When we lived in Northern Wisconsin, we had window quilts. They work like drapes, except they're literally quilted. They make a huge difference. I also stock up on furnace filters and check them monthly. With a house full of pets, it's necessary to keep from freezing or frying depending on the season.
I should really buy more than two at a time, but they're so expensive. So I wait, during which the price just goes up. There are some flaws in my system.
yea, old homes EAT money for heat and A/C. But I know a secret on how to help with that. Its a big problem in many homes, the Chimney Effect. I had my 25 year old house taken care of nine years ago and it made a HUGE difference. Happy to recommend a company to explain it and fix it . Plus have you considered putting small shovels on the pigs for walkway clearing purposes ?
I am not dealing with the same climate you are, of course, down here in Houston, but then again I live in an RV which I guarantee is worse-insulated than your house. Our temperature here was near 80F on Saturday and it was 35F when I woke up this morning, so we're dealing with both extremes, as bits of Polar Vortex escape down this way randomly. I supplement my RV furnace with a Dreo wall-mounted electric heater that does an excellent job of keeping my bedroom warm, at least. If you can tolerate the electric bill, you might put a few of those in strategic spots in your house. Also, mylar and styrofoam insulation sheets are available at your local home improvement store and will do a MUCH better job of insulating your windows and doorways. I have foam panels that I can use to block off the cab of my RV (which is unheated and surrounded by windshield glass, so it sucks in the heat from my furnace); that makes things much warmer!
If you want to get really creative, cover it with thicker mylar insulating material (like the windshield covers they make to shade cars) and then nail another piece of plywood on top of it to make a "sandwich" so the pigs can't get at it.
(Hopefully that suggestion makes sense... obviously I have not seen the door in question.)
Brrrrr! I despise being cold. Electric throw blankets will keep you warmer when sofa sitting. The best thing ever invented has to be the electric mattress pad. There is nothing like slipping into a warm bed after a chilly evening. And with two controllers each partner gets to choose the level of warmth they want!
As someone who lives in the tropics and used to fantasize about living in a country with 4 seasons, this made me think, "Wow, my child self was terribly naive about the dangers of winter."
Those medieval tapestries on the walls in the grand but drafty castles weren’t just for decoration - they had to keep out the brutal cold in Northern European winters, and they didn’t have much by way of insulation or ventilation (or modern plumbing either).
You can imagine yourself the king of your castle with said quilts on the walls!
Charlie opens doors himself, regardless of which way they swing. Pretty sure that's why the universe gave him that snout. Thankfully, he also CLOSES those doors once he is back inside so he shouldn't be cold. (...Or hot for that matter...pigs apparently also like the AC). Bless his bad-behaving heart.
We live in an 1890 farmhouse in CT so I feel your frostbite. Plus we have low ceilings so we get no cooling benefits in the summer heat. It’s an equal opportunity offender.
I love bed 🛌 with warm heavy covers/blankets.
When we lived in Northern Wisconsin, we had window quilts. They work like drapes, except they're literally quilted. They make a huge difference. I also stock up on furnace filters and check them monthly. With a house full of pets, it's necessary to keep from freezing or frying depending on the season.
I should really buy more than two at a time, but they're so expensive. So I wait, during which the price just goes up. There are some flaws in my system.
yea, old homes EAT money for heat and A/C. But I know a secret on how to help with that. Its a big problem in many homes, the Chimney Effect. I had my 25 year old house taken care of nine years ago and it made a HUGE difference. Happy to recommend a company to explain it and fix it . Plus have you considered putting small shovels on the pigs for walkway clearing purposes ?
Maybe I could attach a plow blade to them. They'd have the place cleared in no time but would also break through the fence.
Just make a trail with food they can follow ..MMMMM Piece of candy !
I am not dealing with the same climate you are, of course, down here in Houston, but then again I live in an RV which I guarantee is worse-insulated than your house. Our temperature here was near 80F on Saturday and it was 35F when I woke up this morning, so we're dealing with both extremes, as bits of Polar Vortex escape down this way randomly. I supplement my RV furnace with a Dreo wall-mounted electric heater that does an excellent job of keeping my bedroom warm, at least. If you can tolerate the electric bill, you might put a few of those in strategic spots in your house. Also, mylar and styrofoam insulation sheets are available at your local home improvement store and will do a MUCH better job of insulating your windows and doorways. I have foam panels that I can use to block off the cab of my RV (which is unheated and surrounded by windshield glass, so it sucks in the heat from my furnace); that makes things much warmer!
I should look into mylar for that fake screen door. If I could keep the pigs from tearing it apart, it could be a game-changer.
If you want to get really creative, cover it with thicker mylar insulating material (like the windshield covers they make to shade cars) and then nail another piece of plywood on top of it to make a "sandwich" so the pigs can't get at it.
(Hopefully that suggestion makes sense... obviously I have not seen the door in question.)
Brrrrr! I despise being cold. Electric throw blankets will keep you warmer when sofa sitting. The best thing ever invented has to be the electric mattress pad. There is nothing like slipping into a warm bed after a chilly evening. And with two controllers each partner gets to choose the level of warmth they want!
This sounds enticing. Anything that will get me through the winter is worth a shot.
As someone who lives in the tropics and used to fantasize about living in a country with 4 seasons, this made me think, "Wow, my child self was terribly naive about the dangers of winter."
When we lived in Idaho, my mom taped sheets of plastic over the windows. They would billow out and suck in with the wind. It was still cold.
Those medieval tapestries on the walls in the grand but drafty castles weren’t just for decoration - they had to keep out the brutal cold in Northern European winters, and they didn’t have much by way of insulation or ventilation (or modern plumbing either).
You can imagine yourself the king of your castle with said quilts on the walls!
Charlie opens doors himself, regardless of which way they swing. Pretty sure that's why the universe gave him that snout. Thankfully, he also CLOSES those doors once he is back inside so he shouldn't be cold. (...Or hot for that matter...pigs apparently also like the AC). Bless his bad-behaving heart.
It's amazing what they can do with just their noses. If I tried that, I'd be helpless.
We live in an 1890 farmhouse in CT so I feel your frostbite. Plus we have low ceilings so we get no cooling benefits in the summer heat. It’s an equal opportunity offender.
At least it's consistent. It would be cruel if it ever got your hopes up that it would be comfortable.
Blair Windows & Doors can help with the drafty windows! They did an amazing job at my brother's house which is in Avon.
The sad part is we have almost all new windows. It's the walls themselves that are letting us down. Those are much harder to replace.
I have heard of blown-in insulation. No idea how it works. I’m in California so we don’t believe in freezing.
I've been out of the loop for a while because I just now realized Gmail was sending your newsletter to spam. Do you still live in Indiana?