We’re lucky to live in an age when we don’t have to be at the mercy of whatever temperature the weather wants to be. In our homes, we’re able to manufacture our own climate and keep the chill or heat at bay. Or so goes the idea. Sometimes, it feels like we’re throwing the heat and chill at our home in spades, yet the temperature doesn’t change all that much. And when the bill comes, it turns out that it’s an expensive mistake to make! So what causes these issues? We take a look at five possible causes and solutions of temperature disturbance in the home below.
What Causes Temperature Disturbances In the Home
A Lack of Insulation
A Lack of InsulationYour home has walls, but there’s no law of nature that says they’re going to keep all the heat or cool air inside your home. Quite the opposite, in fact — walls generally are the biggest cause of temperature disturbances your home. That’s why it’s so important to have insulation in your house. It’ll provide a pretty useful barrier when it comes to keeping your home at an agreeable temperature. It’s worth noting that not all insulation is created equal. If yours is dated, you might want to consider having new insulation installed.
Through the Windows
If you thought your walls were bad for letting hot and cold air escape, then wait until you hear about your windows. Unless you’ve taken special steps to ensure they’re not letting all the air pass through them, that’s just what they’ll be doing. And if you’ve got a lot of windows, just think about how much higher your energy bills will be just because your windows aren’t up to par. There are solutions, however — window tinting, for example, is an effective solution that can reduce temperature disturbances by some 80%. Take care of your windows, and you should notice a marked improvement.
Poor Habits
If you’ve got a lot of kids – or lazy adults – living in your home, then you might be undoing all the benefits of your climate controlled home for the most basic reason possible: leaving the door open when you go into the yard. Your kids might be running in and out of the house all day, yet forget to close the door behind them. This leaving the door open upon exit is a major cause of temperature disturbances in the home. It won’t take long for all that hot or cool air to rush out and be replaced by the air of the outdoors. Make sure they know to keep everything closed!
Drafty Zones
Not all the air escape areas are so obvious. Some are positively hidden, such as in the case of draft areas. All homes have drafty spots, but old houses are especially vulnerable. These drafty areas can cause major temperature disturbances in the home. It’s worthwhile going through your home and locating any gaps, especially in places like the basement and attic, where they’re more common.
Find ways to block these drafts. Most common drafts happen around windows and doors. Other less known areas include around plumbing that is entering the home. The third area of drafts may include garage doors and/or attic vents.
Faulty Equipment
Faulty EquipmentFinally, take a look at your equipment. It’s all good and well setting your A/C to pump cold air around the house. However, if you’ve got a dirty filter or other issues, then it won’t be working as effectively as it could — yet you’ll still have a large bill!
Keep those filters clean and have your AC and even the heating unit maintenanced by a professional throughout the seasons. This is one of the best ways to avoid those temperature disturbances in the home.
By performing routine maintenance on your heating and air conditioning, sealing drafts, and insulation, you can stop the temperature disturbances in your home. This means more efficient use of energy and saving money on your utility bills each month.
