Balance is the Key to Comfort and Energy Savings
If you own a home that is equipped with central heating and air conditioning, then you know that when the system turns on, your entire home is being serviced all at once. This is a convenient way for you to maintain a comfort level within your home. You set the thermostat once and the system kicks in when it needs to and it stops running when the desired temperature is reached.
The down side to this approach which is used in 99.9% percent of the homes in the US is that the temperature is measured in one and only one location…the location of the thermostat. If you lived your entire life standing in front of the thermostat then you would be experiencing perfection in home air conditioning. But of course that it not how we live our lives. We move from room to room and turn on appliances that generate heat, and then there are rooms that are unoccupied for the most part. The contractors that built the homes and installed the air conditioning systems do their best during construction to route the ducts in the most efficient manner for the anticipated use of each of the rooms, but that is a ‘best guess’ approach at best since each family has their own dynamics and habits.
The best way to get the most out of your system without incurring additional cost is to BALANCE it using the dampers. Dampers are the individual covers over each of the duct openings into your rooms. Some homes have them in the ceilings, some are in the floor, and in a few rare occasions in the walls. Dampers come in all shapes and designs, but the one thing that they all have in common is the ability to open and close the vents to varying degrees.
You do not have to be an HVAC professional to properly adjust the dampers within your to to gain energy efficiencies. All it takes is a little common sense. If a room is not being utilized regularly within your home, then close the damper for that room. For rooms that are used more often than not, open them wide. You can easily calculate the effect that this will have on your overall cooling costs too. Before making any adjustments, have a watch with a second hand available and when your air conditioner cuts off, start timing how long it takes before it turns on again. Now go ahead and adjust your dampers. Now time the cycle again. You should find that it takes LONGER between cycles after the adjustments which means you are now saving on cooling dollars!
Sample In-Line Damper
You can also take this concept to the next level with some help. An HVAC professional can measure output at each vent location and install in-line dampers that will more efficiently control the air flow to each location. In-line dampers are more efficient than the vent cover dampers. They control air flow closer to the source which means less energy loss in the ducts themselves, plus the in-line dampers can achieve 100% shut-off to a vent which is usually not possible with the vent dampers…and it eliminates the noise you get when vent dampers are closed.
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What Insulation Installation And Thermal Windows Can Do For Your Home
Benefits of Insulation Installation
Insulation installation is one of the most important components of your home. Insulation helps to reduce heating and cooling costs and to regulate the temperature of your home. While insulation installation is essential for the building of a new home, replacing the insulation in your existing home can also help save you money.
So how does thermal insulation work? What insulation does is that it reduced the heat transfer between the inside and the outside of the house. {The insulation can come in many different forms and is specifically designed to reduce heat flow}. Regardless of the temperature outside, insulation installation helps homeowners keep a regulated temperature throughout their home. The insulating capability of insulation is measured by an R-value.
Insulation materials include:
- Cellulose
- Glass wool
- Rock wool
- Urethane foam
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
- Cementitious soil
With the consideration of installing insulation, you should think about your living space. What are the measurements of your conditioned area? Do you have a crawlspace that is heated? Does it have adequate ventilation? Do you need to insulate the basement, attic, walls, or all three? It is best to contact a professional to determine the best type of insulation for your home.
Thermal Replacement Windows: What to Know
Thermal replacement windows will also help you insulate your home, especially in areas where heat usually escapes. Windows are one of the most common areas for heat to escape through the home, which causes heating and cooling costs to rise exponentially. Installing thermal replacement windows will help you avoid these costs.
One of the important things to look for in thermal replacement windows when purchasing are that they are ENERGY STAR certified. ENERGY STAR certified windows are usually double-paned, which traps air between the panes. The air acts an insulator between the outside and the inside of your house. By installing thermal replacement windows, homeowners can not only save up to thousands of dollars a year, but also have a better chance of receiving a federal tax rebate. Thermal replacement windows are not only good for the environment because your home is using less energy, but they’re also good for your wallet. Look for thermal windows to make your home better.
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