Consider These Home Holiday Comfort Tips
Lower the Temperature Before Guests Arrive
More people means more body heat, and a small gathering of even five to 10 people can cause the house’s indoor temperature to soar. Lower your thermostat several degrees before the company arrives. For moderate to large gatherings, you could lower the thermostat to 68 degrees to avoid overheating and stuffiness.
Create Cross-Ventilation
Crack open at least two windows on opposite ends of the house to create a wind effect. The heat will be distributed more evenly, and the cool air will help prevent guests from becoming too warm. Cross-ventilation is an effective way to moderate heat in your home without using fans or other sources of electricity.
Don’t Forget About Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans set to rotate clockwise can help evenly distribute warm air throughout a room and draw cool air up and away from guests. Using a ceiling fan during the winter can help you save money on heating all season long; rooms will feel warmer on lower thermostat settings.
To make sure that your blades are spinning in the right direction, turn on the fan, stand underneath it, and make sure that the fan rotates from right-to-left like a clock’s hands.
Use Exhaust Fans or Cook Ahead of Time
Holiday meals are one of the most anticipated parts of the season, but stove-top cooking and ovens running for hours generate a lot of extra heat.
Keep the House Dust-Free
A dusty house breeds allergens and makes everyone uncomfortable, but it could also cause your HVAC unit to run less efficiently. Dust that gets trapped in your heater’s filter will get blown throughout the rest of the home, and it can also cause your system to draw more energy just to maintain a normal temperature.
Run the vacuum cleaner at least once a week in addition to changing your air filter according to your system’s user manual. Most people can have their air filter replaced before the start of winter and not have to change it again until late spring.
Weather-Proof Your Home
Use caulk to seal any holes or cracks in your home’s exterior, and close off the flue of your chimney if you won’t be using your fireplace. You may also want to apply some insulation treatments to your windows, which are relatively inexpensive but can prevent major heat loss.
Keeping your home warmer by retaining more heat will allow you to set your thermostat lower throughout the season. Each degree you lower your indoor temperature can save you up to 3 percent on your heating expenses.
Provide Extra Blankets for Overnight Guests
Lower your thermostat to 65 degrees during the night, and make sure that your guests have extra blankets in their rooms. Some people may prefer to be warmer while they sleep, but raising the temperature at night will result in additional heating expenses and may make others feel too hot.
Close Vents You Don’t Use
There’s no use paying for heat you aren’t using, and funneling hot air into unused spaces can cause the overall temperature inside to rise. Close the vents in any rooms that won’t be in use while guests are over to cut costs and make the entire house more comfortable.
If you’re in need of professional heating and air conditioning maintenance, Contact RR Electric, Heating & Air today at 805-900-0123 to schedule your next appointment.
