What the "Feels Like" Temperature Means For Your Home

Great home climate control means more than having a powerful furnace or air conditioner. Other factors influence the "feels like" temperature and the comfort of all residents in the home. Here is more information about those variables and tips for improving your home's climate.

Humidity

Humidity has a very direct effect on the "feels like" temperature. In order to understand why the apparent temperature is often different from the actual temperature, it is helpful to understand how humidity affects us.

High humidity makes temperatures feel warmer. This is because perspiration, which cools the body through evaporation, evaporates only slowly when the air is already heavy with moisture. Alternatively, when humidity is low, perspiration evaporates rapidly and you feel cooler.With this in mind, you will feel more comfortable by reducing home humidity levels in summer. A properly working air conditioner will reduce humidity levels to an extent. However, during the dog days of summer when humidity starts to soar, an air conditioner might not be enough for this purpose. When this happens, consider adding a dehumidifier. Dehumidifying the home can quickly make the "feels like" temperature several degrees cooler.

In winter, the same holds true regarding the warming affect of higher humidity. As humidity levels fall, you will feel chillier. By adding humidity to your home in winter, you will feel warmer and might be able to save a bit on heating costs.

Fans and Drafts

Flowing air is another factor that affects how you feel in your home. When air moves across your skin, it removes heat from your skin’s surface and you feel cooler. The principal is the same as the wind chill factor you’ve heard about on cold and breezy winter days. In summer, you will feel cooler when a fan is running and, in winter, you might feel overly cold in a drafty room. This, paired with your home’s humidity level, has a big influence on the apparent temperature in your home.

For more information about improving the "feels like" temperature in your Broken Arrow area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Oakozhan/Shutterstock”

When You Leave Home, Don't Lose Energy -- Set the Temperature Correctly

Is your thermostat set to the same temperature when you are away as when the family is home? A more energy-efficient setting during away times can significantly reduce monthly utility expenses. During the cold months, you can also set the temperature lower when everyone is asleep.If you have a programmable thermostat, the times can be set according to your programming instructions. The temperature can be set to automatically reduce at a certain hour and then increase to provide a higher comfort level when necessary.Advantages of a Programmable Thermostat

• Programming in advance – You are able to program your desired settings either in the beginning of the week, month, or even the start of the season. Most programmable thermostats have an override function in the event you need to make last minute changes

• Accurate readouts – The digital backlit display gives a much more accurate reading than the older dial-type thermostats. Newer thermostats have indicators for low battery and the latest models can even warn you if there is a malfunction in your heating and cooling system.

• Wireless control – You can access the thermostat by a smartphone from anywhere. If you are called away on a minute's notice and forget to adjust your settings, just use your phone to make the necessary changes from your location.

• Smart recovery features – Several programmable thermostats have the capability to bring the temperature to the desired level automatically. You just set the time and temperature. The thermostat will calculate the amount of time necessary to ensure the temperature is reached by the desired set-point time.

The main purpose of programmable thermostats is to help you save on energy expenses, while keeping an acceptable comfort level in your home. There are several types available with varying programming options. Savings in energy costs is possible without sacrificing the comfort of your home with the capabilities of today's thermostats.Please contact Air Assurance with any concerns about the correct way to set the temperature of a programmable thermostats for the maximum benefit. We have been proudly serving the Broken Arrow/Tulsa area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Oakozhan/Shutterstock”