Whether you open up the doors and windows to vent your home, or close them and turn on the climate control system, your home and the air within have to meet your comfort level. Climate control, or HVAC can reduce mould issues, decrease allergy symptoms, and cool or heat your home comfortably. There are continual technological changes in this field. This is a good time to refresh your air conditioning knowledge for your best outcome.
Humans can tolerate many changes in climate humidity, density, or cleanliness. Our temperature tolerance can be low by comparison to the swings in our environment. My home as a child would experience +38c to -38c. The range that best suits me is 18c to 28c. How about you?
There is no question that air conditioning systems work hard and perform a vital task for us. To assist them we insulate. Preventing climate creep in your home is the first step in an efficient system. Able to retain and repel heat, insulation materials play a big role. The exterior of your home absorbs a great deal of heat or cold. Thick insulation in your walls and ceilings minimises temperature creep. Insulation can be added easily as a DIY project or blown in by a professional.
The windows in your home can be multi-paned and glazed to resist radiant heat and ultraviolet waves. Your window locations are not easily changed but are a big hole to the outside climate. Planting shade trees or other vegetation on sun-soaked sides of your house can help mitigate internal climate variations. Awnings and shutters are additional options for this. Replacing windows is very expensive. Maybe those ideas can help.
You have undoubtedly experienced the difference between getting into a black or a white car sitting in the sun. Darker colours absorb heat waves and light colours reflect them. Painting your home is not difficult and can have dramatic effects on your power bill. During your next roof update, ponder a lighter colour to improve your home’s passive heat control.
Air conditioning systems are available in many styles and capabilities but come in two types.
- Split Systems – This type is great for small condos, apartments, or residences with fewer rooms and no large spaces to cool. They can be installed in an existing home easily and won’t take days of remodelling. They are not meant to run 24hrs a day and capacity should be considered for efficiency. You will install one unit for each room you want to be controlled.
- Ducted Systems – For multi-room zone control and efficiency in cooling larger spaces, this type of system is best. You can add on purifiers easily to decontaminate your air from disease, bacteria, or pollution. There is only one compressor and condenser for the whole home. This means only one source of heat and noise in your home or in your yard to deal with.
Either way, look for the initial cost, ongoing fuel, ongoing maintenance, carbon footprint, and your comfort level to define the system you need. Your home should be the most comfortable place in your life. Keep a cool head about it.
