We're blessed with a pretty good climate here in the South Bay: wet, cool winters and mostly dry, warm summers. In between, it's not too bad either and so it's never all that challenging to feel comfortable. That said, there are always a few additional things you can do to make yourself comfortable any season.
Tips for Boosting Home Comfort
1. Keep your air filter changed.A clean air filter promotes good air flow in your HVAC system. In the summer, that means it does a better job of removing moisture from your home so you don't feel warm and sticky. Too-humid conditions prevent adequate evaporation of perspiration, so it's harder to cool off and we end up turning down the thermostat to feel cooler -- and using more electricity.
2. Use a good quality pleated air filter. Cheap air filters will just adequately keep larger particles of dust and dirt out of your HVAC system. A better quality filter will also remove airborne pollutants that can trigger allergies and asthma attacks.
3.Seal air leaks in your home. Using a lit incense stick, go around your home and find air leaks around windows, doors, electric switches and any opening to the exterior of the house. Plug them up with insulation, weatherstripping or caulk to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
4. Install ceiling fans for greater comfort. Sometimes you can eliminate too-warm spots in your home -- places where the air conditioning just doesn't seem to cool adequately -- by adding a ceiling fan to the room and stirring up some breezes. They are relatively inexpensive and use very little electricity.
5. Install bathroom and kitchen exhaust ventilation. Exhaust ventilation in the dampest areas of your home will move moisture and stale air outdoors (make sure it's not being exhausted into the attic). This decreases chances of mold occurring; exhaust ventilation also improves your general indoor air quality.
Visit the Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, including home comfort, or just give us a call at (408) 868-5500.