5 Tips for Maintaining Your Ideal House Temperature Year-Round
Your house is supposed to be the place where you feel most at ease. Part of this is having the ideal house temperature, which will ensure you feel as comfortable as possible. When your house is too cold or too warm, it just makes you miserable. It can be the same when one part of your house has a wildly different temperature than the rest.
In addition to optimizing comfort, keeping your ideal house temperature is also the most efficient option and will keep your utility bills reasonable. Plus, it’s typically better for your health. Now that you know the benefits, how do you keep it up throughout the year? Read on to find some helpful expert tips.
1. Update Your Thermostat
Look into the newer thermostat options available, which include smart or programmable thermostats. These thermostats make it easy to change the temperature when no one is home. Or, for instance, it can be programmed to cool the house down at night, as that will allow you to sleep better. Doing this will keep your system running efficiently, which will make it easier to maintain the ideal temperature over time. And it can save you money on heating and cooling costs. A smart thermostat even learns your patterns.
2. Keep Your Heating and Cooling System Clean and Well-Maintained
Make sure to regularly change your filters. This is one of the easiest steps you can take to maintain the ideal house temperature year-round. However, despite being so simple, it is a task that far too many people overlook. Make sure you know how long your filters are meant to last. Some may be a number of months, while others are supposed to be replaced monthly. If you’re prone to forgetfulness, write it down on a calendar or put a reminder in your phone. Changing the filters also helps lower your utility bills and can make your system last longer.
You might also want to consider getting a new HVAC unit. It will be much more difficult for an old unit to maintain an ideal temperature. Older units are also much less efficient overall and can wind up costing you more on utilities. Make sure to have an annual inspection of the unit by an HVAC company. An expert will be able to tell you when your unit is no longer working well enough or if it just needs some repairs. Just one tune-up by a professional technician can sometimes make a world of difference.
3. Use Proper Insulation
To keep the ideal house temperature, make sure you have the right insulation. This is far more important than you may have realized. Insulation makes sure you actually keep the warm or cool air inside, instead of wasting it. Poor insulation will only enable the air to escape. Insulating the house can also help the heat or cool air be more even throughout the house.
Windows
One specific issue may be your windows. If they seem drafty or are quite old, it may be time to replace them. There are newer or more advanced types of windows now that are better for insulation. This can include double- or triple-pane glass or argon windows.
If you can’t afford new windows or just want to put off the hassle of replacing them, replacing the weather stripping or adding some window insulation film can also be a good fix. You can find this at hardware stores, and it’s easy enough to apply on your own. Also, it may seem obvious, but shades or blinds can really make a difference. They can block extra solar heat in the summer and help prevent heat loss in the winter.
Doors
Another issue could be a possible draft coming from your doors. If there seems to be a sizable gap, you can purchase an exterior door gasket. Or see if there are any gaps in the insulation and fill those in with spray foam or another solution.
Attic
One area that needs proper insulation, which many may forget about, is the attic. After windows, this space is the biggest culprit for temperature loss in many homes. Check if the attic is properly insulated, and if it’s not, see what you can do about improving that.
You should, of course, consult a professional service about insulating your home. They will know what the best insulation solutions are for the house overall, the individual rooms, the trouble areas, your budget, and more.
4. Invest in a Dehumidifier
If you don’t have one already, you should definitely get a dehumidifier. This will really help you maintain the ideal house temperature in the warmer months. Humidity affects your temperature and the comfort level of your home much more than you might realize. It makes the air feel sticky. Too much humidity can just make residents feel sweaty, which no one wants. Dehumidifiers take the excess moisture out of the air, so it’s much lighter and cooler indoors.
5. Take Care of the Vents
Make sure nothing is obstructing the airflow from the vents in your home. Also, clean them regularly, as dust and other debris can build up and affect the airflow. You can do this by removing the grates from the vents and vacuuming. If you still feel like the air isn’t coming out evenly or properly, you can have a professional inspect the vents for any more serious issues or blockages.
As you can see, one of the most effective ways to maintain an ideal home temperature is to have a professional service you can rely on. HVAC companies can inspect your home and provide a performance test to see if there’s anything that is preventing your ideal house temperature.Entek has seven decades of experience, is the longest-serving Carrier dealer in the Pacific Northwest, and provides consistently top-rated service. So you can trust that we are the experts when it comes to heating and cooling. You can find more information about Entek and our services, as well as more tips for optimizing your home temperature, on our website.