Older homes have their charms, and plenty of quirks too. One thing that old houses seem to have in common is difficulty in heating them efficiently. After all, old houses were not built to the same building codes and standards as today, and age reveals cracks, shifting, and other flaws that may result in loss of heated or cooled air.
One might be frustrated with the high heating bills, drafty windows, and other issues that thwart the ability to heat or cool it efficiently. Luckily, there are a few things one can do. Napoleon compiled a few tips to get more from the HVAC system or to prevent it from working harder than it needs to.
Adding a Ceiling Fan to the Mix
Ceiling fans are a great way to ease the load on an older home’s heating and cooling system. Older homes often have higher than average ceilings, where warm air gets trapped.
Running a ceiling fan in a clockwise direction will pull cooler air upwards, displacing that trapped warm air, and circulate it throughout the room. In terms of energy efficiency, one will get more from the heated air the furnace has produced, and ceiling fans use minimal energy.
Changing Filter
A clogged filter causes the air systems to work extra hard, raising the energy consumption
Filters in even the most modern homes should be changed every three months at a minimum. The owner of a house may consider changing the filter as frequently as monthly.
Older homes are filled with dust, fibers, allergens, and even possibly asbestos! The filter catches particles in the air to prevent them from recycling throughout the home. A clogged filter causes the air systems to work extra hard, raising the energy consumption and subsequent bills. By changing the filter more frequently, one may also find yourself breathing easier too.
Installing a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable or “smart” thermostats are taking the world by storm, and for good reason. Offering so much more than just temperature control, these easy-to-install devices can save a bundle on the heating and cooling bills and heat home more efficiently.
Some can even detect when the user is not at home and adjust accordingly, helping the user to waste less energy, and save all year long.
Annual Tune-Ups
Scheduling an annual inspection and tune-up will help in various ways
Furnaces work hard for and older homes often force it to work harder than usual. Scheduling an annual inspection and tune-up will help in three ways. First, it will ensure that the home’s heating and cooling system is optimized to work as efficiently as possible.
Second, this efficiency will reduce energy consumption and subsequently heating and cooling bills. Third, regular inspections and tune-ups will extend the lifespan of your HVAC system. Finally, annual inspections are often a critical element of maintaining warranty coverage; neglecting to schedule an inspection may invalidate the warranty!
Considering an Upgrade
Older homes face special challenges when trying to heat them. A new heating and cooling system for the home will give the greatest bang for buck. Modern HVAC systems deliver incredibly high efficiencies and are the ideal way to heat an older home.
In recent years, the HVAC industry has introduced a variety of heating and cooling innovations that not only work more efficiently but also consume fewer fossil fuels while keeping homes more comfortable than ever.
Stoping the Drafts
Applying some weather stripping where applicable or using a door snake to block the air can be useful
If a match is lit, one can see that the rising heated air will draw cooler air into the flame. This is a principle of physics called the “stack effect” and it also applies to the hot air at home.
As heated air rises, it pulls fresh air into the home, typically from fresh air sources such as drafty windows, and under and around doors. One can help to block this cold air from entering the home with a little winter maintenance. Applying some weather stripping where applicable or using a door snake to block the air that passes under a door can be useful. One may consider installing thermal drapes around the windows. Insulating windows with plastic is also a great way to reduce the amount of cold air entering the home and prevent excessive heat loss.
Few simple steps
By taking a few simple steps, one can heat an older house more efficiently. One will be more comfortable inside the home while reducing your energy consumption.
This can result in significant financial savings, a benefit one will enjoy all year long. If one is looking for more ways to heat an old home more efficiently, then one may ask an HVAC technician for professional advice while they are performing an annual inspection.
