Every year around this time, Canberra gets its annual heat wave and the mercury hits around 40 degrees. Its something of a blessing in disguise to be able to go back to work, and the refuge of an air conditioned office only to dread going home to your sauna-like house. There are a few easy steps to make it more bearable.
Here’s Alexander Watson’s top 5 tips that you can do this weekend to keep your house cooler next week.
- 1. Seal up gaps around windows, doors, exhaust fans and downlights. Stopping air leakage in summer keeps the warm air out for longer and helps refrigerated air conditioners work more effectively. Draft sealing tape and door attachments can be found at your hardware store relatively cheaply. Around $50
2. Shut your home up during the day and open it up at night to flush out the heat. Unless you have evaporative cooling, remember to turn off your air conditioner once you start opening windows and doors. You cannot afford to cool the ambient temperature of Canberra with your reverse cycle system.
3. Use shade sails and external blinds wherever possible, particularly on western facing walls and windows. Stopping the heat before it enters your home is much more effective that trying to deal with it once it has entered your home.
4. Install roof ventilators to get rid of the hot air in your roof and take the pressure off your insulation. The cooler you can get your roof space the cooler your home will be. They’re easily installed if you’re a bit handy and can be picked up from your local hardware store for around $150 or get one installed through a company like us for $250.
5. Arrange a thermal imaging analysis to identify exactly where heat is entering your home. Thermal imaging will pick up gaps in insulation, windows and any other areas that radiate excess heat. Ensuring that you have adequate ceiling and wall insulation without ANY gaps. Canberra homes should have R5 ceiling and at least R2 wall insulation. A 5% gap gives a 50% reduction in insulation performance! A quick look in your roof will tell you if it can be fixed. Look for gaps in insulation
Alexander Watson specialises in energy efficiency audits and upgrades for existing buildings. They’re also locally owned and operated.
This month only, Alexander Watson are offering free home energy assessments with thermal imaging (normally valued at $99).
Thermal imaging cameras seek out hot spots caused by missing insulation and air leakage behind your home’s walls, ceilings, ducts and plumbing. This causes your home to leak heat while you waste money and energy on more heating and cooling.
Contact Alexander Watson on 6100 3645 to book a free home energy assessment with thermal imaging analysis today.
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