How To Prevent Heat Loss and Boost Heating Efficiency for a Romantic Night At Home
Every couple celebrates Valentine’s Day in their own way. For some, it’s a perfect excuse to splurge on dinner at an upscale restaurant or a night at a fancy hotel. For others, the perfect romantic evening involves ordering takeout and cozying up for a relaxing night in. These days, it seems like more and more people are taking the latter route and making romance in the comfort of their homes.
But one thing that’s sure to spoil the mood for all those homebound lovebirds is a chilly, drafty house! Sure, it’s nice to cuddle up by the fire or under a mountain of blankets - but the charm is diminished somewhat when it’s the only way to stay warm. So this article will discuss a few of the most common reasons why a house isn’t staying warm - and what to do about them!
Find and Fix Drafts
Drafts are among the most common causes of heat loss and poor energy efficiency in homes. They occur because heat naturally rises to the top of the house, where it will try to escape through any gaps it can find. As warm air escapes, it creates a vacuum inside the house, causing cold air to be sucked in from outside to fill the void, usually through the foundation, crawlspace, or gaps around doors and windows. This is known as the “stack effect.”
Some degree of this is normal and even necessary for keeping the home’s air fresh - but too much can cause massive heat loss in the colder seasons. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to seal the cracks and minimize drafts in the home. Homeowners can install weatherstripping around doors and windows, fill gaps in baseboards or walls with foam sealant or silicone caulk, and add insulation to the crawlspace and attic.
Of course, smaller gaps will be harder to detect, so homeowners can use a store-bought thermal leak detector or have an HVAC professional or energy auditor inspect their home.
Consider Upgrading To Energy Star Windows
Another way to reduce heat loss is to install windows with a higher energy efficiency rating. Air gaps around windows can let a lot of cold air into the home, but that’s not the only way heat is lost through the windows. Some windows, particularly older single-pane windows, conduct heat energy out of the home through the glass itself.
Certified Energy Star windows, on the other hand, are designed to be as insulative as possible. These typically feature two or more panes of glass separated by an inert gas such as argon or krypton, which doesn’t conduct heat well. The glass usually has a special coating of metal or metallic oxide (virtually invisible to the naked eye) that further reduces the heat transfer through the window. Installing new windows such as these doesn’t just help keep the home warm in the winter - it can also help keep it cool during hot Florida summers!
Hire a Reputable Contractor for All HVAC Work
In many cases, the HVAC system may be to blame when a house isn’t warm enough. The heater may struggle due to an internal issue like a faulty gas burner or blower motor. Or hot air could be escaping through a leak (or multiple leaks) in the air ducts. This is why it’s so important for homeowners to have their systems serviced regularly (ideally, once in spring and once in autumn). A qualified HVAC technician can spot these issues early and take steps to prevent similar problems in the future.
But attempting to perform DIY maintenance or hiring the wrong person can make matters worse and cost homeowners more money. So it’s always best to find a reputable local heating contractor to perform any work on the HVAC system. A qualified and trustworthy HVAC company will have the proper licensing and insurance, provide estimates and options up-front, and have an overwhelming majority of positive reviews on sites like Google and Facebook. If they are also well-versed in Energy Star-certified products and offer cost-effective maintenance plans, it’s truly a match made in heaven!
About Boutwell’s Air Masters
Boutwell’s Air Masters has been Pensacola’s go-to HVAC company since 1973. Their courteous, trustworthy, licensed, and insured technicians always arrive on time and leave every home better than they found it. Boutwell offers competitive up-front pricing, financing, tailor-made solutions to fit any budget, and a beneficial membership plan - so there’s no better choice for HVAC service in Pensacola, FL!
