It’s been a slower start to summer this year, but experts are predicting hotter-than-average temperatures throughout July and August.
Here are Flair’s tips for preparing your home for the warmer weather that’s on the way.
Check Your Insulation
Insulation has the biggest impact on HVAC efficiency. If your insulation is old, or worn out, it will force your HVAC system to consume more energy, leading to higher energy bills. Proper insulation is essential for keeping your home cool in the summer. According to NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association), 90% of homes in the U.S. don’t have enough insulation. Think back to winter - did you notice your walls, floors and ceilings were cold to the touch? Did you feel drafts, notice ice dams or have frozen pipes? These are indicators of poor insulation and fixing it could keep you more comfortable and cut your HVAC operating costs.Schedule a Tune-Up for Your HVAC System
Some things are best left to the professionals. We recommend having a HVAC technician inspect your system, clean the coils, and replace any worn-out parts to ensure your system is running at peak efficiency. A struggling system can significantly impact energy use and make it difficult to get to, and maintain your preferred temperature. The cost of a tune-up (~$130 on average) can be quickly offset by more efficient energy use.Seal Air Leaks
Here’s one for the DIYers. Air leaks can significantly impact cooling costs - all that precious conditioned air leaving your home via cracks and openings. Check for air leaks in common trouble spots: doors, windows, baseboards, and electrical outlets, and if needed, apply caulking and weather stripping. Caulking is best for small gaps between unmovable objects, weatherstripping is best for objects that move like doors and windows.Cringe at the thought of doing it yourself? You can get an energy assessment done on your home by a qualified technician. They can depressurize a home and reveal the location of leaks - if you’re getting a professional to check your insulation, they can often check for air leaks at the same time.
Install Window Treatments
This is a simple, but often overlooked solution. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows, and in the cooling season, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. If you haven’t already, consider installing awnings, curtains, blinds or shades on your windows. Choose light to medium colors that reflect more sunlight, and keep them closed on hot days. There are many options specifically designed for energy efficiency, like thermal lining fabric, thermal coating, blackout lining etc. Honeycomb cellular shades are considered to be the most energy efficient window covering (and they are super easy to open and close). Flair recommends against slat style window treatments, like venetian, wood and vertical blinds as the openings cause large heat and cold loss.Install Flair Smart Vents
When airflow is imbalanced, you get uneven temperatures across the home and overheat or overcool other spaces just to get one room right. That's where Flair comes in. Smart Vents adjust room-by-room airflow to even out temperatures and avoid excess energy use, making you more comfortable and saving you money.
To truly make sure everyone in your home is comfortable all summer long, replace your existing floor, ceiling, or wall vents with Flair Smart Vents, and leave the automation to us. Our Smart Vents open and close to direct airflow to specific rooms and adjust the temperature accordingly. They work with your existing thermostat (ecobee, Honeywell, Nest, and more) and can be installed in minutes - it’s as simple as taking out your old vent and dropping in a new Flair Smart Vent. Flair’s Comfort Calculator takes out the guesswork—determine the best Flair system for your home in minutes.
Preparing your home for summer is essential for staying comfortable and keeping your energy bills under control. By checking your insulation, scheduling a tune-up for your HVAC system, sealing air leaks, applying window treatments, and installing Flair Smart Vents, you can ensure that your home is ready to handle the heat.
