter Heat & Air for more information about InsulSafe insulation and other environmentally sound products and service. We’ve been looking out for the health and safety of homes and families in the Ardmore area for almost 15 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about InsulSafe insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

Constructed of DexElar and more than twice as sturdy as cheaper ABS drain pans, the 30-inch by 50-inch ceiling saver drain pan is the strongest in the HVAC industry. Positioned beneath the air handler, it can support units up to 466 pounds. It’s also rated to withstand temperatures up to 275 degrees and does not support combustion.

But what if the drain pan plugs, too? Although this is an unlikely event, you’re completely covered, just in case. The HVAC Ceiling Saver  incorporates a high amperage, fully adjustable float switch that senses when the drain pan nears capacity and turns off the power to your air conditioning unit. This stops the production of condensation before the drain pan overflows, and will protect your ceiling from severe water damage. It also alerts you that a problem exists in the air conditioner. Technicians like the pros at Hunter Heat & Air are experienced in diagnosing and resolving unexpected situations and can put your system back in operation fast.

The cost of an HVAC ceiling saver is minimal compared to the major expense of repairing the damage from a major condensation spill. Let the pros at Hunter Heat & Air install peace of mind in your attic. We’ve been serving Ardmore area homeowners for almost 15 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC Ceiling Saver and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!

A product called a 5-2-1 Compressor Saver reduces the amount of electricity that the compressor uses as it powers up by as much as 50 percent, lowering your electrical bills in the short term and lengthening the life of your system in the long term. With today’s high utility costs, lowering demand for electricity helps you cut back on power consumption.

This product gives the air conditioning compressor a power boost as it starts up, which lowers the heat generated by it and the strain on the machine. It also saves the “run capacitor” inside the compressor during the entire operational cycle. It reduces the heat and stress on this capacitor that govern the electrical flow inside the compressor. With less heat and stress, the part wears more slowly, lowering your electrical bill. When the run capacitor starts to wear, it takes more and more electricity to power your compressor.

Summer in southern Oklahoma is both hot and humid. If you’d like more information about the 5-2-1 unit, contact us at Hunter Heat & Air. We’ve been serving Ardmore and the surrounding area for over 14 years and will be happy to give you more details about this remarkable product that lowers your electric bills and extends your air conditioner’s life.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioning compressors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hunter Heat & Air services the Ardmore, Oklahoma area. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!