4 tips to feeling more comfortable at home

Being comfortable at home goes beyond warm paint colors, throw rugs, and window treatments. While many of these decorations may make your space more inviting, it might be a wasted effort if you’re physically unable to fully relax in your own house. There are fewer things more disheartening than being uncomfortable in your own safe space. Many people don’t realize that the purpose of an HVAC system is to do more than just heat or cool the air — it’s designed to increase overall comfort and improve indoor air quality. Below are 4 ways to help you feel content in the homestead.

Manage humidity to be more comfortable at home

Excessive indoor humidity can make your home muggy, leaving your body feeling sweaty. A properly functioning HVAC system should dehumidify the air as well as heat and cool it. A humid home may suffer from foggy windows and unpleasant odors.

If your HVAC is running and your home still feels muggy, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

• The HVAC system does not have a dehumidifier or it’s not working properly
• The system is the wrong size
• The ductwork is leaking

If you’re wondering why your home feels damp, it’s probably a good time to schedule an inspection of your HVAC system. Use a qualified technician to ensure all problems are found and solved properly.

Upgrade to a programmable thermostat

The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30% and 50%. With a programmable or smart thermostat, homeowners can set the exact times and temperatures for the most comfortable HVAC operation. Some systems can even control the humidity levels for you.

Also, make sure to set the thermostat to “AUTO” and not to “ON.” With the “ON” setting, the fan runs all the time, which recirculates humid air instead of drying it out through the normal HVAC cycle.

Improve air quality

Your home may look like it could be a feature in Better Homes & Gardens, but for anyone suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions, it may be far from comfortable. Boosting the indoor air quality of your home can make it much more pleasant and healthy.

The following quick and inexpensive upgrades can help improve indoor air quality:

• Add indoor plants and beeswax candles to naturally purify the air
• Increase the ventilation to rid the house of harmful pollutants
• Frequently change your HVAC air filters
• Keep humidity levels between 30% and 50%

Want to be more comfortable at home? Install solar shades

Lastly, consider installing solar shades will keep your home cooler by preventing direct sunlight from entering it. Solar shades reduce heat, glare, and UV radiation, making them eco-friendly and efficient.

Many homeowners like solar shades because they protect from the elements while also maintaining a connection to the outdoors. Some tech-savvy shades can even be set to automatically open and close at certain times of the day!

A few last words

At the end of the day, your house should feel like a home, a place where you feel comfortable.

If finding the right temperature and humidity seems like an uphill battle, it may a good time to contact an expert. A local, qualified technician will be able to easily inspect your HVAC system to diagnose any problems and fix them immediately, thus restoring balance to your household.