It can be frustrating when appliances in our household don’t work as they’re supposed to. It’s even more annoying when a presumed appliance fault wasn’t the cause of the difficulty at all. Perhaps you’re frustrated that your air conditioner can never cause the room to reach the temperature decided by your thermostat. Or maybe despite your airflow and ventilation, your house is still stuffy and uncomfortable during the summer months.
If you’re struggling to control your home temperature or the ambiance in your home, it could be that the wider structure or design of the space requires more attention. This way, you can avoid constant tinkering and upgrading to ever new and better temperature units, or suffer seasonal weather when you shouldn’t have to. This is especially true in older homes, where a more restorative installation or renovation could solve the issue for decades to come. With that in mind, please consider some of the following suggestions.
Window Replacement
As those in old houses often find out, old windows might be the real reason your rooms never feel quite right. They tend to have tiny gaps and aging seals which let hot air slip in during summer and escape in winter, no matter how hard your AC works against that. It can be worth using window replacement to help sustain the character of the home but add double glazing and better seals. They’ll be much superior at blocking outside noise too, which is nice. The frames will also be an improvement, because newer ones don’t warp or create drafts like old wooden frames often do. We’re willing to bet you’re notice your heating and cooling bills drop once they’re in place.
Photo by Ron Lach
Insulation
Poor insulation explains why some homes never feel comfortable despite running the AC full blast, because the heat can completely dissipate, and the sun has almost nothing blocking its hot rays except for some walls. Stockier older houses can have insulation that’s gotten thin or compressed over time, if they have much at all. Getting someone to check your walls and attic space often allows you to find big gaps where heat comes and goes as it pleases, and you may even be surprised as to the extent. Thankfully, today’s insulation materials work better than the old stuff and they can be easily installed for the most part. Some people will start with their attic since that’s where most heat escapes, then move on to walls later, but regardless, you’ll have made a difference room by room.
Airflow Pathways
Sometimes the way air moves through a house causes temperature problems. We tend to like airflow but a freezing draught throughout most the day isn’t that comfortable. It can be caused by blocked vents, closed-off rooms, or furniture sitting in front of air returns, as this can mess up the whole system of airflow. Taking a look at how air flows from room to room often shows why some spots stay too hot or cold, such as your conservatory that keeps your kitchen freezing. If you can redirect it, such as by adding a few well-placed vents or moving some furniture around, you may help fix some dead spots. Even opening or closing certain doors at different times helps air move better. Homeowners in hotter areas generally find that installing ceiling fans makes their AC work much better because they keep the air circulating properly.
With this advice, you’re sure to feel more control over your home temperature.
It can be frustrating when appliances in our household don’t work as they’re supposed to. It’s even more annoying when a presumed appliance fault wasn’t the cause of the difficulty at all. Perhaps you’re frustrated that your air conditioner can never cause the room to reach the temperature decided by your thermostat. Or maybe despite your airflow and ventilation, your house is still stuffy and uncomfortable during the summer months.
If you’re struggling to control your home temperature or the ambiance in your home, it could be that the wider structure or design of the space requires more attention. This way, you can avoid constant tinkering and upgrading to ever new and better temperature units, or suffer seasonal weather when you shouldn’t have to. This is especially true in older homes, where a more restorative installation or renovation could solve the issue for decades to come. With that in mind, please consider some of the following suggestions.
Window Replacement
As those in old houses often find out, old windows might be the real reason your rooms never feel quite right. They tend to have tiny gaps and aging seals which let hot air slip in during summer and escape in winter, no matter how hard your AC works against that. It can be worth using window replacement to help sustain the character of the home but add double glazing and better seals. They’ll be much superior at blocking outside noise too, which is nice. The frames will also be an improvement, because newer ones don’t warp or create drafts like old wooden frames often do. We’re willing to bet you’re notice your heating and cooling bills drop once they’re in place.
Insulation
Poor insulation explains why some homes never feel comfortable despite running the AC full blast, because the heat can completely dissipate, and the sun has almost nothing blocking its hot rays except for some walls. Stockier older houses can have insulation that’s gotten thin or compressed over time, if they have much at all. Getting someone to check your walls and attic space often allows you to find big gaps where heat comes and goes as it pleases, and you may even be surprised as to the extent. Thankfully, today’s insulation materials work better than the old stuff and they can be easily installed for the most part. Some people will start with their attic since that’s where most heat escapes, then move on to walls later, but regardless, you’ll have made a difference room by room.
Airflow Pathways
Sometimes the way air moves through a house causes temperature problems. We tend to like airflow but a freezing draught throughout most the day isn’t that comfortable. It can be caused by blocked vents, closed-off rooms, or furniture sitting in front of air returns, as this can mess up the whole system of airflow. Taking a look at how air flows from room to room often shows why some spots stay too hot or cold, such as your conservatory that keeps your kitchen freezing. If you can redirect it, such as by adding a few well-placed vents or moving some furniture around, you may help fix some dead spots. Even opening or closing certain doors at different times helps air move better. Homeowners in hotter areas generally find that installing ceiling fans makes their AC work much better because they keep the air circulating properly.
With this advice, you’re sure to feel more control over your home temperature.
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