As summer keeps things steamy throughout the Atlanta area, certain rooms that feel warmer will drain energy and diminish comfort in your home. Anything from inadequate insulation to leaking ducts can explain why certain rooms don’t get the full benefit of a home’s HVAC equipment. Other reasons may be related to the age or model of heating and cooling systems. Here is help to identify the root of the cooling problem and how to get your A/C system working at optimal levels this summer.
Problems Inside a Specific Room
Even when you have a new Trane HVAC system running inside your Senoia home, it’s possible to have cooling problems in certain rooms. Reliable’s HVAC professionals usually find issues in the room or building seal. You may have old windows letting in air leaks, poor weatherstripping at the door or leaky ducts leading into the room. These problems have nothing to do with the cooling system.
You could be wasting between 5 and 30 percent of your energy costs on the heating and cooling of a room with air leaks in the ductwork or the windows into the room. A home performance audit will allow HVAC professionals to identify your home’s weaknesses and figure out a way to plug the holes. Inexpensive repairs such as sealing ductwork or closing air holes may be all it takes to make a room maintain the same comfort levels as the rest of your home.
Assessing an Entire Home’s Problems
If you are experiencing issues with hot and cold rooms at home, it is likely you have leaks in multiple areas. Tests of your entire home will show you how to proceed. Building Performance Institute (BPI) inspectors will perform a blower door test and other analyses to show exactly where air is escaping your home.
Old windows are sources of air leaks that cannot be traced to ductwork or HVAC malfunctions. Window replacement can lead to as much as $465 a year in savings, according to the ENERGY STAR website. Again, contractors who perform the full suite of home performance tests can pinpoint where to begin. You may simply need window treatments to counteract excessive sunlight hitting a particular room.
Advanced Heating and Cooling Systems
After you have sealed leaks and ductwork, contractors may identify your HVAC system as incapable of cooling your home efficiently. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR system would involve significant upfront costs, but tax rebates and energy savings often make this choice cost-effective. Wasting money on inefficient equipment for years is never a wise alternative.
Another option is asking a professional to install HVAC zone control in your home. There are some rooms that are nearly impossible to cool without special attention. HVAC zoning allows you to increase the amount of cool air you send to each area of your home with room-specific thermostats that can accommodate shifts in heat and humidity. Trane’s ComfortLink II systems remains the standard in programmable HVAC zone control.
Whether you have issues with home performance or inadequate heating and cooling systems, Reliable’s technicians will make your home a comfortable oasis all summer long. Find out how an energy audit can get you started today.
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