More often than not, people tend to ignore the heat sources inside their homes. The heat indoors can significantly affect the efficiency of your HVAC. For example, the heat coming from your stove while preparing your dinner can increase the indoor temperature. This means that your air conditioner needs to work harder to maintain the room temperature. Other potential sources of heat include direct sunlight from windows, unventilated bathroom, and heat-generating appliances (e.g. refrigerator, dryer, television). While these may be considered minimal heat sources, the build-up can influence the efficiency of your HVAC. Plus, the combined heat from these objects might lead to increased energy bills.
There are a few things you can do to minimize the heat indoors. During the day, keep your curtains closed while your air conditioner is on. By blocking the sunlight, the heat indoors is reduced. If you’re using the bathroom, use the exhaust to remove the humid air that accumulated inside. You may also avoid heat build-up by avoiding frequent use of appliances. Instead of cooking inside, you may grill your food in the backyard instead. You may also opt to hang your laundry outside instead of using the dryer. Another way to minimize indoor heat is to schedule the usage of devices (e.g. television) inside your home. Lastly, if you’re up for an upgrade, consider getting your attic insulated. This can prevent the heat absorbed by the roof from spreading indoors.
