Having trouble achieving even temperatures in your home? Typically, the best solution is a multi-pronged approach, combining good habits and a few home improvements. Eliminate “hot and cold spots” in your home by using these tips below from our home experts!
1. Use window treatments wisely.
Have you ever stood by a window during winter and felt how cold that spot is compared to the rest of the room? Because they lack insulation, standard double-pane windows can allow your home to lose a lot of heat during winter. After taking advantage of direct sunlight during the day, keep your curtains and blinds closed at night to help trap the warmth indoors.
For our extra cold Indiana winters, we recommend energy-efficient window coverings like Roman shades and thermal curtains. These treatments act as a layer of insulation. Not only do they help your home stay warm during winter, but they’re also effective at blocking heat from entering during summer.
2. Seal air leaks around windows and doors.
Small gaps around your doors and windows can make your HVAC system work overtime year-round. Keep drafts out during winter and heat out during summer by installing a sweep and weatherstripping on your exterior doors and lining your windows with weatherstripping and caulk where necessary. If your home still feels drafty, check for air leaks in other locations, such as your chimney or the holes for pipes and cables in your walls.
3. Add some insulation or upgrade what you have.
Though fiberglass insulation manufacturers typically claim that their product will last 100 years, that’s only true under ideal conditions. Leaks, a damp or cramped environment, and pest control problems are just a few factors that can shorten your insulation’s lifespan. In other cases, your insulation’s r-value may not be suitable for the zone you live in. If you have doubts about your home’s insulation, bring in an expert to examine what you have and provide you with energy-saving suggestions.
4. Keep your vents and interior doors open.
Your HVAC system will work as efficiently as possible if it’s taking in the same amount of air that it’s putting out. While it’s okay to use the lever on your air registers to shift the direction of the airflow that comes out, never close the vent completely. Closing the vent will cause a pressure imbalance in your HVAC system that will cause it to use more energy and work harder than necessary to heat or cool your home.
5. Install a zone control system.
A zone control system (also called a zoning system) allows you to adjust the temperature in various rooms or “zones” of your home. This means that during the summer, you can focus your system’s cooling efforts on your home’s sun-facing rooms--as opposed to spending energy to cool the entire building. In this way, a zone control system not only makes your home more comfortable, but it allows you to save money on energy costs.
6. Seal or replace your ductwork.
If your HVAC system is struggling to evenly heat or cool your home, its ductwork might be the problem. Over time, ductwork can develop gaps and rips that allow air to escape into your walls or attic before ever making it into the rest of your home. This results in weaker airflow and reduced heating and cooling power. In turn, those problems lead to higher energy bills and more wear and tear on your system because it needs to run longer to compensate for the weaker airflow.
7. When replacing your HVAC system, make sure it’s the right size.
When shopping for a new heater or air conditioner, always involve a professional to help you pick equipment with the right heating and cooling capacity for your home. If you buy a system that’s “too big,” it’s going to run for extremely short cycles and, as a result, fail to condition your home evenly. If the system is “too small,” no matter how much it runs, the system will struggle to bring your home to an even temperature.
At Meyers Companies, Inc., we’re Griffith’s HVAC pros! Whether it’s maintenance, a repair, or a replacement, you can count on us to provide top-quality work. Give us a call at (219) 240-0610 or contact us online today!
