Living in an area that varies between weather extremes means that we switch from running the furnace to the air conditioner with little break in-between.
We need to start up the furnace by the end of October.
We combat temperatures well below freezing and down to twenty-five below zero until sometime in May. By June, we’re relying on the central cooling system full-time. The energy consumed by the furnace and air conditioner add up to about 50% of the entire household energy demand. The cost of temperature control is a big part of the budget. Because of this, I’m constantly looking for new ways to prevent waste. I’ve taken every precaution to tighten up the house. I’ve installed new exterior doors and windows that are Energy Star rated and meticulously caulked and weatherstripped. I’ve added insulation to the walls, ceilings, attic and crawlspace and invested into a smart thermostat. I installed ceiling fans that work to force the warmer air toward the floor in the winter and encourage it up and out during the summer. While my strategies have helped to somewhat trip our monthly bills, I’ve also eliminated natural ventilation. Because we rarely get to open a window and welcome in a fresh breeze, the house becomes horribly stale and stuffy. We experience insufficient humidity in the colder months and far too much humidity during warmer months. I finally hired a local HVAC contractor to install a ventilator. The ventilator works 24/7 to draw the stale air out of the house and replace it with fresh air. It greatly improves indoor air quality. The house stays cleaner and there are less problems with humidity.