It goes without saying that temperatures can become uncomfortably hot in the summertime. While it’s ideal to prepare your home for the summer season early in the year, it’s never too late to hire home efficiency companies that can help make your home more comfortable. In this blog, Building Performance Professionals shares ways to summer-proof your home.
Address Insulation Issues — Every home has an energy envelope, an insulated enclosure that consists of the exterior walls, attic and fenestrations (entry doors, windows and skylights). With proper insulation, the energy envelope creates an environment that helps maintain consistent temperatures, thus lowering your summer cooling requirements. If your energy bills tend to increase dramatically in the summer, your home may have insulation issues that should be looked at by a home energy efficiency expert.
Upgrade Your Windows — If your home is still equipped with single-pane windows, you may be letting a lot of heat from the outdoors into your home. Glass is a natural conductor, which means heat is able to easily pass through it. Choose replacement windows with a low U-Factor (or high R-Value) for better protection against heat conduction. Upgrading the windows is one of the improvements recommended most in home energy audits.
Make Sure Your Air Conditioner Is Properly Sized — Air conditioning systems need to be sized in proportion to your home. An undersized air conditioner would have to be set at maximum all the time just to meet your home’s minimum requirements, while an oversized air conditioner would start short-cycling, meaning it would be turning on and off too often.
Don’t Neglect Air Conditioner Maintenance — HVAC contractors who offer maintenance agreements make it easier for homeowners to keep up with air conditioner maintenance, so sign up for one if you haven’t already. A well-maintained air conditioner is more efficient and less likely to fail in the middle of the season when it’s needed most.
Utilize Your Fans — Use your ceiling or standalone fans to facilitate airflow in the room. This will help your air conditioner reach its target room temperature faster, which makes it more efficient.
Building Performance Professionals is your leading provider of home efficiency and performance services, including home energy audits. Give us a call at (925) 495-0054 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.