Why Your New Build isn't Automatically Comfortable

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Moving into a new house feels amazing, right? Like, you’re walking through those rooms thinking about where the couch goes, what color to paint the walls, and how good your kitchen’s going to look once you finally unpack the blender. All of this is super exciting, especially for newly built houses, because you usually don’t have to worry about seasonal disasters like you usually do when it comes to older houses.

But even with all of that said, there’s still an issue here; it’s the comfort aspect of all of this. Yes, older houses are already known for sometimes not being that comfy, but yeah, it can technically happen to some older houses, too. While sure, that doesn’t immediately cross a person's mind, eventually that reality is going to set in. Maybe it's one specific room in the house that’s freezing, or one that feels like a sauna, or maybe you’re just struggling with the thermostat for some weird reason.

Just generally speaking, not all newly built homes are automatically comfortable, and, well, like any house, it’s a matter of trying to make it comfortable and figuring out how to do it ASAP because the extreme temperatures start happening outside.

It Might be the Filters

Most people don’t even think about the air filter, but it’s usually the first thing working against you. Builders often pop in the cheapest filter they can find, and if it’s been sitting through weeks of construction dust, basically, it’s already gross before you move in. How about that “new home smell”? 

Well, half of it is just drywall dust blowing through your vents. So you just need to swap it out right away. But really, a fresh filter does more for your comfort than that new throw blanket you just bought.

What’s the Thermostat Settings?

Well, to be more specific here, do you know the settings for your thermostat? Is it a smart thermostat? Well, a lot of new builds come with basic models that are fine, but not great. Sure, sometimes it’s a smart thermostat, sometimes not. But anyway, it might be a smart decision to look into upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat (one that’s actually easy on you). But looking into this keeps everyone a little happier and helps with the energy bill, too.

How’s the Airflow Looking?

New house, new ductwork… so everything should be perfect, right? Well, not always. Airflow can be tricky; sometimes you need to reach out to air conditioning and heating professionals, sometimes you don’t need to. It just depends on how your ducts are. 

But if the vents are placed so that one room gets blasted while another barely gets a breeze, then you obviously have a problem. The same goes for vents being placed in weird locations, like directly next to windows (because window treatments go over the windows). But it helps to just take a lap around the house, and see if there’s anything you can personally do about it (ideally before you put up furniture