The heating and air conditioning system is one of the most significant factors to effect a residences internal living conditions. The value added to a house by an effective and efficient heating and cooling system is tremendous. But no matter how expensive or powerful a system may be, if the living space is not adequately sealed, the effect upon the internal temperature will be dulled and the household energy bills will go up. Before investing in a heating or air conditioning upgrade, it is important to ensure that you do not spend valuable money and energy heating or cooling the outdoors.
Many old heating systems such as furnaces and boilers require air in-flow. In older homes, this air was provided by air leakage through door, window frames and chimneys. In modern living spaces, the air in flow and out flow is carefully controlled through designed in and egress hatches and ducts. Because uncontrolled air flow is undesirable when it comes to modern heating systems, it is prudent to seal all air leaks with weather stripping or caulk. Air leaks most often occur around door frames and window frames, so it is wise to focus on these parts of the home first.
Often, old homes will have spaces that are inadequately insulated and largely un-insulated from the rest of the house, usually attics or cellars. These gaps allow heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Increased insulation in these types of areas is a must to allow any heating or cooling system to be effective. Also, any bare concrete walls, particularly in basements, will conduct less heat in and out of the structure if they are covered by wall hangings or even paint.
In the northeast, south facing windows should be draped closed on sunny summer days, as they can be a significant source of heat gain. In the winter however, keep the drapes open to let the sun in and help with heating the space.
Most thermostats allow you to set automatic on and off times throughout the day, so you can decide what times during the day, you will need to have the house at optimum living temperature and when you don’t really need the house to be heated at all. Simply leaving the heating system off during the day will significantly prolong the system’s use life.
The object when it comes to efficiently insulated homes is not simply to aid the system in heating or cooling the home, but to reduce the strain on the heating and air conditioning appliances and extending those appliances’ functional lifespan. A new heating system is extremely expensive to install so ensuring you get the maximum value for your investment is a wise avenue to take.
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