Homeowners often wonder what it is about their homes that influence how long it takes them to cool down or how much energy their air conditioners consume. In addition, some people make the mistake of assuming that their homes’ cooling load is completely out of their hands. The truth is that the cooling load of your home is affected by all kinds of factors, some of which are in your control and some of which are beyond it. Today we’re going to talk about the various factors that affect your home’s cooling load on a day-to-day basis and what you can do to ease the load on your air conditioner!
Factors out of your control that affect your home’s cooling load
- Temperature and humidity outside. As much as we wish for the contrary, we cannot control the weather outside. The higher the heat and humidity on any given day, the greater the cooling load of your home will be.
- Your home’s size. Unless you’re adding an addition to your home (which will increase your home’s cooling load), the size of your home is usually set in stone at the time you buy it. The larger your home, the bigger its cooling load will be.
- The direction your home faces. One often-overlooked factor when it comes to the amount of time and energy it takes to cool your home is the direction your home faces. Homes that face to the south or west are more susceptible to heat infiltration from the sun because they spend more time in direct sunlight, which increases their cooling loads.
Factors you can control that affect your home’s cooling load
- Air leaks. Although air leaks are common in many homes, they don’t have to be! Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning can help decrease your home’s cooling load by inspecting your home for air leaks and tightly sealing up any leaks that we find.
- Insulation levels. The better your home is insulated, the more it will resist outside heat from flowing into your home. That’s why having your home professionally insulated to the proper R-values can greatly decrease your home’s cooling load.
- Heat infiltration through windows. Windows often allow heat from the sun to warm up your home, but you can help control the amount of heat that flows through them. This can be done by closing your shades during the day or installing more energy-efficient windows, both of which will decrease your home’s cooling load.
- Heat-sources in your home. Many appliances in your home (such as your lights, dishwasher, dryer, and more) give off heat. One great way to decrease your home’s cooling load is to use these heat-producing appliances at night when there is less of a demand for cool air.
If you have any questions about factors that can affect your home’s cooling load, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles, MO, air conditioning company. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Dardenne Prairie, Des Peres, and Frontenac.
photo credit: Barefaced via photopin cc
