Comments on: Our House Isn’t Keeping Heat In As Well This Winter http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:57:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Caleb http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-560783 Caleb Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:52:43 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-560783 I agree with Craig. I think that you may just need to upgrade your insulation. I am an HVAC contractor, and I run into this problem all of the time. Allot of times in older houses and buildings, the insulation, even the sprayed insulation, is just old. How long ago was your upgrade? That probably has a lot to do with it. Especially if you can see a difference from last winter. Caleb (<a href="http://www.blueprinteconomics.com" rel="nofollow">Blueprint Economics</a>) I agree with Craig. I think that you may just need to upgrade your insulation. I am an HVAC contractor, and I run into this problem all of the time. Allot of times in older houses and buildings, the insulation, even the sprayed insulation, is just old. How long ago was your upgrade? That probably has a lot to do with it. Especially if you can see a difference from last winter.

Caleb (Blueprint Economics)

]]> By: CanadianKate http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-560593 CanadianKate Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:40:10 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-560593 You are right to think about building up around the basement. My dad's family used to 'bank' the house for winter. They'd put bales of hay against the foundation and then dirt over that in order to block the cracks in the foundation. When we had our heat off (we put it on November 11) there was one day when the main level was too chilly and I had to use the fireplace. I went to the basement which was warmer than upstairs. (I believe that is the only time the basement has ever been warmer than upstairs.) I asked my dh if he'd been running the heater and he said no. We concluded that the basement, being below grade, wasn't affected by the high winds that day so had held the heat from the previous day plus had some solar gain. Upstairs, the solar gain was offset by the wind. We have resolved to bury as much of our next home as possible. We hope to find a lot facing south on the side of hill so we can build the house into the ground on 3 sides. You are right to think about building up around the basement.

My dad’s family used to ‘bank’ the house for winter. They’d put bales of hay against the foundation and then dirt over that in order to block the cracks in the foundation.

When we had our heat off (we put it on November 11) there was one day when the main level was too chilly and I had to use the fireplace. I went to the basement which was warmer than upstairs. (I believe that is the only time the basement has ever been warmer than upstairs.) I asked my dh if he’d been running the heater and he said no. We concluded that the basement, being below grade, wasn’t affected by the high winds that day so had held the heat from the previous day plus had some solar gain. Upstairs, the solar gain was offset by the wind.

We have resolved to bury as much of our next home as possible. We hope to find a lot facing south on the side of hill so we can build the house into the ground on 3 sides.

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-559150 Tricia Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:26:33 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-559150 Kimberly - actually, you may be onto something... hmm... Kimberly – actually, you may be onto something… hmm…

]]> By: Craig http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-559068 Craig Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:48:35 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-559068 It may be costly but you could upgrade your insulation. There are new techniques that help out a lot and keep the cold out. http://www.tigerfoam.com/?gclid=CIG447SX_5YCFQtZHgodxzRXYg Craig www.budgetpulse.com It may be costly but you could upgrade your insulation. There are new techniques that help out a lot and keep the cold out. http://www.tigerfoam.com/?gclid=CIG447SX_5YCFQtZHgodxzRXYg

Craig
http://www.budgetpulse.com

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-559060 Kimberly Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:37:22 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-559060 Don't you have less stuff than you used to? You know how a fridge or freezer keeps its cool better when it is full? Maybe your house held its heat better when it was full. :) I'm being silly, but you never know... Don’t you have less stuff than you used to? You know how a fridge or freezer keeps its cool better when it is full? Maybe your house held its heat better when it was full. :) I’m being silly, but you never know…

]]> By: MadeMistakes http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/11/our-house-isnt-keeping-heat-in-as-well-this-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-559016 MadeMistakes Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:05:37 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1819#comment-559016 Too bad about losing the trees, unfortunately we don't get a say in what our neighbours do sometimes! Good luck finding those drafts, I know I have a few in my house too - good tip about the incense! Too bad about losing the trees, unfortunately we don’t get a say in what our neighbours do sometimes!

Good luck finding those drafts, I know I have a few in my house too – good tip about the incense!

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