Keeping Up With the Cold

Living in Minnesota means developing a deep appreciation for all kinds of weather -not just the cold! But we really do design all our systems to accommodate the frigid temperatures we can see as the calendar turns from one year to the next.

So, beyond our HVAC system (you can read about our gas-free HVAC system here, and the one-year review here) and our solar array providing energy in sunny conditions if the grid goes down, there are a lot of things we do to separate ourselves from the cold. So many of our decisions revolve around doing just that.

Storm Windows and Doors

While most of my windows and doors are replacements (I promise, this was a previous owner!), the rest have storm windows and doors to help insulate the panes of glass.  Data from the Dept of Interior as well as data from the Belvedere School in Hannibal, MO shows that properly maintained historic windows with storms perform as well as modern windows!  They have the added benefit of being maintainable indefinitely: imagine doing a couple hours of work (or hiring someone local), and never needing to replace a window.  It’s a great system that keeps the energy in your home, and it doesn’t rely on creating large amounts of waste decade-over-decade.

Getting off my old-window-soapbox, my new windows are actually draftier than the old ones, so there are some additional things we’ve had to do to remedy this that will work for any window.  The biggest reason my replacement windows are drafty, is that the insert can never sit perfectly against the sill: there is always a leak underneath.  Since this is the edge that gets the least-or no-insulation, there isn’t a good way to remedy this without tearing apart the window stools.  Thank my kids for breaking a stool; I could see exactly why this spot is always so drafty.

One way to seal this or any other area is to add rope caulk or backer rod (rope caulk sticks, so it stays in place well) to any gap or crack where a draft can be felt.  This has been a major way we’ve sealed areas in our house, and even on extremely frigid days we’ve pushed it around our front door. As with any window, slowing heat loss also means just keeping heat away from windows.  Heavy drapes, even towels and blankets, can help a lot.  Silly though it may seem, we used bubble wrap on our basement for a long time: it helped insulate, and still let light in. Just be sure to check for and wipe any frost or condensation before the surrounding materials suck it up!

Space Heaters

These are definitely not aa favorite subject among heating and safety folks, but these can be extremely important to getting a room up to a comfortable temperature when the main HVAC is struggling, or if you want to save a few pennies on heating everything.  As with any heat-producing device, fire is always a risk, so I prefer to use some of the newer technologies that have some mechanisms for safety built in.

Knowing that a BTU is a BTU is a BTU matters a lot: while some space heaters list themselves for small rooms, and others for large, if the BTU or wattage rating is the same, the heat output is the same as well.  So, I’ve found myself with a few preferences for space heating, and where to put it.  Mostly, these are related to how well they move the heat, and the safety features included.

My favorites work in much the same way: I really appreciate the fireplace-style electric heaters, as these get both style points, heat-moving points, and safety points!  Otherwise, I prefer the small-space blower heaters for the heat-moving and safety features.  Since these are essentially the same thing but with or without a log set, I’ll write about these together (If you want to understand why I don't use the oil filled ones, Technology Connections did a much better job explaining this than I can write on YouTube).

First: they both have 1500w heating capacities, and can run on a standard circuit. The blower motors use a bit of that energy, but by pushing the heat away from the heating elements, rooms heat more quickly, and stay warm more easily than with other style heaters.  They both include heat-limit switches that shut the heater down if it cannot move heat (on oil-filled ones, this is why they cycle, but never seem to heat far away).  The small blower style ones have an additional disconnection switch if it gets tipped over.  I keep one of these in my crawlspace, and it prevents the pipes from freezing.  I two fireplace heaters, and have been really impressed with their ability to keep us comfortable.

Prioritizing Heat

If heating systems are truly struggling, just know that the most important thing is to keep things warm enough everywhere to prevent pipes from freezing. 54° is usually enough to support plumbing in a wall, but opening cabinet doors can help a lot as well. If plumbing goes through a basement or crawlspace, make sure heat is circulating there too. If there is no HVAC in some areas, a small space heater can help, or electrical heat tape designed for plumbing can be wrapped around and activated. Insulation around pipes can help too! And it is a very simple addition from the hardware store.

When HVAC struggles, lowering the target temperature can help the system find a balance that works well enough, then supplemental heat can be added in the rooms that are used to keep the temperatures higher where needed and lower when not needed; much like systems with multiple zones can do automatically.

It is always the easiest to bundle up our bodies than to warm all the air to a target: so adding new layers is a really important additional step: leggings and pajama pants can fit under most clothes, and long sleeve T-shirts work well under sweatshirts. Every little bit helps! But my favorites might be using wool and down: it breathes well, and is so comfortable in these cold days.  We’ve been adding everything from rugs to socks to blankets in wool, and using down anywhere we can feel the cold moving around. They’re great on the couch, even on the floor by our front door, and are definitely key between the mattress and the headboard., and no matter the overall temperature, it’s delightful.

In any case, this is a great season to bundle up and go full mammal: snuggle in, slow down, and save some energy. And on the days when it is nice enough, get out in the snow!