Questions tagged [winter]
The winter tag has no usage guidance.
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Heat Pumps that can add moisture to dry indoor air in winter
I heard that there are heat pumps in Germany that have the ability to add moisture to dry indoor air in winter. In Northern climates interior air tends to be far too dry, uncomfortable for skin etc.
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Heat pump stops operating too early
We have an Amana heat pump model ASZ140301. According to the manufacturers specs it's supposed to provide heat down to minus 5 celsius. I was installed about 4 years ago but has never run when the ...
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I'm trying to control heat remotely in a shop/garage that is subject to sub-freezing temps (which is OK with me when it is not in use)
I've learned that smart thermostats go into LO mode when temps drop below 35 and refuse to call for heat when in that mode. I've replaced the smart thermostat with a cheap mechanical thermostat that ...
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Warm spot on Roof + Attic Rotting
I had a contractor come in (failed the DIY part :() and inspect the roof. He suspects that the ice melter is bad and the moisture is coming from the bathroom exhaust fan. He fixed the holes and ...
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New build house certain rooms not holding temperature
I've lived in my brand new house for just over a year now. It is semi detached with 3 bedrooms (master with en-suite, 2nd similar size to master, 3rd small box room) and I am finding that my small ...
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How do you make outdoor wooden stairs less slippery in winter?
Outdoors, I have some wooden stairs leading up to my front door.
The wooden stairs are covered in high-gloss wood preservative. In winter, snow and ice are deposited onto the stair-steps. The bottoms ...
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Does ground faucet need to be covered in winter?
My house has two exterior faucets that come out of the ground rather than out of the side of the house. I live in North Texas.
When temperatures get significantly below freezing, should these be ...
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Insulating The House Windows for the NY (Long Island) Winter?
I've experimented around with room insulation before using bubble wrap over the windows, which was marginally effective, approximately doubling the small R value of the windows, this year, I decided ...
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How do I stop a rock planter wall from expanding/breaking over the winter?
We have a rock wall extending off of the front of our house that is used for growing herbs/flowers. As we live up north, the winters freeze the dirt and it begins to force the wall to bow out in the ...
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What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?
I found this message attached to a pipe in the first house I bought
Caution
Winter Drain Instructions:
Close valve in October before winter freeze
Open air bleeder valve on side of main valve
Open ...
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Which shower and faucet mixer valve type for seasonal cottages which are easiest to drain at end of season using the dry (compressed air) method? [closed]
I'm rebuilding an off-grid cottage in a location where it gets down to -10C to -15C in the winters. We don't heat the place in the winter wanted to design it so it's easy to drain the water at the ...
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Best way to remove winter humidity from an attached garage?
We live in the central USA, where temps are often below freezing for several months a time. We have an attached garage which is insulated, so usually stays above freezing due to heat coming through ...
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(When) Does room messiness affect water heater efficiency?
I have what I think of as a "standard US electric standby water heater." I will update this when I know the model; I am out of town right now.
It is located in a cold, cluttered closet in a ...
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Chimney Questions
Noob home owner here. We just tried to get our fireplace cleaned for the winter. The guy that came out said we have an old double flue system that's dangerous and can't be used...
He said we need to ...
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Insulation tape behind a baseboard heater
In the apartment I am in, there is baseboard heater located under the balcony door
During the winter cold air come through the wall, and from gaps or crack between the wall and the floor
Usually ...
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Sump discharge freezing
I was awoken early this morning by my sump water level alarm going off. After some investigation, I believe that my sump discharge has frozen due to recent low temperatures.
I've verified that the ...
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Can I put road salt into toilet/sink trap to prevent it from freezing?
I have been advised, that I can put salt into a trap to prevent the water from freezing in building I do not use much during tough part of the winter. I know I need to remove all water from pipes ...
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Is there any benefit to using outdoor faucet covers if the water to them is shut off?
If I shut off the water supply to an outdoor faucet during cold weather, is there much benefit to also covering the faucet using a styrofoam faucet cover or similar? My guess would be no, but maybe ...
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Is it safe to set my water heater tank to vacation during winter time? What else can I turn off to save heating bills during winter?
Is it safe to turn set my water heater tank to vacation during winter because I am mostly away from my house? I live in Canada.
What else can I turn off to save heating bills during winter when I am ...
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How will a hybrid water heater perform in less than optimal conditions?
I'm thinking of getting a heat pump hybrid water heater (this one maybe); The operating conditions will be technically within the prescribed range but less than optimal.
I'm wondering how I should ...
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Why isn't my window film insulation kit causing water damage?
My understanding is that insulating inside of a window can lead to condensation problems on the outside (see answer to this question). I have been using insulating window film kits for a few years and ...
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Thawing partially accessible frozen pipes with a hairdryer
I am a renter with water pipes that are inaccessible at some points, and which may freeze in the winter. I am doing my best to prevent this, including heating my apartment, trickling my faucets, and ...
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Window film affixed to the wall around a window?
Useful related questions: here, here.
I live in an apartment with a window that I want to insulate during the winter. I am currently using one of those shrink film kits and it seems to be working. ...
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Deck the halls with bubble wrap?
In order to insulate a room, would it make sense to apply a layer of bubble wrap to my walls/ceiling? What about some other material like mylar or foylon? What major factors would affect the answer to ...
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Can I use two layers of window film to create a narrow, convection-reducing gap?
This is a follow-up to this question. The official answerer A.I. Breveleri writes:
The ideal separation distance between film and glass is 1/2 inch. Even
1 inch is too thick as it allows the trapped ...
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To maximize heat in winter, should I remove my window quilt during the day?
Let's say it's -5 deg C outside and I'm inside a building with a moderately efficient window and a window quilt. Will I stay warmer if I take the window quilt down during the day and put it back up at ...
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Wool batting window quilt? [duplicate]
Would it make sense to use wool batting like this as a window quilt? Why or why not? What factors would affect its suitability?
For context, I propose using this on the inside of one of those shrink ...
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Aerogel winter window quilt?
Would it possibly make sense for me to use aerogel as a seasonal window quilt? It may depend critically on some other factors; if so, what are they?
In particular, I have heard that aerogel designed ...
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How does denim insulation perform at low ambient temperatures?
I am interested in how denim insulation like this performs at low ambient temperatures. Does anyone know? I am most interested in performance measures like R-value and what other factors affect this.
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How to keep my tankless water heater safe in a cold room?
I have a room in my apartment that can sometimes get around 40°F (4°C), and that's where my new tankless water heater is installed. Should I take any special precautions to keep my pipes from freezing ...
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Insulate my windows from the outside?
I have some windows that I want to insulate at night during the winter. I have energy star windows, thermal drapes, and cellular blinds and those plastic window film kit things, but I want to reduce ...
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Insulate my windows with fiberglass?
I have some windows that I want to insulate at night during the winter. I have energy star windows, thermal drapes, and cellular blinds and those plastic window film kit things, but I want to reduce ...
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How can I predict now the heat sinks that will appear in winter?
I've just moved into a house where I'm concerned that an energy audit might find problems. The clue is that the windows appear to be old single-pane windows. Once it's cold out I can borrow an ...
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What is the recommended method of insulating PEX piping?
During the winter chill here in DC, one of my pex pipes that is not insulated and basically exposed to the elements cracked. I blame the contractors who didn't insulate and finish the job, literally ...
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Ice In Radon Mitigation System
I have a fan powered radon mitigation system installed in my house. It was installed in 2016 and I have not had any issues with it until this winter. I live in northern Iowa where we have been ...
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Is is okay to run 4" PVC drain pipe on the outside of a house?
I have to run 4" drain pipe for the washer that is on the second floor, but, the building being old and all, I wouldn't want to rip the floors, instead, I was thinking of running the drain on the ...
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Should I turn the water off to my home during a winter absence?
I will be leaving my home for three months, during winter, where I can expect the weather to go below freezing.
My question is if I should turn off the main water valve in my house or just to the ...
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How can I prevent this ice build up on my driveway/walkway?
My house faces North. I have down spouts on all four corners of the house.
My challenge is that in the late winter/ early spring, the sun melts the snow off the roof and comes down the downspouts.
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winterizing the outdoor faucets
I have rental condos in Dallas areas. Although the weather in north Texas is relatively warm, but at least once yearly that the temperature drops to low 15's, therefore I have to winterize the outdoor ...
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Do long roof overhangs influence ice dam formation?
This is my first winter in my current house in northeast USA with lots of snow. There is a ~2ft overhang on the roof all around the house (for better or worse, as noted in another question with pics ...
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Insulating my Room for the Winter?
I currently live with my parents, who like the thermostat rather cold during the winter (My room is 16C right now), and its not even December yet in NY. What steps can I take to properly insulate my ...
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Condensing furnace in garage or attic safe for winter?
Is it ok to have high efficiency condensing furnace in the garage or attic of a house in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures? I've heard that having a furnace in a spot without "...
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Fire table surface disintegration over winter
So last summer we bought a fire table from Ace hardware for our new deck. In late October we covered it up along with the other deck furniture, and left it for the winter. We uncovered It a couple ...
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Pouring foundations in cold weather, builder didn't protect them - how to tell if it is set right?
Our builders have just poured the foundations for our house this past Friday, but did not cover them to protect them from the cold. We experienced temperatures ranging from -2 to -7 overnight during ...
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Increase humidity with HRV?
I’d like to increase the humidity levels in my old stone and brick house (~120 years) during the winter. Right now it’s about mid-20% and I’d like it to be 30% to 35%.
This house came with a HRV ...
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Will this concrete fence base heave/break during winter cycle?
I live in Ontario, Canada, and the requirement for posts/bases is 4-feet deep in the ground, taking the frost line into consideration.
Now I saw this in Google images. I was just wondering if I can ...
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What to do when snow blocks house door?
My house's door open outwards and overnight the snow has accumulated outside (to half the door height) and prevented the door from being opened.
What to do in this situation if we want to open the ...
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So much humidity in home over the winter
My home is a single level ranch style. All new windows that are less than 4 yrs old. It has base board heating. During the cold season, when the heat is on, there is an extreme excess of condensation ...
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Turn off water heater as well during winter?
If I am going on vacation for an extended period during winter (it occasionally gets below freezing here), should I turn off water valve AND the gas water heater or just turn off the main water valve?
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Insulating the concrete attic with rockwool slabs
I want to insulate the attic with rockwool slabs in an unusual way. My house is old and we may have to rebuilt a new house in next 5 years, so I do not want to spend a lot of money on this.
Attic / ...
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