Page 16 - Hawaii Renovation - April 3, 2022

16 HAWAII RENOVATION
APRIL 3, 2022
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As many Americans have traded their work commute
for a home office, interest has focused on creating more comfortable remote workspaces. Ergonomic furniture, acoustic sound- boards and high-speed broadband technology are a few investments designed to make working at home more comfortable. But an overlooked opportunity for improving comfort exists in every room: a home’s air.
Temperature, humidity and particulates in indoor air can all threaten comfort. And given that the average person spends 90% of their life indoors, the quality of a home’s air isn’t regulated to working hours. In this
article, we share five ways to support a higher level of comfort in every season.
Get your ‘ducts’
in order
While today’s HVAC sys- tems are highly efficient, even the most advanced heating or cooling technol- ogy will not deliver its full value if attic ductwork is compromised. Energy Star reports that an average home loses up to 30% of the air that moves through its duct system due to leaks, holes and poorly connect- ed ducts. Tom Casey, chief visionary officer with Grif- fin Service and a frequent presenter at HVAC industry events, says ductwork can be the ultimate indoor air
quality accessory.
“You won’t address the
weakest link in a home’s HVAC system if particles from attic ductwork are simply filtered and blown out from the attic ducts through the registers again,” he says. “You’ve got to tackle the root cause.”
Assure adequate attic
insulation
More than 90% of homes are under-insulated, falling short of current guidelines for energy efficiency. Attic insulation provides an ef- fective resistance to the flow of heat from warm into cool parts of a home. Adequate levels of insulation can help keep hot attic air from infil- trating the conditioned area
of a home in summer; and restrict heated air from en- tering the attic in winter.
Practice good HVAC
hygiene
Change your furnace filter according to the manufac- turer’s directions and visual- ly inspect your filter monthly. If the furnace filter is covered with dust, changing the fil- ter is a good idea even if it has not reached the end of its anticipated lifespan. Not only will this support home comfort, changing the fur- nace filter regularly will re- sult in less wear and tear on HVAC equipment.
Look for warning
signs
Debris around a register or
increased dust in the home can indicate an HVAC prob- lem. Similarly, higher energy bills are a sign that air may be escaping due to holes in a home’s ductwork. Mention- ing these issues during rou- tine service visits can help troubleshoot issues that threaten comfort and energy efficiency.
Think “whole house”
Pearl Certification, a leader in energy certifica- tion, has partnered with the
Owens Corning® AirCareTM Contractor program to sup- port a “whole house” ap- proach that goes beyond equipment to evaluate and certify high-performing in- door environments. Select- ing an AirCare Contractor and certifying a home’s HVAC system brings a level of objectivity to assessing a home’s comfort and effi- ciency.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.
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