Items filtered by date: Wednesday, 04 November 2020
Thursday, 05 November 2020 10:19
8 Ways to Eliminate Cold Spots in Your Home
If you have cold spots in your home, you might be wondering what causes them and how you can solve them. Let's take a look!
What Causes Cold Spots?
There are a few different things that can lead to cold spots in your home (or warm spots in the summer). The first is whether your ductwork was properly designed and installed. A surprising number of homes have ductwork systems that were installed incorrectly or just plain poorly designed by the builder. Other factors include how much direct sunlight your house gets, how many windows you have, the amount and quality of your insulation, how well air circulates through your home and your floor plan. Any one of these factors can cause cold spots in your home.
How to Eliminate Cold Spots
Here are 8 ways you can help eliminate cold spots in your home.
1. Look for drafts - Drafts can cause cold spots to form anywhere you have a window or door with a broken or cracked seal. Re-seal windows and doors with caulking and make sure weatherstripping is tight and secure to avoid drafts in your home.
2. Check the vents - Make sure no vents are blocked by furniture or other objects. Make sure all vents are open and working properly.
3. Use a multi-zone heating system - A multi-zone heating system uses several thermostats to create zones in your home for which the temperature can be adjusted independently of the other areas of the home.
4. Have your insulation checked - Insulation makes a big difference when it comes to cold spots in your home. If you've never done so, have your insulation inspected for missing or inadequate insulation that could be allowing cold air to collect in an area.
5. Have ducts cleaned - If you have pets, if you've recently renovated or you've just never had it done, it might be a good idea to have your ducts cleaned. Dust and other debris can build up in ducts and obstruct air from flowing properly. This can cause cold spots in your home.
6. Use space heaters - Always follow safety directions when using space heaters. Using a space heater is a simple way to help chase away a persistent cold spot in your home.
7. Consider a ductless system - If you have a whole room that is one giant cold spot, consider whether installing a ductless system to heat and cool that room might be right for your home.
8. Have an HVAC tune-up - Your HVAC system could be in need of a servicing and maintenance appointment. This tune-up appointment cleans the system and checks that everything is in good repair, including your belts, bearings, motors, blowers and more. Making sure your HVAC is working as optimally as possible is key to eliminating cold spots.
Cold spots in the home are frustrating. It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of the cold spot and a bit of trial and error to figure out how to solve it. We hope our advice on eliminating cold spots helps you find and solve your cold spot problem. If not, Carolina Comfort Systems is just a phone call away. Our technicians can help you solve your cold spot conundrums and get your whole home feeling comfortable again.
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Thursday, 05 November 2020 10:12
Prep Your Home for Cooler Weather
Cooler weather is coming to the Myrtle Beach area very soon. Now is the time to prep your home for cooler weather. Here are some things you can do to get ready for the chill.
1. Reverse ceiling fans - If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, changing it to run counter-clockwise will push warm air down (since warm air rises). This is especially important if you have high ceilings in your home.
2. Check the roof - Use your binoculars to check out your roof. Look for missing, damaged or loose shingles that should be repaired. You can also choose to have a professional roof inspection.
3. Clean the gutters - To protect your roof and underlying structures, clean the gutters. Leaves and other debris block water from draining properly, causing it to back up and cause damage to your gutters, siding and roof. It can also cause leaks and ice dams.
4. Prevent ice dams - While it doesn't happen often, we do sometimes get ice storms or icy weather here in South Carolina. Ice dams form over areas where you have missing or inadequate insulation in your home. If you've never had your insulation inspected, now is a great time to do so.
5. Check for drafts - Check around windows and doors for drafts. Caulk and replace weatherstripping as needed to get rid of drafts and re-seal windows and doors.
6. Prep external plumbing - Turn off exterior faucets and water lines, drain and store hoses and install insulation around exposed water lines outside and in the garage or other cold areas to prevent frozen pipes.
7. Clean the fireplace - If you have a fireplace, have it professionally cleaned and inspected to ensure there is no harmful build-up to prevent chimney fires and CO poisoning. This will also give you peace of mind that your fireplace is in good working order before you use it for the season.
8. Test your CO detector - Check and test your carbon monoxide (CO) detector and change the batteries. Check it monthly during the winter months to ensure it is working properly all winter long.
9. Get a tune-up on your HVAC - Prep your furnace or heat pump for the colder weather by having a professional servicing and maintenance appointment. Regular maintenance not only reduces wear and tear to extend the lifetime of your HVAC but also helps find small problems before they can lead to a major breakdown on a cold winter night.
Prepping your home for the colder months does take some time and effort but the results are well worth it. You'll have peace of mind that your home is prepped and ready to handle those cool temperatures while keeping your family warm and cozy.
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