Thermal Comfort at Home: How to Considerably Improve It

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A healthy home environment with a balanced indoor temperature is the main goal for all homeowners but it’s also a challenge to achieve it on an optimal level. A large number of people complain that they often feel sudden bouts of chilliness and the warmth seems to be leaking away through unknown cracks.

If you the same problem, it probably means that the thermal comfort in your home has dropped and to order to improve it, you should consider several factors so you could prevent the loss of energy and your money.

Thermal comfort basics

In addition to the temperature inside your home, the indoor thermal comfort is also affected by the quality and number of your heat sources. Your comfort level will be significantly higher if you have a warm heat source such as a radiator near you. Furthermore, air velocity is a major factor as well. Depending on the season, you will either want to feel a pleasant, cool breeze or completely drought-proof your home to prevent heat loss.

Other influential factors in addition to these are air humidity, clothing insulation, and metabolic heat. This might all seem like too much, but the best solution can be found if you focus on the key factors. Avoid short-term solutions such as a hot shower or extra blankets, but rather concentrate on discovering the root of the problem. Regardless of the area, you live in, if you manage to improve the general energy efficiency of your home, you’ll also improve its thermal efficiency.

Thermal efficiency

When considering boosting the thermal efficiency of your home, your primary goal should be to minimize heat loss and maintain the ideal temperature throughout the whole house. Proper insulation of your entire home plays an essential role here so when purchasing it, choose only the best quality R-value.

Invest your time and effort into a proper assessment of the current condition of your home insulation, install the necessary upgrades and do repairs, from your crawlspaces and basement to the loft, and all interior or exterior walls. Make sure you don’t overlook the windows as they are usually the weakest spots. They tend to be the biggest culprit when it comes to air leaks which can be solved by weather-stripping them or replacing them entirely.

Climate patterns in Australia are known to differ a great deal from one region to another and depending on your exact location, you might need different solutions. For instance, having double glazed windows in Perth installed with the right combination of the exact orientation and proper shading, you can make a significant impact on energy retention and temperature levels in your home.

Heating and cooling patterns

Your heating system is one of the most important factors in determining the radiant temperature in your home. The proper maintenance routine is crucial in making sure the system yields optimal results and cutting your bills. It’s highly important all the elements are functioning properly, from the HVAC filters that influence the air quality and your family’s health, to the heater, dampers, and diffusers.

Another aspect that needs to be considered is by installing a smart thermostat. It regulates the temperature in the entire house even if you’re not at home. You might also try abandoning the classic convection system in favor of infrared panels since they have exhibited much better thermal properties. The reason is that air velocity doesn’t affect the panels so they tend to have a higher energy efficiency rating.

Lastly, during the hot Australian summer months, it makes sense to improve ventilation as this can significantly contribute to your comfort level. Excellent ventilation will remove excess hot air and reduce the need for additional air cooling. However, ceiling units and fans are not always the best solution, as they tend to simply mix the hot air that actually has nowhere to go. Alternately, rely on natural ventilation and air circulation as much as you can by removing any barriers, such as closed doors, bulky furniture, heavy window treatments, and curtains.

High thermal comfort is a crucial ingredient of overall home comfort and it is seen as a combination of several tangible factors. Take a smart approach to improve the thermal comfort of your home by following the tips outlined here and initiate a string of positive changes in your environment that will surely lead to better thermal comfort and decrease of your bills.

About the author

Learn More About Being a Survivalist. My name is Jack and my blog is a great way to get new and useful tips on how to get your house ready for anything, whether its a terrible storm or a really long power outage.

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