For most of us in the United States, problems with being cool during the winter may seem like a bit of an unusual concern for a homeowner. However, the first thing to remember about the indoor temperature of a home, particularly in the bathrooms and the kitchens, is that the temperature is incredibly important all year round. Houses shouldn’t have a variable temperature—they should remain constant whatever the weather.
That being said, whilst it’s not a good idea to keep the home cold during the winter, and you should always winterize your pipes and heating systems, you shouldn’t be keeping the home too warm either. Rising humidity, as well as damp, provides a great way to see that now is the time to bring a little chill to the air at home. With that in mind, here are the best ways to cool your home.
Repair your HVAC system.
Starting with the obvious, a home can be kept cool by leaving windows open, using fans, and turning the thermostat all the way down when it is not in use. These are all simple and effective ways to making sure that you are embracing warmth, but not heat. However, the best way to keep the home cool when it is supposed to be, is ensuring that the air conditioning system is in good working order.
A good, well working HVAC system is the first step to making sure that you aren’t at home sweating and miserable, instead of relaxed, cool and comfortable. HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems are the fundamental reason why your home retains a comfortable temperature. HVAC systems all work together to keep the home temperate. Likewise, they also will over compensate for one another if one component fails, leading to too much pressure on the other. If the air conditioner, for example, has a series of leaks, then ventilation won’t be able to remove the moisture from the home. This means that the heating system will be working harder, and will be heating the water in the air, as well as the air itself.
As a result, it’s important that all of your HVAC systems are up to date on their servicing, and, if necessary, have been through the necessary upgrades. Check out Gideon Air & Heating to help out with this. Not only can they provide repairs, but replacements, too. Also, you should consider adding a heat pump to your AC unit. This means that during the cooler months, you can use it to warm the air instead of using your furnace, resulting in dryer air in the household.
Keep your indoor air healthy.
The effects of humidity on your health cannot be understated. Warm, moist indoor air is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Damp, humidity and mold are all unpleasant additions to the structure of the property, but can be seriously dangerous to those who already are at a higher risk of respiratory problems or catching the flu. This is not an avenue that you will want to go down, when all that was needed was a look at your air conditioning unit or furnace.
Furthermore, if you’re considering making a move later on down the line, making sure that your HVAC is in good condition is a good idea. It’s not going to be looking good to potential buyers if there is mold and mildew all over the property. As a homeowner, you have a responsibility to yourself and future buyers to keep the place clean and tidy. A simple fresh coat of paint will only hide the problem, but not solve it. Making the house presentable is one of the 6 steps to staging for an open house, no matter where the house is, as any realtor or professional stager will tell you.
Whether you’re looking for prospective buyers for an open house or just want to be comfortable in your home, make sure your HVAC is in good shape and you’ll be sure to feel better in no time.
