Thanks to your HVAC system, you and your family can stay warm and cozy during the colder months. One way to ensure you stay comfortable all year round is to invest in routine inspections and maintenance. However, heating and cooling issues may still occur even if your equipment is functioning well due to problem areas in your home. As a result, your living space will become difficult to heat, and you might experience discomfort.
Continue reading to discover what these problem areas could be.
Recessed Lighting Fixtures
While recessed lighting fixtures are great for improving the ambiance of a room, they can cause heating problems in your home. Every lighting fixture puts an open hole in the ceiling, which can let conditioned or warm air escape into your attic. These gaps will also allow hot air to enter your space during the warmer months. Because of them, your HVAC system needs to exert more effort to reach your desired temperature. As a result, you will find that some rooms are difficult to heat than others, and your energy bills may also increase.
Wall Frames’ Top Plates
The area where your attic floor and wall frames meet or the “top plate” can be a major air leak source. These frames are usually under-insulated, making them a venue for air leaks in your attic. The top plates are possibly the weakest spot of your attic floor.
Attic Floor
When your attic is poorly insulated, heated air will escape through it in the colder months. In summer, an under-insulated attic can become extremely hot, and this heat can travel to your living space, making it uncomfortable. A well-insulated attic has at least 15 inches of floor insulation with a thermal rating of R49. However, many homes only have 20% to 30% of what they need or around 3 to 5 inches.
To determine if you have sufficient attic insulation, you can have experienced heating and air conditioning service provider check this part of your house. At EZ Air Conditioning and Heating, you can count on us for superior attic insulation upgrades and installations. When you upgrade your attic insulation, you will enjoy benefits like lower energy costs, protection against moisture-related issues and better indoor air quality.
Side Attics
If you have a Cape Cod home, side attics are possibly what’s making it difficult to heat your home. Side attics can allow cold air in winter and warm air in summer. Make sure to check these areas regularly because they also tend to attract small creatures like raccoons and squirrels.
Crawl Spaces
Crawl spaces are often filled with unconditioned or cold air. They can cause your living space to feel freezing during the colder months. These areas can also cause pipes to freeze and mold to thrive.
Roof Slopes
The roof is one of the most important parts of your home’s exterior because it offers protection against harsh outdoor elements like high winds, snow and ultraviolet (UV) rays. Unless your roof has sufficient insulation, it will let the cold in during winter and heat in summer. Another issue that an under-insulated roof can cause are ice dams, which lead to costly repairs when left unaddressed. EZ Air Conditioning and Heating is not only here to provide you with superior heating and air conditioning service, but also quality attic insulation installations and upgrades. You can count on our experienced team in creating an effective barrier against cold, heat and moisture.
Basement
Cold air often gets drawn into your home’s foundation, causing rooms to become drafty and floors to get cold in winter. Make sure your basement is sealed properly to prevent excessive moisture and mold growth. Mold is something you want to deal with immediately because it can spread quickly into your space. Once it is widespread, it can be costly and difficult to remove. Also, mold spores can cause asthma attacks, allergic reactions and poor indoor air quality.
Adding more insulation around the basement walls or finishing its wall with cement can help minimize energy loss. Basement finishing usually offers more options for efficient insulation instead of simply adding insulation to existing walls. You can consult experts to determine the ideal solution for this area of your home.
Plumbing and Electrical Systems
All gaps, cracks and holes in your home can potentially allow unwanted airflow. Every little gap in plumbing fixtures, pipes and electrical wirings can cause conditioned or warm air to leak from your living space.
Windows
Heating and air conditioning repair experts would agree that a significant amount of heat loss occurs through windows. Heat can easily escape through windows because glass is a poor insulator. Have you noticed that it gets colder as you go closer to your windows? You can confirm if your windows are the issue by getting a home energy audit. If experts suggest you need new windows, it pays to invest in products with energy-efficient features like multi-pane glass and low-emissivity (low-e) coatings.
Doors
Aside from windows, heat loss can also occur through doors. Again, an energy audit can reveal if your doors are allowing drafts into your home. When it’s time to get new doors, consider materials like steel and fiberglass instead of wood. These options offer better insulation without compromising durability and appeal.
Garage Ceilings and Walls
Your vehicles may be the only items your garage is protecting against harsh outdoor elements. Rooms next to or above your garage tend to be dramatically cold in winter and warm in summer. The wall or ceiling surrounding the garage should have a thermal boundary from the inside to prevent outdoor temperatures from affecting your indoor comfort.
Do you need a heating or air conditioning repair service? Turn to EZ Air Conditioning and Heating for superior residential and commercial HVAC services. We also specialize in attic insulation, duct cleaning and home automation. Give us a call at (210) 429-9186, or fill out our contact form to get an estimate. We look forward to serving you and bringing out the best in your home!
