| Good Monday morning from Tulsa, |
| There's counterfeit HVAC equipment circulating in the supply chain right now, and the federal government is flagging it. If your system needs a refrigerant top-up or a new outdoor unit this season, that's worth knowing before anyone does the work. We're also heading into the stretch where heating gets its first real workout of the year, so this issue covers your furnace, your fireplace, and a rebate from PSO that a lot of Tulsa homeowners are leaving on the table. |
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By the numbers
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$100-$300
PSO rebate for Tulsa HVAC upgrades
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$50-$75
PSO rebate for a smart thermostat
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Counterfeit and noncompliant HVAC equipment is showing up in the supply chain |
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PSO is offering up to $300 back on heating and cooling upgrades, and the deadline is end of year |
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Before your first fire of the season, a chimney sweep has a short checklist |
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"House blindness" is probably hiding at least one HVAC problem from you |
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Around Tulsa: Zeeco Oktoberfest Tulsa starts October 21, and 3 more coming up |
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The lead 路 WATCH OUT
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Counterfeit and noncompliant HVAC equipment is showing up in the supply chain
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| Federal regulators and HVAC distributors are raising alarms about outdoor AC units being sold in the U.S. market that may not meet Department of Energy efficiency standards and, in some cases, may be illegal to install. |
| The issue centers on R-410A outdoor condensing units made in 2025 or 2026 that lack proper DOE certification. R-410A units can still be sold to service an existing system, but they have to meet efficiency rules and carry a specific 'for servicing only' label. Units without that documentation cannot legally be used in a full replacement. The red flags, according to the industry group HARDI, include unfamiliar brand names, no certification paperwork from the supplier, and models that don't appear in the DOE's equipment database. |
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Why it matters: If you're quoted on a repair or replacement this fall, it's reasonable to ask your contractor to confirm the equipment is DOE-certified before any work begins.
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Read at ACHR News →
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MONEY BACK
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PSO is offering up to $300 back on heating and cooling upgrades, and the deadline is end of year
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| If you've replaced or upgraded your HVAC system in 2026, Public Service Company of Oklahoma has rebates available right now that many Tulsa homeowners don't know to claim. |
| PSO's 2026 residential efficiency program pays $100 to $300 for qualifying HVAC upgrades and $50 to $75 for a smart thermostat. These aren't complex programs: you submit proof of purchase and installation, and PSO sends a check. The catch is that most rebate cycles close at year-end, so if you've done work this year or are considering it before December, the timing is in your favor. |
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Why it matters: At Tulsa's average electricity cost of roughly $105.79 a month, a more efficient system plus a rebate check can meaningfully cut your annual bill, and the rebate doesn't require anything beyond the paperwork.
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Read at Energy Rebate Calculator →
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FIRE SAFETY
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Before your first fire of the season, a chimney sweep has a short checklist
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| A chimney sweep lays out the maintenance habits that prevent house fires and carbon monoxide problems during burning season. |
| The Family Handyman piece covers cleaning frequency, what to look for when you inspect the firebox yourself, and the habits that make a big difference. The core message is straightforward: a dirty or damaged flue is a real fire risk, and a visual check from the outside plus a flashlight look inside the firebox costs you nothing. Professional sweeps generally recommend an annual inspection if you burn regularly. |
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Why it matters: With Tulsa's first cool nights arriving, getting this done now, before you need the fireplace, beats calling someone on a cold weekend when everyone else has the same idea.
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Read at Family Handyman →
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HOUSE HABITS
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"House blindness" is probably hiding at least one HVAC problem from you
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| Family Handyman puts a name to something most homeowners experience: walking past the same problem so many times you stop seeing it. |
| The article focuses on unfinished repairs and clutter, but the same thing happens with HVAC symptoms. A vent that's been rattling for six months, a filter you've meant to change, a thermostat that takes two tries to respond, all of these fade into the background. The fix is simple: once or twice a year, walk your house like a stranger would. |
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Why it matters: Catching a small symptom early, a strange noise, a warm room that used to stay cool, usually costs far less to fix than the same problem after a season of being ignored.
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Read the full story →
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Quick hits
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Around Tulsa
Zeeco Oktoberfest Tulsa starts October 21
The 47th annual Tulsa Oktoberfest runs October 21 through 25 at River West Festival Park on the Arkansas River. This one has been voted the top Oktoberfest in the country by USA Today, and if you've never been, it's a genuinely good excuse to be outside along the river before the weather turns for real. German bands, festival tents, the works.
Also coming up
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Tip of the week
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Write the filter date on the filter itself
When you install a new air filter, take a marker and write the date right on the cardboard frame. No app, no reminder, no guessing. Next time you pull it out, you know immediately whether it's been two months or eight. A clogged filter is the single most common reason a system runs longer and harder than it should, which shows up directly on your electric bill.
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How was this issue?
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Until next week,
Ray, owner
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| P.S. If you've had any work done this year and want help tracking down your PSO rebate paperwork, give us a call and we'll point you in the right direction. |