How to Considerably Improve Thermal Comfort at Home

A healthy, balanced and pleasant indoor temperature is for all homeowners a must-have and it’s often a challenge to optimize it. Most people often complain of feeling sudden bouts of chilliness coming over them and the temperature seems to be slipping away through invisible cracks.

If you fell the same, this simply means that the thermal comfort in your home has been compromised and to improve it, you need to consider several factors in order to prevent the loss of both energy and money.

Thermal comfort explained

Besides the air temperature itself, the indoor thermal comfort is influenced by the number and quality of your heat sources. Your level of comfort will surely be higher if you have a warm radiator near you. Moreover, air velocity is a big influential factor. Depending on the season, you will either wish for your home to be affected by the cool breeze or completely drought-proof.

Other important factors besides these are air humidity, clothing insulation and metabolic heat. All these aspects put together might seem overwhelming, but the solution lies in focusing on key factors. Don’t consider temporary solutions such as a hot shower or extra blankets, but rather get to the root of the problem. Regardless of the region you live in, improving the overall energy efficiency of your home is the best way to improve its thermal efficiency.

Thermal efficiency

When thinking of boosting thermal efficiency, your first goal is to minimize heat loss and maintain optimal temperature throughout the house. Proper insulation enveloping your entire home plays a crucial role so make sure when you shop for it, to choose only the top quality R-value.

Take time to properly assess the condition of your home insulation, install upgrades and do the necessary repairs, whether it’s in the crawlspaces, basement, loft, interior or exterior walls. Moreover, don’t skip the weakest link in the system – the windows. They are usually the biggest culprit when it comes to leaks, so you can either weather-strip them or replace them entirely. Climate patterns vary a great deal from one region to another, and depending on where you live, you might require different solutions. For instance, if you have double glazed windows installed in Perth, in combination with proper orientation and shading, you can make a significant difference in temperature levels and energy retention.

Heating and cooling patterns

An important factor in determining the radiant temperature in your home is your heating system. Its proper maintenance is crucial in ensuring the system optimal performance and reducing your bills. It’s imperative all the elements are working properly, from HVAC filters that impact the air quality and therefore the health of all family members, to the heater, dampers and diffusers.

Another thing to consider is installing a smart thermostat that regulates the temperature in the entire house even in your absence. You might also try shifting from a classic convection system to infrared panels, as they have shown better thermal properties. The reason for that is that the panels are not affected by air velocity and tend to have higher energy efficiency rating.

Finally, during the summer months, make an effort to improve ventilation as it can significantly raise your comfort level. Proper ventilation will rid you off excess hot air and reduce the need for further air cooling. However, ceiling fans and units are not the best solution there is, as they only mix the hot air that doesn’t have anywhere to go. Instead, make use of natural ventilation and air circulation as much as possible by removing obstructions such as closed doors and heavy window treatments and curtains.

Thermal comfort is an essential ingredient of an overall home comfort and it represents a synergy of several tangible factors. Take a clever approach by following the tips listed here and start making positive changes in your environment in order to increase your thermal comfort and decrease your bills.