If your AC isn’t up to the task of keeping your home cool this St. Louis summer, or your HVAC system is underperforming, and you don’t want to replace it, you’ve got other options to stay cool besides replacing your AC. Below are five home performance options to look at before you start shopping around for that expensive HVAC installation, with added benefits of energy efficiency and improved air quality as well.
1. Practice House Burping During Cool Periods
House burping is the practice of opening up all your windows at least once per day to let out stale air and exchange it with fresh air. If you can time this for cool parts of the day, such as early morning or late at night, you can also exchange cooler temperatures before sealing them inside, relying less on air conditioning.
2. Replace Air Filters and Get Ducts Cleaned
If your AC or HVAC unit is struggling, it might not be to blame. If you haven’t been replacing or cleaning the air filters in the unit, or if it’s been too long since the last time your home’s air ducts were cleaned, you’re losing efficiency there as well. Doing these can breathe new life into your ventilation system in these summer months.
3. Improve Your Home Insulation
Home insulation, especially in the attic, can provide a quick and cost-effective solution to reduce spaces in your home that the AC struggles to cool while at the same time blocking heat from those spaces from entering the rest of your home. Learn more about what to look for in our article, Improving Attic Insulation in Your Home.
4. Get Air Sealing Done
Another efficient solution to reduce air leaks that let cool air out and hot air in is air sealing. Air sealing, like insulation installations, is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency options for home performance. Learn more by reading our post, What is Home Air Sealing and Do I Need It for My House?
5. Whole House Ventilation
Similar to house burping, a whole home ventilation system is a fan-based system that exchanges the air in your home, typically through a vent in the attic or crawlspace. These systems act like automated house burping, without the need for you to open windows during hours you’d rather be asleep and cool.
Your St. Louis Home Performance Experts
At Greenmark Home Performance, we believe that every homeowner should be able to stay cool without expensive HVAC replacement. We’ll start with a home evaluation to diagnose your issues and offer the best solutions, from air sealing and insulation to ventilation solutions and more. If you’re in the St. Louis area, schedule an evaluation today or call us at (314) 845-9144 to get started.
