Gas Fireplace Safety

As the temperatures are staying below freezing much longer than they were earlier in the season, many are drawn to alternate forms of heating. One of the most popular ways to not only provide heat to a space, but also that special festive glow is with a gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces bring homes a warm ambiance as well as temperature as burning gas create flames in a fireplace without the need for wood logs or the hassle of dealing with smoke. However convenient they seen to be, just like any other form of heater, they come with their own list of precautions homeowners should take in order to keep themselves and their families safe for use. 

1. Be careful with the glass doors. 
Many gas fireplaces have glass doors that surround the pit to keep unwanted items out of the fireplace. They're able to be used in gas fireplaces because there is need to enter the new fuel in the form of wood into the flame. Still, inspect the glass periodically to make sure that there are no cracks or that the glass has separated from the frame. Not only can the glass become incredibly hot, but if it is unstable, it can prove to be especially hazardous. Always keep an eye on young children as they may feel that the glass will protect them from the flame without taking into account that it is extremely hot. 

2. The silent killer - carbon monoxide. 
If you're using a gas fireplace, and carbon monoxide is an absolutely must. Complications with ventilation or how the gas is feeding can wind up with carbon monoxide in your home. Carbon monoxide is not only extremely deadly, but it is also completely invisible and has no smell. Test your carbon monoxide detector each time you use your gas fireplace for optimal safety. 

3. Children like fire. 
Because a gas fire place requires little maintenance while it is running, it can be easy to forget that it's still running. Because of this, you can get caught up in what you're doing and forget that younger children may be attracted to the flame. Keep a special eye on any young children while using your gas fireplace to ensure none of them get near you while you're lighting the fire, near the flame when lit, and while the glass at all. Remember that hours after the fireplace is put out, the glass can still be hot enough to cause severe burns. 

4. Make sure the gas is completely off. 
While having an constant flow of fuel is nice in comparison to moving logs around, this gas can still be very dangerous when not managed properly. When lighting you gas fireplace, do not leave the gas on for an extended period of time as a build up of gas in the fireplace can explode when lit. If you let too much time go by, leave some time for the gas to dissipate as well as proper ventilation before attempting to light it once again. Use a long fireplace match or long fireplace lighter is recommended if a built in lighter is not installed. When finished using the fireplace, make double sure that the gas valve is completely turned off. 

For addition tips on staying safe this winter with a your gas fireplace, visit eHow's page on fireplace safety. If you decide you'd rather just stick with your home's HVAC system, the Tulsa, OK heating and air conditioner specialists from A Best Air are happy to lend a hand with your heater maintenance or HVAC installation.

Aromatherapy Heated Stuffed Animals: a Great Christmas Gift for Children

Toy makers are getting more and more creative these days.  Your child probably already loves stuffed animals, but did you know that now you can get aromatherapy stuffed animals?  Yes, it's true.  Your child can now get microwavable stuffed animals that will keep them warm and cozy at night.  These lions, tigers, and bears have beans inside of them that, when microwaved, heat up and stay hot for a while.  Most of these stuffed animals also come with lavender and other sleep-friendly scents that will have your child in a a relaxing sleep in no time.  With Christmas just around the corner, this is a great gift to get your child!  This gift will actually have your child excited to go to sleep at night.  Another great thing about aromatherapy stuffed animals is that you can buy them for pretty cheap on Amazon.  This is a great gift for a great price that will leave your kid happy!

A Best Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma specializes in air conditioning and heating services, which include installation for a home that is in need of a new HVAC system, maintenance to help keep the home's HVAC system working efficiently, and repairs to an HVAC system that is not working properly.  A Best Air values 100% customer satisfaction and sends out their very own technicians that are trained in house.  These technicians will come to your home after hours with  no additional charge!  If you are in need or an installation, maintenance work, or repairs, don't hesitate to call A Best Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma! HVAC specialists will be thrilled to take your service!
    

Reducing Bills During the Winter

December has arrived and people are beginning to wonder when the temperature will start dropping.  Lately it has been getting down to the 40s and 50s and people are beginning to turn up the heat in their homes.  Will Tulsa, Oklahoma experience super low or below freezing temperatures this year?  You should know how to best take care of your home and reduce your utility bills just in case it does happen!  The colder it gets, the higher people crank up the heat, and this can actually cause problems.  Not only is it more expensive to keep the heat running non-stop, but unprotected pipes can burst as a result of it.  You can protect these pipes by covering the outside vents on your home and also making sure your thermostat is more modern and up-to-date.  Another thing you can do is open up your cabinet doors where pipes are located so they do not get cold.  Keeping your cabinet doors shut all the time and keep those pipes isolated to where they only experience the cold on the outside of the wall they are up against.  Also, by replacing your old mercury thermostat with a digital one, it can help you to know the accuracy of the temperature if your home and save you  money.  You should also change the filter on your furnace at least once a month.  Taking these small actions can save you up to one hundred dollars a month as well as save you from having to pay thousands of dollars if one of your pipes bursts!  Here are another few things you can do in the winter to reduce your utility bills!

If you need to upgrade your thermostat or get a new heating unit for the winter, A Best Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be thrilled to take your service!  Committed to 100% customer satisfaction, air and heat specialists at A Best Air are available 24/7 and do not charge more for coming to your home after hours.  To get the service you want from a company you can trust, call or visit A Best Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma today!



      

Alternative Heaters

As the temperature is beginning to drop and winter is setting in, more and more people are beginning to stay inside their homes.  For people who love the outdoors or attend outside sporting events, this presents quite a challenge.  How can you do your favorite outside activities or act as your child's number one fan at a football game when the cold weather is sometimes too much to bare?  Well, there are several solutions to these problems.  Did you know you can actually purchase heated clothing?  These will keep you warm to where you can focus on what you enjoy doing outside, rather than how cold it is!  Or maybe you have a canopy in your backyard and like to eat meals outside at times with your family.  The beautiful thing about this is that you can actually get a patio heater that will keep you warm and is convenient to use.  No longer do you have to do all the work it takes to make a fire.  Simply flip a switch and enjoy your meal next to the warmth of the heater!  If you love being outside, attending outdoor events, or participating in outdoor events during the winter, you should look into alternative heaters!

A Best Air out of Tulsa, Oklahoma is dedicated to providing customers with the most high-quality air conditioners, heater, and repairs.  If you are in need of a new heater for the winter season, or need repairs done on your current heater, the professionals at A Best Air would be happy to help you!  Committed to 100% customer satisfaction, the experts at A Best Air will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are happy, even working extra hours at no charge.  Bring you service to A Best Air in Tulsa today!

The Classic Swamp Fans

If you are from the United States, this may be the first time you are hearing about swamp fans.  Many times, the most we have to do in the U.S. in order to get air circulating in our house is simply press a button.  However, this is not the case in other countries.  In India, air conditioning is not common in homes, but is mostly found in public building like malls.  At the home, they often use what are called "swamp fans" in order to keep the rooms cool.  These fans are operated by opening up the back and pouring buckets of water into them.  Once it is filled to the water level, you turn the fan on and it circulates the cool water to where the air is cool when it comes out.  The every day task involves labor that most Americans have never had to take the time to do.  This year for Thanksgiving, don't forget to be thankful for the heat and air conditioning you have at home and at work that you do not have to run yourself.  It is a great time to be thankful, even for the little things we normally don't think about!  Enjoy this Thanksgiving inside with your family, whether it be with a heater or in the cool of your home.

At A Best Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the technicians are dedicated to giving customers the best service there is in air conditioning or heating repairs and installations.  Whether you need a repair or new installation, A Best Air is ready to provide you with what is best for your home or business!  Don't hesitate to visit or call!

Weather Stripping For Reduced Energy Bills

We've all felt that cold breeze coming from under the door, whether it be from the front door, or a sliding glass door, we've felt it at least once in our lives, and we all know that if the gab is big enough, it can make a pretty significant difference in your monthly bill. When it comes to your bill over the winter, keeping your house warm if you have a breeze coming from under the door is just like what you would pay if there were a foot wide hole in your wall. You might not realize it, but you’re losing a lot of heat just by letting that cold air come in through that little space. It's best to make sure you get your doors sealed the correct way to make sure that you’re saving your hard earned money over the winter! For a few tips and tricks on what to do to keep your home as warm as possible over the months, you should read this article at This Old House on making your doors draft-free with weatherstipping!

In addition to preparing your doors for winter, making sure that your heater is working properly is another big concern that you might want to get taken care of before it starts to get too late. A Best Heat and Air would be glad to give you quality HVAC maintenance and Tulsa heater repair to prepare you for the upcoming cold weather!

Oil Heater Maintenance

Many people who were in caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy were not prepared for the implications of such a storm surge. Throughout parts of New York, New Jersey, and other East Coast locations, power was cut off - leaving many without power. This meant a very chilly situation in the home for those who relied on the energy to run their electric heaters in their homes and offices. Many others with back-up oil heaters were still left in the cold due to their oil heater having not been maintained properly or serviced prior to used to ensure proper functioning. If Oklahoma has any winter storms such as it has had in years past, having a back-up heater that does not require electricity is always a good idea. Many use oil heaters or heaters that run on some other form of fuel supply. For proper maintenance of an oil heater, eHow has prepared this informative article on how to maintain for your oil heater to ensure a toasty winter no matter what. 

For quality heater maintenance, look no further than the Tulsa HVAC repair specialists from A Best Heat & Air.