Better Together: Your Home's Comfort Systems Should Work in Sync

The comfort systems in your home include the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, insulation, windows and doors, as well as the building’s shell. When one or more is amiss, your home loses some of its comfort, and your energy bills will rise in proportion to the extent of the problem.

These steps will help you improve your comfort and energy savings. Some you might be able to do yourself, and some you’ll need the help of a professional.

Air Sealing

Check for air leaks around window and exterior door frames, the attic hatch, and any places where utility lines, vents or pipes enter or leave your home. You can also have a professional energy audit that uses a blower door to pinpoint where all the air leaks are located. Once you’ve found them, seal with caulk, weatherstripping or expanding foam, depending on the location and situation.

Insulation

Inadequate attic insulation leads to a lot of heat transfer, summer and winter. If yours is less than 13 inches thick, consider adding more. Fiberglass batt or loose cellulose insulation are easy to install, start working immediately, and are durable, cost-effective ways to lower conditioning bills.

Windows

Your home’s windows pay a large role in your home’s comfort systems. If they’re not thermal or Energy Star, chances are you’re gaining or losing heat year-round. Besides upgrading the windows, consider thermal drapes for shading in the summer and heat retention in the winter.

HVAC System

Keeping your blower’s air filter clean improves system efficiency, as does routine professional maintenance. It involves a complete examination and adjustment of the whole system, bringing it back to factory settings as closely as possible.

Another major drain on your energy can be ductwork leaks. Not only do they make conditioning your home more difficult, they reduce indoor air quality. If you use vented gas appliances, a ductwork leak can pull carbon monoxide into your home’s air.

Your HVAC equipment represents the most important of the comfort systems in your home. If you’d like to learn more about improving home comfort and efficiency, contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We’ve provided top-notch HVAC services for northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC systemsand other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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