HVAC 101 For Apartment Dwellers

You may read “apartment dwellers” and assume we’re talking to mid-twenty somethings renting their first apartments in the city. But in Minnesota, retired empty nesters are coming back to the city to downsize in a cozy apartment. Why? Because who wants to take care a lawn no one plays in anymore? And for some, the city is a more convenient lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean that maintaining an apartment is any less easy than maintaining a house.

As more and more buildings are built in cluttered city spaces, the temperature outside the buildings decreases as the wind speed around the buildings increases. Meaning that maintaining heating and cooling in an apartment can be tricky. If you’re living in a middle or top floor unit, you may find that keeping your apartment cool is an issue, even during the cold weather as the heat from other units is rising into yours. But if you find yourself on ground level, you may be facing the opposite problem.

Unfortunately, you can’t always choose your HVAC system in an apartment. So if you’re living in an apartment, or looking to purchase one soon, here are some tips that might help you in the upcoming seasons -

• Winterize your windows and doors.

  • We love the charm of old buildings as well. But “charm” could also be coined as “needs a little work done.” The older your building, the more likely you’ll have leaky windows, doors, and even walls. Door and window draft guards can do wonders and save you money this winter.

• Insulation drapes

  • Insulation drapes not only keep cold air out during wintertime, but they can stop harsh sun rays from coming in during the summer. You can get the best of both worlds with this simple fix.

• Using a humidifier

  • Do you ever wonder why your skin and lips crack often in the winter? Because the humidity level in the air is so low! During colder seasons, perspiration evaporates more quickly. Combining warm air from your heater and a small amount of humidity can do wonders for your apartment.

Yes, even though you may not be able to control your HVAC system, you can do these few things to help it work at full capacity. And if your heating and cooling issues seem larger than a DIY project can fix, call us today! We are happy to help.