"Honestly, sealing windows and doors helped me too, but the dehumidifier was the game changer on those sticky days..."
Totally agree with you on sealing things up—made a noticeable difference in my place too. But I'll say this: pairing a smart thermostat with the dehumidifier really upped my comfort level. Mine adjusts the AC based on humidity readings, so it doesn't just chase temperatures blindly. Took some tweaking at first, but now it's dialed in and my place feels consistently comfortable without that clammy feeling...worth looking into if you're into techy solutions.
Smart thermostats definitely help, especially if you're dealing with humidity. I've had mine for about two years now, and at first I wasn't convinced it was worth the extra cash. But once I figured out how to set it to prioritize humidity over temperature alone, things got way more comfortable. Before that, my AC would run constantly trying to hit a specific temp, but I'd still feel sticky and gross.
Also gotta give props to whoever mentioned sealing windows. Did the same last summer—grabbed some weather stripping and caulked a few suspect spots—and was surprised how much easier my AC seemed to handle hot days after that. Honestly though, pairing all these little tweaks together is what really made the difference for me. It's never just one thing...it's finding the right combo for your place.
Good points about humidity control—I hadn't thought of prioritizing humidity over temp settings. Curious though, has anyone noticed a significant difference in energy bills after switching to smart thermostats or sealing windows? I've done some basic sealing around doors, but wondering if investing more time into window sealing would noticeably cut down on monthly costs...or is it mostly just comfort-related?
"Curious though, has anyone noticed a significant difference in energy bills after switching to smart thermostats or sealing windows?"
I've wondered about this myself. We installed a smart thermostat last year, and honestly, the savings were noticeable but not exactly life-changing. Maybe around 10-15 bucks off our monthly bill? It's something, sure, but not the dramatic drop some of the ads promise.
As for sealing windows, I'm still skeptical. I mean, I've done some basic caulking around ours too, and while it definitely made the rooms feel less drafty (comfort-wise it's a win), I haven't really seen any obvious savings on our energy bills. Could be because our windows aren't super old or drafty to begin with...maybe if your windows are older or single-pane you'd notice more of a difference?
One thing I've been wondering lately is whether heavier curtains or thermal blinds might actually do more than sealing alone. Has anyone tried that route and seen noticeable changes in their heating/cooling costs? Seems like curtains would be easier (and cheaper) to experiment with than fully resealing or replacing windows...
We switched to thermal curtains last winter, and honestly, they made a bigger difference than I expected. Didn't exactly slash the bill in half or anything, but rooms felt warmer and cozier...plus they're way cheaper than new windows. Worth a shot if you're on the fence.