Ahhhh, late spring in Alabama—the days are getting longer, the grass is greening up, and the familiar hum of air conditioners running almost drowns out the sounds of birds chirping. You may have already noticed your home getting a littler warmer or your air conditioning working a little harder to keep your home comfortable these last few days, even after a spring HVAC tune-up. As the sun warms up our roofs during the day, attic temperatures can easily get into triple digits, even on a mild day. And as I’m sure we all remember from physics class, air likes to move from hot to cold. That means the 120-degree-plus air in your attic wants creep into your house and keep that lovely hum of your AC going well into the night.
Having an attic that is well insulated AND properly air sealed is a cost-effective and minimally-invasive way to protect your home from the dog days of summer that are right around the corner. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to have your duct systems checked for leakage, too. Even if your HVAC system is running at peak performance, leakage in your duct system could mean that cold, conditioned air is being lost to your hot attic (or basement, garage, or crawlspace) and not it into your home. It would be like getting your vehicle’s oil changed, only to discover a flat tire shortly thereafter.
We want to make sure that the “vehicle” delivering that nice, cool air into your home (the ductwork) is perfectly sealed. We also want to make sure that the pathways between the hottest part of your home (the attic) and the conditioned space are properly sealed so that we keep that nice AC in, and the hot attic air out. Then, making sure your attic is well insulated means that your home will hold the desired temperature for longer periods of time. And all these things together make for a more comfortable and efiicient home.
Whether you have a one-level rancher, a muti-story craftsman, or a split-level bungalow, your home most likely has an attic space. And as a resident of Alabama, that attic is going to get hot. Call Eco Three today to find out how we keep that heat out of your house and make your home cool and cozy for the summer.