Comments on: One chilly Monday morning

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:06:33 +0000

Somehow I missed this post. We have a rather large drafty house (with old metal framed windows upstairs that we can't afford to replace just yet.) Last year we discovered something that cut our gas bill in half even though the gas prices more than doubled. Instead of trying to cover the windows with plastic we covered them with plastic shopping bags (which though ghetto are free) and then we took down the curtains and replaced them with multiple blankets. We also replaced all our light bulbs with full spectrum lights (I need to photosynthesize as my husband likes to point out.:)) This made the lack of indoor light from the blankets over the windows tolerable. We live in Western PA where the temp drops down pretty nicely and even though we have had snow for over a month the furnace is only coming on occasionally. Also, we wear fingerless gloves, socks, and hat most of the time.

By: Faith

Faith — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:05:32 +0000

It is so refreshing knowing others keep their houses cold! Sometimes I feel like we are the only ones and everyone thinks we're crazy! When I first got married I kept our heat low out of deference to my husband, but now I think I prefer it colder! (Although as I type this my hands and feet are freezing!)

Warm up tips: 1)Wool socks and slippers (I wear my husbands hunting socks). 2)Drink hot water as too much tea, even herbal, makes me feel dehydrated. 3)Blankets over large windows...very helpful!

4)Take some frozen produce that you've stored and can it(like jellies for gifts). A friend has done this with good results...and nothing warms up a kitchen faster than a boiling water canner!!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:16:55 +0000

Just a word of encouragement...our bodies are great at adapting. The cold is always shocking when it first hits, but after a few weeks, I'm just used to it. We only use central heat, but I never turn the thermostat above 60 degrees. I always make sure to open all of the blinds as soon the sun is up to soak up whatever heat that can provide.
I've done the rice bag thing too, but we recently got rid of the microwave, so I'm not sure if we'll be able to continue that.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:57:38 +0000

Others covered a bunch of the bases, but I thought I'd chip in with a product my husband found, though I don't think we can afford it.

eheat.com

By: Raven

Raven — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:55:31 +0000

Didn't see this anywhere-- but if you don't want to use rice packs in the oven, use a brick. The pioneers used to do this, you know. :) Potatoes work too! Just be careful to wrap them in a piece of flannel or somethin first. They warm up your toes (or bum, if you're sitting) nicely.

By: Liss @ Ordinary Exultations

Liss @ Ordinary Exultations — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:42:19 +0000

We live in an apartment, and although we're snugly surrounded by other apartments that help keep us warm, the windows are particularly drafty. Last winter I rolled beach towels and laid them on our windowsills. I could tell a big difference. I also make sure to close the curtains at night to help stop drafts.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:18:04 +0000

We have a few methods of heating that we usually use before we turn on the central heat, or to supplement it so it isn't running all the time. I try to do my baking and then put the baby gate in front of the kitchen, but leave the oven open to heat the rest of the house as it cools off.

We have gas logs that warm up the main living area incredibly quickly. We also use an electric heater in the girls room at night, but we have two kerosene heaters that are much more powerful if we need them.

We were caught in an ice storm a few years ago that knocked out power. With the kerosene heaters and the gas logs, I don't think we'd have a problem if it happened again.

By: jennP

jennP — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:14:10 +0000

My husband buy a certain type of tape and he lines around the window where the drafts come in. Its easy to take it off should there be an emergency, and we leave the patio door window intact. It is simpler and cheaper than putting up the big plastics and it does keep the drafts at bay.

He gets it at the hardware store, but right now, i forget the name.

By: Kellie

Kellie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:59:18 +0000

Hi there! We went without heat in Wisconsin for most of last winter. However, this was not because we chose to.:) More power to you, by the way. We got enough to fill one tank of oil in our equally drafty and freezing rental house from our church (thank Jesus!). It was especially cold last year, but I'm pretty sure we could have made it. We didn't get any heat until Jan and it was gone by mid Feb. We bought two extra space heaters and put one in the boy's room, one in ours, and one in the living room. We were extremely careful with the space heater in my son's room, but don't do this unless it's your last option. Like, if you can ACTUALLY AFFORD heat - get it instead. We sectioned off the kitchen that lead to the basement so the heat didn't escape. We also put plastic on every window and kept the bathroom door closed. But it was cold. And I am thankful this year that we have moved and can afford electric heat!! WOO HOO! Also - once you're done baking - if you can block it off from the kiddos - keep the oven open. It makes a difference. Oh yeah and candles make you FEEL warmer. And remember that most of your body heat escapes from your head... so keep a sleeping hat on - espcially on those munchkins!

By: Kel

Kel — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:09:30 +0000

To go along with the long underwear suggestions, have you heard of SmartWool? They have base layers that are very thin and close-fitting so that they can easily be worn under your normal clothes. Whenever we go camping in cold climates, they rarely leave my body! I'm not sure where they would be sold in your area, but you can always google them. Stay warm!