Warm Days & Cold Nights: How to Balance Temperature Changes in Your Home
The temperature disparity throughout the course of a day is drastic in some climates. Warm days and freezing nights lead to minor, yet annoying inconveniences. For example, you might need to bring a sweater or long-sleeve shirt if you will be outside for a long period of time, or your bedroom might be hotter than you prefer. Warm days and cold nights can also make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. Luckily, there are several simple and effective ways to stabilize the temperature in your home. Read below to learn more about balancing temperature changes in your home.
Check the Health of Your HVAC System
Temperature inconsistencies and changes in your home are very common during the summer. Often, they are caused naturally by the scorching temperature’s drastic decrease after sunset. However, they are sometimes caused by your home’s HVAC system.
If you experience sharp temperature changes in your home, check on the health of your HVAC system. There are several simple ways to monitor the status of your system. One of the easiest ways involves gauging your comfort level. If the thermostat is set to your desired temperature but it feels inaccurate, your system needs maintenance.
An unhealthy system also leaks or is exceptionally noisy. You may also notice a drastic increase in your home’s energy bill. Finally, you could also call an HVAC professional for a more thorough inspection. Most systems require annual or bi-annual maintenance depending on their level of usage, and a professional technician will have it working great in no time!
Multi-Zone Mini Split Systems
Multi-zone ductless mini split systems are so efficient at eliminating temperature imbalances that it’s almost as if they were created with that sole goal in mind. Ductless mini splits are an efficient air conditioner and their popularity is rapidly increasing for a variety of reasons. They are blowing by the competition with increased efficiency, versatility, and energy savings. They consist of an outdoor condenser connected to anywhere from one to eight indoor air handling units. An outdoor unit connected to one and only one indoor unit is called a “single zone system.” This allows you to heat or cool only the room where the indoor unit is physically located.
Multi-zone systems consist of one outdoor unit connected to as many as eight indoor units dispersed throughout the house, usually in different rooms or levels. The multiple indoor units allow you to alter the temperature in one room without affecting any others. This is called “temperature zoning,” and it is one of the main draws of a multi-zone system.
Temperature zoning is perfect for balancing the temperature changes in your home. Let’s say you have a multi-zone system with two indoor units—one in a windowless room and one in a room with several windows. During the daytime, the windowless room will naturally be cool due to the lack of sunlight. Operating the air conditioning at a high level in that room is an unnecessary waste of resources such as time, money, and energy.
On the contrary, the windowed room will be naturally warmer during the day because of the excessive sunlight and require extra air conditioning to remain at a comfortable temperature. Your multi-zone system allows you to set the indoor units at the necessary temperature for each room’s desired level of comfort. This will save you money on your energy bill while balancing the temperature of the rooms.
Window Air Conditioners
Window air conditioners are, arguably, the most common type of air conditioner in the United States and yet another way to balance temperature changes in your home. They are stand-alone, meaning that each component is contained within the single unit. Window air conditioners offer many benefits over other types of air conditioners. For example, their installation process is very simple, and they are very affordable relative to their alternatives.
They are also designed for use in a single room, which makes them a viable option to help balance the temperature in your home. If one room is sweltering during the day and frigid at night, simply install a window air conditioner!
Curtains, Blinds, and Awnings
There are also several non-HVAC methods to balance your home’s temperature. For example, consider installing curtains, blinds, or awnings over your windows. Awnings are installed on the exterior of your home, while curtains and blinds are on the interior. Despite their differences, they all serve the similar role of blocking the sun. By naturally keeping the sunlight out, they will lower the room’s temperature on a scorching summer day.
Curtains, blinds, and awnings have a slew of benefits. Due to their organic cooling methods, your HVAC system does not have to work as hard to lower the room’s temperature. Therefore, your energy bill is significantly reduced. There are also types of blinds or curtains that block out the majority of the light. Room darkening shades block out 95%-99% while blackout curtains eliminate 100% of the light. These are optimal for bedrooms, as they will not only reduce the temperature but increase your quality of sleep!
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are another excellent way to deal with warm days and cold nights in your home. They offer many benefits such as affordability, an easy installation process, and minimal maintenance. In fact, there is a good chance you already have one in your home. Ceiling fans are usually utilized in bedrooms, but they can make any room much more comfortable in the hot summer. Many sleep easier and better with a slight breeze from above.
Many are not aware that ceiling fans can heat AND cool a room! A clockwise spinning fan cools the room by spreading cold air down, and a counterclockwise spinning fan provides heat by pushing warm air down. Most homeowners can easily change their fans’ direction themselves. Therefore, they can deal with temperature imbalances of any kind.
Insulation
Adding insulation to your home is a great way to deal with temperature imbalances. In short, insulation prevents air already inside the house from escaping while preventing any outside air from entering. A professional can conduct a home energy assessment to determine insulation levels and needs, but you can also find this out yourself. The thickness and location of your insulation play a crucial role in balancing your home’s temperature, especially in locations where the day and night temperatures are drastically different. It also leads to savings on your home’s energy bill.
Even though temperature imbalances drive homeowners up the wall, they can easily be a thing of the past. You now have all the proper information to keep your home feeling comfortable, regardless if it is a sweltering day or frigid night.
