Why AC Maintenance is Essential for Year-Round Home Comfort

Is your home drafty during the winter? Do some rooms seem colder than they should be? Many homeowners assume these issues are strictly related to the furnace, but consistent AC maintenance and attention to your HVAC system’s integrity are vital for year-round climate control. To understand why your home loses its “precious” heated or cooled air, it is important to remember some fundamental rules about air movement.

Air Density and Your HVAC System

Heat energy causes molecules to move and bounce around. Solid ice molecules move and become water; water molecules move more and become steam. Air molecules that absorb heat begin moving more quickly, which changes their density. Hot air rises, while cold air becomes heavier and drops.

This principle is why professional AC maintenance includes a thorough check of the entire building envelope. If your attic is poorly insulated, your indoor heat travels unimpeded through the ceiling. Approximately 25% to 30% of heat is lost through a poorly insulated attic. Local building codes generally call for insulation between R-30 and R-36.

Equilibrium and the Building Envelope

The volume of air inside a home must remain constant. Because the building envelope is rigid, it cannot expand like a balloon. Any air that enters from the outside will displace the air already inside. This is why a home with holes in the envelope feels drafty and forces your system to work harder, highlighting the need for seasonal AC maintenance to ensure your unit isn’t overstressed by these leaks.

You can test your home’s integrity using these steps:

• Trace the Drafts: Use an incense stick on a windy day to trace the outline of windows, doors, and outlets. (Avoid open flames like candles near curtains).
• Identify Gaps: Watch for where the air moves the stream of incense.
• Apply Sealants: Use caulk, weatherstripping, or insulated faceplate seals. If you compiled all the tiny gaps in an average home, it would equal a 3” to 12” hole in the wall.

The Role of AC Maintenance in Air Distribution

During a standard AC maintenance visit, technicians don’t just look at the cooling coils; they inspect the systems that move air year-round.

• Sealing Ductwork: Warm or cool air is forced through ducts under pressure. Even tiny gaps allow conditioned air to escape into attics or crawlspaces before it ever reaches your living room.
• Combustion Air: Homes with gas-powered furnaces often have components that bring in outside air for combustion. Proper maintenance ensures the heat exchange function is working to prevent massive heat loss.
• Filter Health: A dirty filter restricts airflow, disrupting the equilibrium of your home and causing the system to pull in “unconditioned” outside air through any available crack.

Other Measures for Efficiency

• Fireplace Care: Close the damper when not in use or explore an inflatable chimney balloon to stop heat from escaping up the flue.
• Wall Insulation: While harder to access than the attic, updating wall insulation during a remodel (moving from R-11 to R-13 batts) can significantly reduce the load on your HVAC system.

Regular AC maintenance ensures that your system is calibrated to handle the specific airflow needs of your home. By sealing the envelope and keeping your equipment in peak condition, you can stop “precious” air from escaping and keep your utility bills in check.

Call Northwind AC to Assist with Your Heat Loss Questions

Don’t let hidden drafts and poor air distribution compromise your comfort and drive up your energy bills this season. The experts at Northwind Air Conditioning and Heating and Heat are ready to perform a comprehensive evaluation of your system to ensure your building envelope is secure. Schedule your professional AC maintenance today to see how we can optimize your home’s efficiency. Call us now to book your appointment and experience the difference that expert care can make for your year-round comfort.