Top 7 tips for keeping your home cool this summer

AlexanderWatson said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

You forgot to mention the fact that the majority of heat transfer comes from float/toughened glass in windows and inefficient aluminium/steel frames. Filling the gaps around poor windows and glazing wont help much.

Close but no cigar… Single glazed windows with aluminium frames that allow thermal bridging aren’t ideal by any means. However, if you have gaps around windows, doors, downlights etc, air leakage will always be your enemy. Air leakage also affects air conditioners that recycle air by effectively increasing the amount of fresh hot/cold air they are trying to cool/heat which makes them work harder and cost more money.

Here’s a haveacrackathome example for you… Grab two eskies, one top of the line and the other a supermarket special. Put a bag of ice in each. Put both lids on but leave the lid of the expensive esky open about 10mm. Pop them both in a similar location out of direct sunlight and see which melts first. This should give you a rough comparison of how something with poor conductive heat resistance and no air leakage compares to something with great conductive heat resistance and some air leakage.

My money’s on the air tight supermarket special.

Interesting example but probably way too back yard – A 3mm singled glazed aluminium window has a U value of around 6 – A lot of canberra has this standard. A double glazed unit in a timber frane has a U value around 2. This means heat penetrates the window 3 times faster in a typical home. I would argue that perhaps a supermarket cooler is not a 1/3 as efficient as a premium model. In addittion the opening size is probably way out of proportion when compared to little holes around a window. But still a clever example of the value of creating a seal.

By all means seal up your windows but it will only get you so far. There is no way that it can account for such a drastic difference in performance. If cost is an issue the best move is to shade your glass from any direct light and heat gain. Lourves, outdoor blinds, pergola’s and grape vines. This would have a much bigger impact.

We have a large tree shading part of our home – it really helps the level of heat gain in that section of the home.

AlexanderWatson said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

You forgot to mention the fact that the majority of heat transfer comes from float/toughened glass in windows and inefficient aluminium/steel frames. Filling the gaps around poor windows and glazing wont help much.

Close but no cigar… Single glazed windows with aluminium frames that allow thermal bridging aren’t ideal by any means. However, if you have gaps around windows, doors, downlights etc, air leakage will always be your enemy. Air leakage also affects air conditioners that recycle air by effectively increasing the amount of fresh hot/cold air they are trying to cool/heat which makes them work harder and cost more money.

Here’s a haveacrackathome example for you… Grab two eskies, one top of the line and the other a supermarket special. Put a bag of ice in each. Put both lids on but leave the lid of the expensive esky open about 10mm. Pop them both in a similar location out of direct sunlight and see which melts first. This should give you a rough comparison of how something with poor conductive heat resistance and no air leakage compares to something with great conductive heat resistance and some air leakage.

My money’s on the air tight supermarket special.

Once you have thrown open the windows over night and received some lovely cool breeze, the double glazing will retain the cool air inside the home. Air leakage is, of course, a concern and is a no-brainer. Shutting your heavy drapes creates the feeling of a cave. I know I would prefer to be able to look through my windows.

I am pleased you are offering this service and would be keen to talk to you about this.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

You forgot to mention the fact that the majority of heat transfer comes from float/toughened glass in windows and inefficient aluminium/steel frames. Filling the gaps around poor windows and glazing wont help much.

Close but no cigar… Single glazed windows with aluminium frames that allow thermal bridging aren’t ideal by any means. However, if you have gaps around windows, doors, downlights etc, air leakage will always be your enemy. Air leakage also affects air conditioners that recycle air by effectively increasing the amount of fresh hot/cold air they are trying to cool/heat which makes them work harder and cost more money.

Here’s a haveacrackathome example for you… Grab two eskies, one top of the line and the other a supermarket special. Put a bag of ice in each. Put both lids on but leave the lid of the expensive esky open about 10mm. Pop them both in a similar location out of direct sunlight and see which melts first. This should give you a rough comparison of how something with poor conductive heat resistance and no air leakage compares to something with great conductive heat resistance and some air leakage.

My money’s on the air tight supermarket special.

‘Cold enough for you?’

Napoleon Bonaparte, 1812

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

You forgot to mention the fact that the majority of heat transfer comes from float/toughened glass in windows and inefficient aluminium/steel frames. Filling the gaps around poor windows and glazing wont help much.

You go to war with the army you have.

I hope his equipment has a special monocrete setting…I think my house would break his special doodahs.

We found that having thick blinds and curtains has made an enormous difference.

You forgot to mention the fact that the majority of heat transfer comes from float/toughened glass in windows and inefficient aluminium/steel frames. Filling the gaps around poor windows and glazing wont help much.

Infrared camera? I want one?

If they’re so damn expensive, why are normal cameras so cheap to make that you can find all sorts at your local Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, etc.??