Troubleshooting Why Your Second Floor is Difficult to Cool or Heat

If you own a two-story home, managing temperatures through both levels can be tricky. If you find your upstairs is often warmer or cooler than the main level, it can be frustrating to find the problem. Not only can this impact comfort levels, it is likely affecting your heating and cooling costs. Here a few troubleshooting tips to find the issue and resolve unbalanced climate control on your second floor.

Attic Insulation

Inadequate attic insulation can be a factor for controlling temperatures on your second floor. Poor insulation can allow heated or cooled air to escape; it can also allow too much outside air in. Check your insulation in your attic – you may need to add more or use better quality insulation to manage indoor temps.

Tune-Up Your HVAC System

Dirty filters and other maintenance issues can affect the performance of your furnace and air conditioner. Make sure your HVAC system is up-to-date on all maintenance.

Leaky Duct Work

The ducts that carry air upstairs need to be properly sealed to control temperatures. Have your ductwork inspected to make sure there are no leaks that are impacting the climate control on your second level of your home.

Check Windows

The windows on the upstairs level can impacting temperatures. Quality, insulated windows can help control temperatures – so can using window dressings to limit sunshine adding heat to your upstairs.

Heat does rise, and it can be more difficult to manage air temps in the second level of your home. However, there are ways to manage climate control and keep heating and cooling costs low. Schedule a tune-up and inspection of your HVAC system to determine if there are any problems that are contributing to your second story climate control issues.

Posted on behalf of:
Western Aire Heating & Cooling
264 Buchanan Highway
Dallas, GA 30157
(770) 505-7426

6 Easy Ways to Weatherize Your Home

Is the climate-controlled air you spend so much money to create in your home leaking outside? Heating and cooling your home are the biggest expenses you pay for each month. One way to cut utility costs is to ensure the air inside your home is not escaping and that air from outside is not leaking in. Weatherizing your home with a few easy and inexpensive options can reduce your energy bills and keep your home comfortable year-round. Here are six tips for weatherizing your home:

  1. Shrink wrap windows. Give your windows extra insulation by investing in clear shrink wrap. These kits are inexpensive and easy to install, giving your better insulation for your windows without replacement.
  2. Seal windows and doors. Adding a quick caulking around windows and doors can reduce leaks.
  3. Stop drafts. Invest in draft stoppers for the bottom of exterior doors. This includes your door to your garage, unless your garage is climate controlled.
  4. Close fireplace dampers. Unless the fireplace is in use, make sure the damper is kept closed to reduce leaks in and out.
  5. Insulate the door to your attic. Often the door to attics is not insulated, even if the rest of the attic has insulation. Adding a strip of insulation to the door can cut down on leaks.
  6. Duct work leaks. Many homes built over 20 years ago have ductwork that leaks. Have your HVAC ductwork inspected by a professional to ensure that it is sealed and not leaking out the expensive air you are heating or cooling.

A few small steps to winterize your home can have big savings on your energy bills. Use these tips to ensure your home is better insulation for higher efficiency.

Posted on behalf of:
Western Aire Heating & Cooling
264 Buchanan Highway
Dallas, GA 30157
(770) 505-7426

How Important is Good Insulation?

Does it seem like it is difficult to keep your home the perfect temperature? It is not always the HVAC system that is the problem; it could be the insulation in your home. Many homes are not well-insulated, especially in milder climate regions. Home builders often skimp on the insulation to save money in areas that do not have extreme cold, making it difficult to maintain the comfort level when it gets too hot or too cold outside. Insulating your home can have a dramatic impact on the ease of maintaining your perfect indoor climate and save you money on your energy bills.

Benefits of Insulating Your Home

Adding insulation to your attic, crawl space and any accessible exterior walls can have a dramatic impact on the comfort of your home. Insulation creates a barrier that seals the air inside of your home from the outside. This helps you maintain the preferred temperature inside longer, using less fuel or energy to heat or cool your home. This can have a big impact on your energy bills all year round, making it a worthwhile investment that can pay for itself over a few years.

In addition to making your home more comfortable and efficient, insulation also works as a sound barrier. This reduces the noise levels coming from outside, or the noise that leaves your home. This helps maintain a more private environment, especially in compact neighborhoods where homes are close together.

If your home has poor insulation, consider adding more to improve the comfort, efficiency and privacy of your home. Talk to your local HVAC service company that offers insulation services to learn more about the benefits insulating your home.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

4 Reasons to Reinsulate Your Home

Do you have adequate insulation in your home? Many older homes and some newer ones do not have adequate insulation for maximum efficiency. Some homes have little or no insulation, making it harder to keep them cool or warm. Since insulation is hidden away in walls, attics and crawl spaces, you may not know what amount of insulation you have. Here are four reasons to check your insulation levels and consider reinsulating if they are not sufficient.

  1. Energy savings. Insulation helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer during the winter. This added layer of insulating materials in your walls can reduce your energy usage and have a significant impact on your utility bills.
  2. Insulation settling. Even if you have insulation, it may have settled over the years. Investing in new insulation, preferably blown-in insulation, can improve the level of insulation in your home.
  3. Sound-proofing. An added benefit of more insulation is how it helps sound-proof your home. Keep outdoor noises dulled and reduce the sounds that leave your home for improved privacy. Adding insulation in the interior walls can help muffle sounds – this is perfect for noisy rooms like the kid’s play room or a theatre room in your home.
  4. Keep it green. New insulation can help you reduce the energy you use, reducing pollution and use of natural resources. Make sure to choose a green option in insulation like blown-in R19 that is made from recycled products.

A well-insulated home can make it more comfortable all year round and save you money on your energy bills. If you think you may be losing heat or cold air through thinly insulated walls, call your local HVAC service to have an efficiency evaluation performed.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

Could Insulating Your Home Save You Money?

Does it seem like your energy bill is too high? It may be due to poor insulation inside your home. Many homes are built without adequate insulation that can lead to open airways that impact the temperature of the home. It is never too late to add insulation to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Retain better heat in the winter and keep cool in the summer by investing in insulation in your home.

Insulation uses a poor conductor of heat to create a barrier between the interior of your home and the weather outside. Most insulation is created from fiberglass that is made from spun glass fibers. Glass is one of the best options for insulation since it is naturally a poor conductor of heat and is safe for home construction. It is used in blown and rolled insulation, creating a barrier that keeps homes cool or warm as needed.

When adding insulation to an existing home, blown insulation is often the most efficient option. It can be added into walls, attics and crawls spaces to block airways that let in the heat or cold from the outside. Once in place, insulation will perform for decades, making it a worthwhile investment. The savings on your heating and cooling bill can easily pay for this improvement to your home in a matter of just a few years or less. It also puts less stress on your HVAC system, saving you money on maintenance, repairs and replacement.

Stopping wasting energy and money in your home. Call your local HVAC expert that offers insulation installation to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555