How do you ensure that the indoor air in your home is healthy? Is it better to ventilate, air or purify the air? And what is the difference between these different approaches?
Ventilating, airing and purifying
The house is a place where daily activities are as numerous as they are varied. We cook, wash, sleep, breathe there. It’s where we live! However, we tend to forget that all these activities pollute our home’s indoor air. Scientific studies even show that the air we breathe at home is, in some cases, up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. The result? We develop allergies, are tired, and suffer from many other complaints. That’s why it’s important to adequately replenish the air in our homes. Okay, but how do we do that? Is it better to ventilate our homes, air them or purify the air? And what is the difference between these methods?
By no means the same thing!
The verbs to “ventilate”, “air” and “purify” are not synonymous when it comes to the replenishing your home’s indoor air. They do describe three ways of refreshing the air, but there are subtle differences:
Ventilating: Ventilation of a residence is acontinuous process that takes place day and night. Using a ventilation system, stale indoor air is extracted from the home and replaced with fresh, healthy air. Ventilating your home allows you to get rid of allergens, moisture and microbes that are present in the air.
Airing: airing is a temporary measure that consists of creating an air current inside your house. When you open your windows and/or doors, the stale air is extracted and carries with it the harmful substances it contains.
Purifying: to purify your home’s indoor air, you will need an air purifier. This electrical appliance removes bad odours and harmful substances, often causing allergies, from the room in which it is installed. Using Streamer technology, ions are propelled into the stale air and transform the harmful substances into proteins, which are then removed by oxidation.
Which is the best technique?
When we find that a room lacks oxygen or smells musty, we usually open a window, thinking that the air will be properly replenished. However, this is far from being the case, particularly in new builds and recently renovated homes where the level of insulation is extremely high. To remedy this problem and ensure effective replenishment of the indoor air, the most effective solution is therefore to ventilate your home correctly. To do this, a ventilation system is essential! All of Daikin’s ventilation systems also use heat recovery, so that the fresh air that enters the home is always warm, unlike the air that enters through an open door or window. So there’s no need to turn up the heat when you’re airing a room and worry about your next energy bill.
Do you want to be sure you are breathing the purest air there is? That’s why it’s advisable to combine your ventilation system with an air purifier. This device optimizes well – being and purifies large volumes of air without emitting any noise. Daikin even offers devices combining air purification and humidification ensuring you are breathing air at the ideal humidity level.
When should you air your home?
In principle, installing a ventilation system and/or an air purifier will relieve you of the need to air your home, but an additional supply of fresh air may still be useful in some cases:
When you have just used paint, glue or other chemicals in your home.
Every morning, after you get up.
When you organize parties with lots of people present.
In these few cases, airing your home for a quarter of an hour is more than enough. Leaving your doors and windows open any longer could cool your home’s walls, which would require more time to heat them up again (and will also cost you more money). Don’t forget to turn off the heating either when you air your home, to help save the environment and money on your energy bill.
With storms and lower temperatures taking over, you shift your activities indoors for warmth and comfort. But what to do if you live in an old house that lacks a proper heating system? Or you might want to reduce the use of heating units because of the high energy cost this winter as electricity has increased by 6.5%, and natural gas is up by a whopping 25%. Are you worried your HVAC unit can break down unexpectedly in the middle of a cold afternoon, making it quite challenging to survive the chilly weather?
In any case, it’s essential to learn how to warm up your room without a heater before you are caught in an emergency situation. Let’s look at 18 valuable tips to help you keep your space as toasty as possible.
1. Switch to Smart Heating
If you are looking for ways to stay warm without a heater just because of the high electricity bills, then shifting to smart heating would solve your problem.
You can use a smart thermostat or a smart AC controller that works with mini-split, window, or portable units. They allow you to remotely control your unit using your phone and maintain your ideal room temperature.
These smart devices solve all your winter woes. With next-gen features, you can make sure you are not running your heat pump unnecessarily. For example, if you forget to turn your unit off when going out, it will automatically turn off using the geofencing feature. You can set schedules to avoid running your unit all the time. Plus, you can keep track of your heat pump usage. You can see your daily, weekly, and monthly usage patterns in the mobile app. This can help you make any necessary changes to lower your electricity bill.
2. Harness the Power of Sun
One natural way to stay warm without heat is to open the curtains and blinds first thing in the morning. The bright sunlight will help warm up your room in the cold weather. The natural vitamin D from the sun rays will also help counter winter blues and lift your mood. Plus, the UV light from the sun kills most of the harmful germs and improves indoor air quality. To maximize the amount of sunlight reaching your room, trim back the tree branches and remove any other obstructions. You can close the drapes at sunset to retain the warmth accumulated during the day.
3. Use Curtains to Retain Warmth
Opening the blinds in the morning will let the natural light in which will warm up your room. At night, you would want to retain that heat as much as possible. Using curtains, blinds or shades can be highly beneficial. Thermal curtains are specially designed to trap air between the different layers of fabric, creating a barrier of hot air that provides an insulating effect. This means that the temperature outside will not impact your room temperature. The blackout shades are another option that provides insulation and helps trap in hot air. Thus, thermal curtains or shades can help keep your room warm without a heater.
4. Weatherize Your Windows
Cold drafts coming through gaps and cracks in windows can severely impact your room temperature. Insulating your windows is the best solution in frigid temperatures. You can seal all the air leaks with caulking. Next, apply weatherstripping between the window frame and sash to prevent cold air from seeping in. To increase your window’s ability to retain heat, try covering it with a window film. In the end, hang curtains or draperies to minimize further heat loss.
5. Start Cooking or Baking
Cooking or baking not only adds a nice aroma to your home but also radiates heat to the surrounding rooms. After you are done baking, turn off your oven but leave its door open. The hot air spreads in the nearby area, giving off a toasty feeling. The hot steam from boiling water or pasta can also help warm up your room without a heater.
Note: Do not turn on the stove or your oven just to heat your home. A gas appliance gives off carbon monoxide, which can be lethal.
6. Use a Hot Water Bottle
Thinking of how to stay warm without heat? Well, you can use a hot water bottle under the sheets when it’s time for bed to have a comfortable sleep. Even when you are doing some office work or reading a book, you can keep a hot water bottle with you as it will keep on radiating warmth for quite some time.
7. Utilize the Shower Steam
If it’s possible, try keeping the door open while taking a shower. This will transfer heat from the hot shower and help to warm up your room without a heater. Plus, it will also increase humidity levels, making the air less dry and more comfortable.
8. Layer Your Clothing
When you don’t have heating equipment, you can focus on keeping yourself warm by layering on clothes. Use a thermal base layer, then put on an insulating layer such as a sweatshirt or hoodie as a middle layer. You can put on clothes made of fleece, wool, or cotton as the last layer. As heat is lost through your hands and feet, slip on thick socks and add on warm mittens. Top everything off with a woolen cap.
9. Warm Up Your Bedding
Have you ever thought about blow-drying your sheets? Probably not. It’s an uncommon tip but nevertheless quite functional. The short bursts of hot air from your dryer can quickly warm up the sheets. You can do this every night before going to bed. Just make sure to remove it safely, use the equipment and unplug it after use. You can also try a bed heater that is specially created to blow air under the sheets, but it can be an expensive option. Also, invest in a good quality blanket to retain all that warmth. Go for a down – filled blanket as it traps the heat, or use an electric blanket. Make sure to follow the safety tips with electric bedding.
10. Add a Floor Rug
In addition to being used as a statement piece for your room, a floor rug can be used in winter to prevent heat loss through the floor. It can add underfoot warmth to the tile, wood, or concrete floor, providing a warmer surface to sit or walk on. When choosing an area rug for your room, consider its size and depth. A thicker and larger rug provides more protection against cold. A loosely woven rug will have more space in-between and won’t offer enough protection, so go for the one with a high stitch count.
11. Use Draft Stoppers
A draft stopper, also known as a draft blocker, is a thick material that acts as a barrier between the outside and inside. When the weather gets chilly, you can use a draft stopper at the bottom of the window frame. You can also place them under your room doors to prevent drafts due to air exchange from the outside environment. You can roll a thick towel and use it as a draft blocker, or you can buy a specially designed one; it’s totally up to you. However, a dedicated one will give your room a neat look.
12. Focus on Insulation
When it comes to heat, a surprising amount is lost through the gaps or cracks in your roof, walls, windows, and doors. However, you can minimize this loss by focusing on home insulation. Find air leaks around your room and use caulking to fill them up. You can use different types of insulation, such as spray foam insulation to fill in the wall’s cavities and foam board insulation for the floor and ceiling. Seal any openings in the exterior wall of your room with expanding foam to reduce cold air from seeping in.
13. Inspect Your Roof
Heavy snow and rain can pose damage to your roof. This results in cold air infiltrating your room through roof leaks and affecting your room temperature. Inspect your roof and check if any shingles are broken. You can repair the damaged shingles by applying roofing sealant underneath the cracks. If any shingles are missing, then you will have to start looking for a new roof.
14. Use a Humidifier
Warm air holds more moisture than cold air, so naturally, the humidity levels go down in the winter months. Having dry, cold air in your room can be uncomfortable, especially if you have allergies or asthma. A humidifier is a simple yet powerful solution. It adds moisture to the air and helps combat dry winter air in your house.
15. Seal the Air Leaks Around Electrical Outlets
Have you noticed a cold chill while plugging in your appliances? You may be unknowingly letting the drafts enter your room and affecting the room temperature. The culprit is your electrical outlets.
Use an outlet insulator – it is a foam sheet that you can place behind the outlet plate to block the drafts.
16. Reverse the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan
Most homeowners use a ceiling fan in counterclockwise rotation to create a cooling effect in summer. Similarly, you can use your ceiling fan in the winter to push down the warm air gathered around the ceiling. You will just have to switch the direction from counterclockwise to clockwise to warm up your room without a heater. Most fans come with a switch at the base that you can use to change its direction. If strategically placed, a ceiling fan can even draw in hot air from an adjacent room that has a heating source installed, keeping it warm.
17. Move Your Bed Away from Windows
Rearranging your room’s furniture to warm it up might not make sense, but there’s a logical explanation. The window glass cools down during the night, leading to cold air near the window. If your bed is right next to the window, you will feel cold, affecting your sleep. Plus, if your windows are not insulated, incoming cold drafts will further exacerbate the issue. Try shifting your bed in the opposite direction, away from the windows, to stay warm without heat.
18. DIY Your Own Heater
When you don’t have an electric or gas heating system, you can DIY your own heater to make your room warm and cozy. A simple terracotta heater can work; you just need some candles and clay work to start heating your home. If that’s not an option, you can also try an alcohol heater made with isopropyl alcohol, a metal can, and tissue rolls. Another option is a DIY solar heater that uses the sun’s natural energy to warm up your room. Creating this one will require some time and effort, so keep that in mind. Keep these heaters out of the reach of children and pets and follow all the heating safety tips.
Warming up your room without a heater can be tricky, but tips such as sealing air leaks to prevent cold drafts, letting the sun in, and using thermal curtains to retain heat can be highly beneficial. Moreover, in freezing weather, switch to smart heating to maintain comfort and save on heating costs.
Apart from addressing the root causes of a high electric bill, there are a few additional steps you can take to reduce your bill even further.
1. Invest in a Smart AC Controller or a Smart Thermostat
Heating and cooling costs make up a big chunk of your total electricity bill. Smart AC controllers can help you get AC costs under control through useful features such as geofencing, humidity and temperature triggers, usage tracking, etc.
2. Always Unplug Unused Appliances
Many modern – day energy appliances don’t shut down when given the command. Instead, they enter standby mode so they can power up quickly the next time you need to use them. The problem is that if you leave these devices plugged in, they will continue drawing energy. Over time, this energy usage adds up, leading to sky – high electric bills. So the next time you are wondering why your electric bill is so high, walk around your house and look for any unused devices still plugged in.
3. Turn Any Fans or Lights off When You Leave the Room
Many people believe that lights and fans don’t use much energy, so they don’t bother turning them off when they exit the room. However, if you routinely leave ceiling fans and lights on, you will have a high electricity bill. So make it a habit to check any lights and ceiling fans when you leave a room. You will notice a difference in your electricity bill soon enough.
4. Invest in an Electricity Usage Monitor
If you think an appliance consumes excess electricity, a watt meter or electricity usage monitor is your best friend. An electricity usage monitor helps you determine how much electricity an appliance uses. Plug the monitor into an outlet, and then plug your appliance into the monitor. Then, run the appliance for 24 hours. The monitor will tell you its electricity consumption for 24 hours. Multiply that figure by 365 to get an idea of your yearly cost. An electricity usage monitor can help you understand why your electricity bill is so high and where you need to reduce usage.
5. Keep Your Fridge Full
Turns out, always keeping your fridge full of food can actually be good for your wallet! Food acts as insulation and helps your fridge keep food items cold. Every time you open the fridge door, you introduce warm air into it. If you already have a lot of chilled food items in your fridge, they will retain cold air and that warm air will have less of an effect. On the other hand, if your fridge is always empty, the large amount of warm air that enters every time you open it has more of an impact and it has to work harder to keep cool.
Why Is My Electricity Bill So High All of a Sudden?
If you already follow all the tips given in this article, yet your electricity bill has suddenly skyrocketed, there could be a few reasons:
6. Electricity Leak
If your bill is suddenly higher than usual, an electricity leak could be to blame. An electricity leak occurs when electricity flows to the earth through the earth wire, usually due to faulty wiring. An electric leak can be expensive and dangerous. If you turn off the main breaker for your house and your electric meter is still showing electricity consumption, you may have a leak. If you suspect a leak, contact a licensed electrician immediately. Do not attempt to fix it yourself as you can get a nasty electric shock.
7. Rising Inflation
Your electricity bill may sometimes increase for reasons not under your control. If there is overall inflation in the country, naturally, your electric bill will also increase. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do in this situation. However, you can be even more diligent about not wasting electricity and reducing your consumption as much as possible.
8. Someone Could Be Stealing Your Electricity
A sudden unexplained increase in your electricity bill could be caused by pilferage. Switching off the main breaker is a simple and easy way to determine if someone is stealing your electricity. Contact the power company immediately if your electric meter continues showing electricity usage. They will send a technician to resolve the issue.
Which Appliances Use The Most Energy In A Home?
Heaters use the most energy in a home. They account for the highest percentage of a home’s total electricity consumption. Water heaters and cooling appliances are the second and third biggest consumers of residential electricity, respectively.
Does Unplugging Appliances Save Electricity?
Yes, unplugging appliances does save electricity. The average household has 40 products constantly drawing energy. Combined, these can amount to 10% of total residential electricity use. High electricity bills are a source of great financial stress and hardship. With these tips, you can reduce the burden on your wallet and benefit the environment. It’s a win – win! Start implementing these tips and enjoy big savings in no time!
The HVAC industry has massively progressed since the invention of the first electric furnace in 1861. From burning wood to next-gen AI-based automated heating systems, the race toward highly intelligent, fully automated HVAC technologies is still on. New players are entering the scenario and taking the game of innovation to the next level. Technology is without a doubt a major contributor to the growth of the HVAC industry. It is playing an important role in satisfying the growing demand for energy-efficient solutions. The global HVAC system market is expected to grow from USD 202 billion in 2020 to 277 billion by 2025.
While the initial development in HVAC technology focused on mechanical advancements and increased efficiency, the current focus has also majorly grown towards sustainability, comfort, and energy-saving. This is extremely important considering the current impact on our climate and the rise in demand for efficient heating and cooling systems. Let’s take a look at some of the latest advancements in technology that are taking the present day HVAC system towards a brighter future.
1. Smart HVAC Technology- Automation is the Way Forward!
Think of your air conditioner automatically turning on exactly 15 minutes before you reach home from work. Whether you achieve this through scheduling or geofencing, smart technology offers ample convenience allowing you to set triggers and control your HVAC system from your mobile device. With these Wi-Fi connected devices, you don’t even need to be home to send commands to your unit!
Smart ACs, smart controllers, and programmable thermostats offer numerous benefits. Along with comfort and convenience, you can achieve energy savings by setting triggers to activate your HVAC unit exactly when you need it. This ensures that the unit would not be running unnecessarily throughout the day and thus saving energy.
With smart technology, completely automated homes are also becoming a reality. Now, your HVAC unit can be connected with other smart appliances in your home and behave automatically based on climate conditions, preferences, and settings. As an example, when it’s sunny and hot outside your blinds may turn halfway down, the AC may turn on a cool, low fan setting to preserve energy while your ceiling fan can turn on to circulate air at low power. Moreover, you can also give voice commands to your air conditioning unit. All appliances can be interconnected and adjusted according to each other!
2. Geothermal HVAC Systems – Sustainable Technology
Sustainable or green technology is the talk of the present and the future. In the HVAC industry, this means keeping the natural flow of air in mind and relying on a more efficient system.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are an excellent option to start reducing your carbon footprint. Their major emphasis lies on naturally cooling a house using heat pumps, water, and an underground piping system. They exchange heat with the ground and no refrigerant is used, which makes them highly environmentally friendly.
During winter, the heat from the ground is absorbed and transferred into a building while in summer the heat is transferred to the ground after being absorbed from the building. Geothermal systems are expensive to install but they deliver double to four times the efficiency of other systems.
3. Ductless HVAC Systems – Efficiency & Savings
Energy efficiency is the key to the HVAC systems of the future. Ductless systems are quickly becoming the system of choice as they are super efficient and their installation does not involve extensive ducts. This makes them easy to install and cost effective.
Another benefit of ductless systems is their zoning capability. In the case of a ductless system, you do not need to heat or cool an entire home, but you can simply heat or cool a particular zone. These systems are very efficient with great seasonal efficiency ratings.
Ductless HVAC systems can be installed from moderate temperature zones to harsh temperature zones. The already efficient ductless system can be made more efficient by the use of smart AC controls. These smart AC controls are brand and type independent and you can control your ductless system from anywhere. Moreover, users can benefit from intelligent smart AC features such as geofencing, scheduling, comfy mode, and more.
4. Thermally Driven Air Conditioning – Go Solar
Thermally driven air conditioning is a new HVAC technology picking up on the need for sustainable systems. It provides an energy-efficient cooling method and can be used as an alternative to traditional air conditioners. Instead of electricity, this system utilizes solar energy for cooling, and if unavailable then natural gas kicks in. This completely eliminates electricity costs!
While this HVAC technology is not extremely widespread, it is a great glimpse into an eco-friendly future. Thermally driven air conditioning systems remove heat with evaporation at low pressure. They are extremely effective and efficient however a high temperature (around 350F) is required to generate electricity from the solar panels.
A dual fuel heat pump is an excellent system for homes in areas where the electricity rates are not too high and during winter the temperature does not fall below freezing point. This advanced HVAC technology utilizes a combination of a gas furnace and a heat pump to provide efficient, cost-effective heating and cooling.
If the outdoor temperature is above 35 degrees, the heat pump utilizes electricity to pull in heat from the outside air. This is extremely cheap compared to firing up the furnace. Although, once temperatures are below 35, gas is used to create heat for higher efficiency.
When the weather is cool, such as in spring, the dual fuel heat pump comes in handy to distribute air. Even during summer, the heat pump circulates the refrigerant through the furnace’s air conditioning coil to blow cool air! This system has a high upfront cost but this can be recovered through energy savings over the next few years.
6. Zoned HVAC System – Customize Temperature According to an Area
An HVAC zoning system divides a house into different areas, each of which can be individually controlled by a separate thermostat. Different temperature settings may be required in different parts of a home and by utilizing zoning you can achieve the best temperature for each area. This is especially important to decrease usage in empty rooms. Zones can be applied to central air conditioning systems, VRF systems, or ductless systems. Zones can easily be installed in existing systems also by utilizing a zone control panel. Apart from the latest innovation in HVAC technology, the latest trends in HVAC service and service delivery are also helping both the service providers and the end-users. Here are the latest trends in HVAC service delivery:
7. Predictive Maintenance – Stay Alert
Predictive maintenance, utilizing IoT and AI is revolutionizing the upkeep and maintenance of HVAC technology. HVAC repairs, maintenance, and installations can be extremely costly. Nobody wants to go through unnecessary maintenance nor take on the hassle and cost of fixing an issue. This makes it imperative to stay alert and be able to predict when maintenance is needed before a serious issue arises!
Smart HVAC technology senses data on air quality and equipment status to be able to predict the right time for maintenance. This helps to fix any problem or indication before it has already occurred and caused serious damage. Other than monetary benefits you can greatly benefit from improved air quality at all times and better comfort and a safer home with predictive maintenance!
8. HVAC Energy Analysis Software – Make Informed Decisions
Energy analysis software can be extremely useful in helping owners or constructors to implement the most efficient and least costly HVAC system. This software can analyze and predict a building’s lifetime energy use and calculate savings in comparison to other HVAC systems.
Furthermore, previously HVAC users had to keep a check on their bills, energy consumption, and other related data manually. It was a hassle but with the advancement of HVAC technology, analytical software helps you to stay on top of any data related to your HVAC system. Through various software, you can check your energy consumption and track the efficiency of an HVAC system. This is greatly helping consumers make educated decisions concerning their HVAC system and cut down on energy costs.
9. Virtual Reality – Training for HVAC Professionals
While viewing advancements in HVAC technology, it is also important to note the developments in technology for training HVAC professionals. In an era where you can get assistance from HVAC professionals remotely, HVAC professionals can also benefit from technology and can be trained for exceptional circumstances through virtual reality.
Virtual Reality training has proven to be cost-effective for organizations because professionals can first use virtual components and develop their skills before moving to the real world. It doesn’t only save money but saves time as well. With the help of a virtual simulator, technicians can look into the process of installation of the HVAC system or troubleshooting of the new system. A large group of people can be trained through virtual reality in lesser time and with less equipment.
Furthermore, for advanced or dangerous technology, VR training also provides safety for beginners. It can also be a great tool to practice real-life, dangerous situations. Virtual reality is not the only application for training, it’s growing to find its purpose in many more use cases also!
The Future of HVAC Technology
From manual buttons, dialers, remote controls to controlling your HVAC system via voice commands, technology has come a long way.
HVAC is bound to embrace new technologies. The smart home trend is here to stay. AI in the form of machine learning is going to thrive. Fully automated, super-efficient, self-learning and sustainable HVAC systems are the future. Optimization in every aspect of the supply chain is the new normal.
Which is the best technique?
When should you air your home?
Why Is My Electricity Bill So High All of a Sudden?
8. Someone Could Be Stealing Your Electricity
