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In many Tasmanian homes, sun rooms are often small rooms or closed-in verandahs that typically face north. As the name suggests they are usually the sunniest room in the house and are therefore often abandoned in summer because they are too hot and stuffy. Most people tend to gravitate toward the sun room at the onset of autumn and use it right through to spring as a warm and welcome retreat on a crisp cool day. But it seems a shame to waste a perfectly good room because of a little heat.
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The difference between a Heat Pump and an air conditioner
Technically they are both air conditioners but not all air conditioners are Heat Pumps. That’s because there are single cycle (cooling only) and reverse cycle (heating and cooling) systems. Single cycle air conditioners are usually less expensive to buy than a heat pump, so it may well be worth looking at one as an option for rooms that are easy to heat in winter but a real problem to keep cool in summer. Typically these are rooms with big north facing windows, sunrooms or upstairs rooms. There are plenty of smaller units available that may adequately do the job without breaking the bank. Ask an Aurora Preferred Supplier for advice.
Note: If your budget doesn’t stretch to an air conditioner, consider a ceiling fan.
If you want to warm things up when the sun goes down, pull closed the drapes (better insulators than blinds) and pull up a portable heater. Simple.
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Don’t let the warmth out
Insulation can save up to 40 per cent on winter heating costs. Or to put it another way, an uninsulated home loses you 40 cents out of every dollar spent on heating.
Based on those figures, insulating an average home will see a return on investment within five years. But if you happen to be thinking of moving within five years, bear in mind that insulation not only makes your home more comfortable (warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer) but it also may add dollars to the value of your home.
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Ceiling insulation
Most heat loss occurs through the ceiling. Usually when we think of roofing insulation, we think in terms of batts or blankets made from a variety of materials. These are readily available and you can easily install them yourself (just follow the directions on the pack) or employ a tradesperson to install them for you. Just remember, if you are attempting to do the job yourself, don’t forget to wear safety glasses, gloves, and clothing that protects your arms and legs. The minimum recommended level of ceiling insulation for Tasmania is R3.5.
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Floor insulation
Timber floors can also be easily insulated either using batts, blankets or reflective foil. Aurora Energy recommends R1.5 floor insulation. If you happen to be building or renovating, you should seriously consider insulating your walls. Be aware that the reflective foil that is put into the wall cavities of brick veneer or weatherboard homes nowadays is only a rudimentary form of insulation. The minimum recommended level of wall insulation for Tasmania is R1.5.
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Critical mass
Apart from using the standard insulation, you might also consider the types of materials used when building or adding to your existing home. Heavy materials such as concrete (for slab floors) and internal masonry walls have “thermal mass” that helps stabilise internal temperatures. So wherever possible consider using heavyweight materials especially if your home is of lightweight construction (i.e. timber floors and brick veneer or weatherboard walls). Insulating concrete slabs is also an option. Want to know more about insulation?
Proceed to our Hot Pink (Batt) insulation deal.
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