Cold floors can be a constant source of discomfort during the winter. Fortunately, there are a number of approaches that you can take to warm them up, especially by choosing the right HVAC system.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
One of the major reasons your floors may be cold is that your HVAC system is not the right size for your home. Today’s modern equipment can provide super-efficient heating and cooling – which will help with keeping cold floors at bay – but only if the system’s capacity is calculated correctly.
When an HVAC system is too small, the system runs all the time and doesn’t keep the home cool or warm. When it’s too large, the system short cycles, running inefficiently, causing wear and tear on the equipment and costing you more on your utility bill. Your technician should gather extensive data during an on-site visit, and feed it into HVAC industry software to make the right calculations.
If it’s time for an upgrade — say your current system is 10 years old or more — you can benefit from some of the latest and most efficient technology offered with new HVAC equipment, such as a modulating furnace that adjusts operation as conditions change in the home, and condensing furnaces, which include a second heat exchanger that makes use of the heat from the exhausted water vapor given off by the first heat exchanger.
Keep Up On Maintenance
Be sure to change your furnace filter regularly. Make sure registers are clean and unblocked, and that ducts are connected and have no holes or cracks. Check the home for air leaks, adding insulation, caulk and weatherstripping as needed. Pay particular attention to baseboards.
Also, don’t forget to schedule planned maintenance for your HVAC system to ensure it is running efficiently. Your technician can give you valuable tips for keeping your home warm, such as running your ceiling fan blades forward to push the heat down from the ceiling.
For more on keeping your HVAC system running as it should, contact Jackson and Sons of eastern North Carolina. We can help with all your HVAC repairs, maintenance and upgrades.
