Most of us take for granted that our homes are our safe spaces. They protect us from the outside world in many ways, such as giving us a place to escape from stress and unwind after a long day and providing shelter from the elements. For many homeowners, though, the latter aspect can be a bit of a hurdle.
While heating and air conditioning systems help regulate the temperature indoors, maintaining a constant comfortable temperature isn’t always easy. Many people find that their ideal temperatures just don’t hold steady no matter where they set their thermostats. If you’re struggling to keep your home comfortable, the following measures can help make things a bit simpler.
1) Consider Window Tinting
Modern windows are designed for optimal efficiency. Double- and triple-pane windows are equipped with layers of gas trapped between glass to provide extra insulative qualities. Even single-pane windows can feature additional insulative measures. Still, even the most efficient windows can only do so much. Adding window tint can take efficiency to the next level by preventing heating and air conditioning from escaping quite so easily. It can reduce heat transfer by as much as 84 percent over your windows alone, so the window tint temperature difference in your home is sure to be noticeable.
2) Weatherproof the Windows and Doors
High-efficiency windows and tint can improve the temperatures inside your home, but the framework around your windows and doors is equally crucial. In fact, reports indicate that as much as 30 percent of the heating and air conditioning in the average home is lost through doors and windows. If you feel hot or cold air coming in around the windows and doors, it’s time to take action. Place a bead of caulk around the windows or replace their seals. Place new weatherstripping around the doors. Those simple steps can go a long way toward maintaining a constant comfortable temperature in your home.
3) Install Ceiling Fans
Some homeowners may believe that installing ceiling fans and keeping them running might be counterintuitive to maintaining a constant temperature. That’s not exactly the case. Ceiling fans circulate cool air, so they can aid in combating heat that may be building up in your home even with the air conditioner running. At the same time, reversing the direction of the fan during the winter months will help spread around the warm air your heating system generates. As such, ceiling fans can be year-round tools for maintaining indoor temperatures.
4) Have Programmable Thermostats Installed
If you have central heating and air conditioning, you have thermostats to control them. Of course, not all thermostats are created equally. Old, manual thermostats can be set to various temperatures, but they’re not nearly as efficient at maintaining indoor temperatures as their modern counterparts. Digital thermostats are much more effective at keeping temperatures constant, so they’ll foster comfort and help save you money on heating and cooling costs.
Keeping Your Home as Comfortable as Possible
Many homeowners find that their homes aren’t quite as comfortable as they’d like, especially when temperatures rise or fall into the extreme ends of the spectrum. No matter how efficient your windows and HVAC system may be, they can only do so much on their own. Modern thermostats, ceiling fans, weather stripping, window tinting, and other measures can help keep the temperatures in your home steady and comfortable no matter what the weather is like outside.
*Photo by cottonbro
