Climate control tips for attics and basements
Here are some climate control tips for attics and basements. In an effort to improve the enjoyment of a home, heating and air conditioning is a must in most areas. The rule of thumb is that it costs more to cool a home than to heat a home.
A goodly 6-inch layer of insulation, which is rolled or blown in, is a good beginning. The recommended insulation level for an attic is R30+. A good way to see if the attic has good insulation is to look at it when there is snow. An attic with good insulation level will have slow snow melt. This proves the heat is staying inside the living space and not rising to the attic to melt the snow. Also the insulation is keeping the heat out of the home in the hot weather.
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A log home will often have R40+- insulation level due to the logs' built-in insulation ability.
Most new home construction includes at least 2 vents for circulation in the attic. There are a couple additional items recommended for climate control in the attic.
There are attic fans that are set up to help control the temperatures in the attics also.
One new style utilizes solar power to cool the attic and help cool the living space. Available research reports that solar power cooling can reduce the cost of cooling by 75% to 90% during the hot season. The maintenance costs savings for this solar system range from 80%-90%. For a middle range home with cooling uses for 5 months a year, this savings can pay for the solar system in a short time compared to the price of central air conditioning systems.
Some claims include the statement that this new Sun Tunnel fan will reduce cooling costs and protect the structural strength of the roof by venting the attic well.
A whole house fan will cool the whole home is a claim of another company. Their claim is that the cost of electricity for a central air conditioner can use more than 6000 watts an hour. The company making this assertion is available at www.wholehousefan.com.
An older home can be seen as a `leaky building'. There are slits and perforations in ceiling materials, which allow heat to rise into the attic. If there is any roof insulation, then this heat is trapped in the attic. A home that includes a humidifying system will be sending both expensive cool air into the attic as well as humidified air sent up there. The money lost in this leaking climate control effort can stagger the imagination.
An example of this kind of problem is when the heated air is forced through the walls, which causes peeling paint, rotting framing and condensation. If the air returns located in the basement are leaking badly, then the air returning into the living space can include poisonous combustion and soil gasses. Poor floor insulation adds to this problem allowing these gasses to come up to the living area.
Some older homes especially, develop damp stagnant areas in the basement due to the humidified air in the return air ducts. Forcing this damp air into the walls and carpeting can cause some mold and mildew. Also these are unhealthy areas for the family.
Using vents in the basement to remove moisture can lessen this problem. There are good solar cooling vent systems for basements, which will improve the quality of the air in the basement and lower the leaking from basement to main floor.
This also will make less destruction in the wood framing in the basement if it is dryer. Ceiling fans and movable fans also help to clear the air and dry excess moisture. Also a convection heater in areas like basement family rooms will help with this destructive moisture buildup.
These are some good climate control tips for attics and basements. The biggest thing is to find where the air is coming in, and then finding out how you can stop it.
