Do you find your home is too warm in the summer but too cold in the winter? There are a few potential reasons for this, and they can be fixed. And don’t panic, it won’t require leaving your heating on all winter and air conditioner on all summer.
Home Insulation
Your home’s insulation is a key factor behind why your home’s temperature fluctuates with the seasons. It’s a common misconception that insulation simply helps your home retain heat. If this were true, it would explain the hot summers, but you would expect to avoid drastic drops in temperature in the winter. Conversely, a lack of insulation might lead to a very cold home in the winter months but avoid overheating in warmer temperatures.
But you don’t just experience a home that is either too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. It’s both. So what’s really going on? And how does insulation actually work? Insulation slows heat transfer. It reduces the rate at which energy is transferred through your walls, floors, and ceiling. This means the warm temperatures outside are slower to seep into your home in the summer, and in the winter, the indoor heat is slower to escape. One of the most popular benefits of insulation is that it can save money on energy bills. It is, therefore, mostly discussed in terms of preventing heat escape in the winter. This is why it may be misconstrued that insulation simply traps heat or keeps a property warm.
Reducing Heat Transfer
Insulation throughout the home is a great way to mitigate fluctuating temperatures. However, there are other ways to avoid a home that’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. As discussed above, insulation helps retain heat in the winter and keeps it out in the summer by reducing heat transfer. And there are a few other ways to reduce heat transfer in your home.
Air leakage
Air leakage is another leading cause of heat transfer in and out of your home. Air sealing these gaps is another highly effective way to reduce heating and cooling costs. Two of the easiest ways to do this are with caulk and weatherstripping. Caulking is ideal for filling gaps around window frames, whilst weatherstripping can be used for doors or windows that open.
Double glazing
Another way to reduce heat transfer to and from your home is to install double-glazing windows. Double glazing uses two panes of glass separated by an air bubble. The gap between the panes reduces heat from passing through the window, meaning you will lose less heat in the winter and have less heat gain in summer.
Energy Efficiency
The benefits of slowing heat transfer in your home extend beyond creating a more comfortable environment. It has significant environmental and financial benefits too. With insulation, double glazing, and reduced air leakage, you will use your heating less in the winter (and air conditioning less in the summer). The subsequent savings to your energy bill can be significant. And less energy will also lower your carbon footprint.
You should look at your heating and cooling systems to further increase these benefits. Each is essential to your home’s energy efficiency, and proper care and maintenance will work alongside insulation to maximise your energy bill savings.
Improving Boiler Energy Efficiency
Your boiler is the backbone of your home heating, and whilst insulation will prevent heat from escaping, you still rely on your boiler to warm your home in the first place. And if it is doing so inefficiently, you will be using more energy than needed, therefore overpaying to heat your home.
Firstly, you should opt for an energy-efficient boiler. If your boiler is old and outdated, a new boiler installation could make a huge difference. Boiler repairs and maintenance are essential for maintaining peak performance. However, replacing older models that cannot meet the high standards of more modern energy-efficient models is likely much more worthwhile.
Once you are equipped with an efficient model, you should schedule annual boiler servicing. This is key to detecting issues before they become bigger problems. During a service, any dirt will be removed to avoid corrosion and your engineer will check your boiler is setup in the most efficient way. To prevent your boiler from seizing up, avoid prolonged periods without use. In the warmer months, turning your heater on for 15 minutes once per week can help keep it running effectively and avoid breakdowns.
Bleeding your radiators will also improve their heat efficiency, further helping to keep your energy bills low. If bleeding your radiators does not appear to help, they may require a power flush.
Work With Our Boiler Experts
If you need an experienced team of boiler engineers you can trust, choose Kiasu Workforce. High-efficiency boiler installation and regular boiler repairs are crucial to improving your energy efficiency. But these tasks should only be undertaken by certified experts. Our GasSafe engineers always provide exceptional service, and with no call-out charges or additional travel costs, there is no surprise we’re the go-to boiler repair company for many properties across London.
Learn More About Boilers And Energy Efficiency
Have you checked out our blog? We have many valuable articles on facilities management and property maintenance. Here are a few of our top picks for learning more about energy efficiency and reducing your energy bills:
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