A House works as a System
The house system is a combination of mechanical and physical components whose operation affects the other parts of the home. When all parts are functioning the house is comfortable, safe and efficient.
The law of heat flow dictates that heat will always flow towards a region of lower temperature. The greater the temperature difference the faster the movement. Heat travels by convection, conduction and radiation. Conduction is the most common and best known method of heat loss.
Natural convection occurs when the movement of liquid or gas is caused by density differences. For example, warm air rises because it has a lower density than the surrounding air, and cool air drops when it is denser that the surrounding air.
Approaching the house as a system of interactive parts, the savings mount and we avoid creating health and safety issues. Air sealing and insulating a home reduces the heating and cooling load. A replacement furnace in a sealed and insulated home can be smaller than the existing furnace. The initial price of the smaller unit is lower, and the long-term operating costs will be less. Air sealing and insulating reduce load on heating and cooling appliances, making it possible to downsize equipment. Smaller equipment costs less to purchase and operate.
One common problem with roof/ceiling systems is condensation and staining on the ceiling surface. This is due to moisture condensing on cold surfaces, which is often caused by recessed lights that leak air or are not well insulated. The solution is to make sure that all penetrations through the ceiling are sealed to prevent air flow and insulated to prevent temperature differentials.
Ice damming and roofing material damage can be caused by improper attic ventilation. This can be prevented by installing attic baffles at the eaves to maintain ventilation. Baffles also prevent wind from flowing through the insulation, which can reduce its R-value.
One solution is a high-performance window whose energy performance properties are rated by the NFRC, the National Fenestration Rating Council. The NFRC ratings provide energy performance information on factors such as glazing type and gas fill. This will help in selecting the right windows for a particular kind of house in a given climate.
We’ve transformed from an agrarian society to an industrialized one, and from an active outdoor lifestyle to a sedentary indoor one. Instead of weekly baths, we now take daily showers. Our outdoor water sports have now turned into “enjoying hot tubs”, or having multiple showerheads in the shower, or sitting in saunas, and wading in indoor pools.
The way we live, and use energy and resources, has changed.
Learn about WETT Inspection for Barrie. Stop by the Barrie Home Inspector’s site where you can find out all about Certified WETT Inspections for Barrie.
Author: Roger Frost
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