Keeping your home at the right temperatures throughout the year in the Ocala area can be difficult and if you’re not careful, even quite expensive. The majority of months presenting high temperatures can take a toll on indoor comfort. The added humidity can further worsen discomfort.
Relying solely on your HVAC system does not help energy efficiency, and can actually result in higher energy bills. One project that is actually worth your efforts is weatherizing your home. Weatherizing includes many tasks that ensure you keep your conditioned air as desired without taxing your HVAC system. Preventing conditioned air from escaping or unconditioned air from affecting your indoor temperatures will increase the energy efficiency of your air conditioning system, lower your energy bills, and keep your family comfortable throughout the year.
What is Weatherization?
Weatherization is a term that refers to protecting your home from elements that reduce its energy efficiency. Weatherization can be a major undertaking, but alternatively there are small, inexpensive upgrades that you can effectively implement. These upgrades can help to make your home noticeably more energy efficient. You can tackle many of these projects, but others should be left to the professionals.
The purpose of these projects is to seal air leaks and insulate your home. Warm air naturally flows toward cooler areas. Weatherization will prevent the transfer of heat through the walls and ceilings of your home, so that you don’t gain heat in the summer and lose it in the winter. Weatherizing your home drastically increases the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, by preventing loss of conditioned air.
Caulking and WeatherStripping
Air leaks are most commonly found around windows and door frames, which develop cracks and gaps over time. Sometimes age, poor workmanship or the effects of the changing seasons can cause doors and windows to shift or warp. As a result, they may not close properly, leaving gaps that allow air to enter your home. Caulk and weatherstripping are among the items that can effectively stop these leaks. They are inexpensive and easy to apply. There are also different types that can be selected based on the kind of repair needed. Some types of weatherstripping, such as the V-Flex weatherstrip are ideal for those odd angles.
Protect Your Windows
Apart from developing leaks, windows can account for increased heat in your home by allowing solar heat gain. Rooms with windows that receive direct sunlight will naturally be warmer. As a result, you will be inclined to lower the thermostat settings for increased cooling. Energy consumption increases, and so does your utility bill. Storm windows, awnings, drapes, blinds, shades, and other window treatments can help to reduce solar heat gain. These items are usually available in different styles, materials, colors and price ranges to suit your budget, decor and home comfort needs.
Install Insulation
Insulation works well to eliminate the transfer of air across surfaces. More specifically it prevents unconditioned air from affecting areas with conditioned air. Insulation comes in many forms and can be installed in walls, floorboards, attics and basements. Adding insulation in these areas will noticeably improve HVAC efficiency and your comfort.
When installing insulation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Insulation comes in different forms such as blanket, loose-fill, or foam insulation. Using the right type will increase energy efficiency even more. Also, pay attention to the R-value of the insulation you choose. The R-value refers to how effective that particular type of insulation is at slowing the transfer of heat. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. This is very important when selecting insulation for specific areas in your home.
Keep the Fireplace Closed
Keeping the fireplace closed when it is not in use might seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. If the chimney is kept open when the fireplace is not in use, it provides another way in which your indoor temperature can be affected. Close the damper and consider installing a chimney balloon to prevent further energy waste.
Weatherizing your home is very important in keeping your home comfortable and increasing the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. You could have the most efficient HVAC system, but if you do not implement steps to address energy waste in other areas, the impact of your HVAC system is reduced.
Contact Sun Kool Air Conditioning, Inc. at (352) 282-4763 for more weatherization tips, and other ways in which you can increase comfort and energy savings. Our technicians can provide affordable solutions to ensure you get the most out of your heating and cooling system.
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