What’s wrong with this picture? The thermostat is located on a wall almost on top of a chimney chase. The metal chimney buried in the wall has waste heat in the pipe from a furnace and water heater. Some of the heat is going to come through that wall and impact the temperature that the thermostat is “sensing.” In the winter, the thermostat may get “satisfied” too quickly turning off the furnace before the home is properly heated. In the summer with the AC is running, it could lead to over-cooling of the home (as the water heater is still using this chimney). This situation is going to impact the perception of comfort in the home.
When you have an energy audit on your home or building, you just never know what you will learn. In nearly every building, there are always “surprises” like that come up. What’s going on with your home? Give us a call, and we can help!