While running the air conditioner can make a home substantially cooler in the summer months, the home loses precious cool air through undetectable leaks. Furthermore, the hot air from outside comes in through these leaks, which makes it worse.
There are several factors that can heat a house, but if a home is equipped with adequate insulation, a home can stay relatively cool. Any room that is next to a heated garage or other room will, in turn, become hot. A room that receives a substantial amount of sun will become hot if preventative measures, such as the use of reflective surfaces, aren’t used to deter the heat from the window.
The kitchen naturally heats up with stove and oven use. Where a room is unavoidably hot, insulation can help to contain that heat to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the home.
To protect a house from leaking air, whether cool or hot, it is important to follow these guidelines. Despite the best installation of weather pane windows, and other methods used to protect against leaks, some doors and windows are still problematic. Doors and windows need weather stripping, or caulk, to provide a tight seal.
Double-paned windows are excellent at keeping heat out. It is commonly accepted that blinds keep heat out; however, windows that heat up cause the house to heat up, regardless of the methods to stop the sun from entering the home. The outer double-paned portion of the window keeps the heat from permeating through the interior portion, which is effective at keeping most heat out.
Inspect walls and other surfaces around the home as these can serve as potential leaks. Insulate the attic and use fans to blow out hot air. Heat permeates through walls and ceilings, which causes heat to transfer. Heat can transfer into the garage easily because garage doors are not insulated and usually have large cracks that allow heat to come in.
For any room directly next to the garage, the room can heat up drastically. Until insulation is completed in the garage, allow it to ventilate the evening to cool it off. This will allow the remainder of the house to cool off somewhat too.
The key to insulation is to contain individual rooms from the outside temperature to prevent heat from transferring into the home and around it.