Comments on: Trying To Keep Heating Costs Down This Winter http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michelle http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-57184 Michelle http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-57184 A trick we've used in our rather old (built in 1907) wood frame and siding house is to hang quilts over the windows. Not only does it help to insulate the windows (and walls for that matter) better, but it provides a great way to display treasured family quilts. I've even considered making a couple quilts specifically to fit our windows with stained glass patterns and a thinner layer of cotton so that sun light shining through will help accentuate the design. The same idea also help with interior doors and arches that might lead off into less often used spaces like spare bedrooms or pantries. Anyhow, I really enjoy your blog. Hope you enjoy these suggestions. Summer's a great time to start piecing quilt tops for the coming winter. :) A trick we’ve used in our rather old (built in 1907) wood frame and siding house is to hang quilts over the windows. Not only does it help to insulate the windows (and walls for that matter) better, but it provides a great way to display treasured family quilts. I’ve even considered making a couple quilts specifically to fit our windows with stained glass patterns and a thinner layer of cotton so that sun light shining through will help accentuate the design. The same idea also help with interior doors and arches that might lead off into less often used spaces like spare bedrooms or pantries. Anyhow, I really enjoy your blog. Hope you enjoy these suggestions. Summer’s a great time to start piecing quilt tops for the coming winter. :)

]]> By: Jane http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-5095 Jane http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-5095 We have no heat at all upstairs. The oil furnace in the basement has vents going only to the ground floor. With the woodstove going in the keeping room, the heat rises up the stairs and keeps it toasty warm upstairs. The furnace heat doesn't go upstairs at all. I had plexiglass indoor storms made for the two main upstairs windows which I attach with wingnuts and use plasticene to seal the edges. It works reasonably well, but actually not as good as the shrink-wrap plastic that I used to use! I also made curtains with fabric covering both sides of quilted material for more insulation. The downstairs windows have their original storms. This house is over 150 years old, so I've added all the insultation, etc., possible. I'd love to have a cookstove and am also going to save my pennies for a pellet stove. We have no heat at all upstairs. The oil furnace in the basement has vents going only to the ground floor. With the woodstove going in the keeping room, the heat rises up the stairs and keeps it toasty warm upstairs. The furnace heat doesn’t go upstairs at all.

I had plexiglass indoor storms made for the two main upstairs windows which I attach with wingnuts and use plasticene to seal the edges. It works reasonably well, but actually not as good as the shrink-wrap plastic that I used to use! I also made curtains with fabric covering both sides of quilted material for more insulation. The downstairs windows have their original storms. This house is over 150 years old, so I’ve added all the insultation, etc., possible.

I’d love to have a cookstove and am also going to save my pennies for a pellet stove.

]]> By: Alissa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-3277 Alissa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-3277 Hi Shirley, We use wood to heat our home as well. Our woodburning insert is in the centre of the main floor of our house, and, like you, all of our bedrooms are on the second floor. We installed a register in the ceiling above the woodburning insert, which allows heat to rise upstairs to the bedrooms (and the cool air comes down the stairs). It makes the upstairs just comfortable enough that we don't need any additional heat. We prefer our bedrooms cooler than the rest of the house anyway, so it works great for us. Hi Shirley,

We use wood to heat our home as well. Our woodburning insert is in the centre of the main floor of our house, and, like you, all of our bedrooms are on the second floor. We installed a register in the ceiling above the woodburning insert, which allows heat to rise upstairs to the bedrooms (and the cool air comes down the stairs). It makes the upstairs just comfortable enough that we don’t need any additional heat. We prefer our bedrooms cooler than the rest of the house anyway, so it works great for us.

]]> By: Melsky http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2989 Melsky http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2989 In addition to the plastic film I put several layers of heavy curtains over our windows and that helps a lot. I used materials I got mostly in thrift stores. We are looking to buy a house and I want to get a wood stove for it. In addition to the plastic film I put several layers of heavy curtains over our windows and that helps a lot. I used materials I got mostly in thrift stores.

We are looking to buy a house and I want to get a wood stove for it.

]]> By: Slawebb http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2952 Slawebb http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2952 That sounds like a great stove. Saves money when you cook on it, too! What kind is it? Where did you buy it? I live in VT so I understand the cold. Might be a harsh one this year. That sounds like a great stove. Saves money when you cook on it, too! What kind is it? Where did you buy it? I live in VT so I understand the cold. Might be a harsh one this year.

]]> By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2935 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2935 Joel, I don't have any numbers about the savings, but we found that the plastic film on the inside of the windows really made a difference, even with two layers of glass already there. We had an almost three-week spell of horrendously cold weather last year, and that is when we added the plastic. The difference was amazing. Joel, I don’t have any numbers about the savings, but we found that the plastic film on the inside of the windows really made a difference, even with two layers of glass already there. We had an almost three-week spell of horrendously cold weather last year, and that is when we added the plastic. The difference was amazing.

]]> By: Jen http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2917 Jen http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2917 I wish you all the best in the cold season. I can't say I envy the bills you may face but I certainly envy the views. I wish you all the best in the cold season. I can’t say I envy the bills you may face but I certainly envy the views.

]]> By: Joel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2912 Joel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2912 Do you know how effective the extra plastic film is? I have film (the kind from Ace Hardware - apply with the adhesive strip and then use a hair dryer to shrink it so it's sheer) and can apply that to the wooden window frames on the interior of the house. We currently have two single panes in each window, aluminum frame. The house is incredibly well insulated - we actually have to leave one or two windows cracked even on the coldest days otherwise there are problems with mildew. But I've always been curious to how effective the plastic is, in an instance where there are already two panes. I guess it can't hurt ... Do you know how effective the extra plastic film is? I have film (the kind from Ace Hardware – apply with the adhesive strip and then use a hair dryer to shrink it so it’s sheer) and can apply that to the wooden window frames on the interior of the house.

We currently have two single panes in each window, aluminum frame. The house is incredibly well insulated – we actually have to leave one or two windows cracked even on the coldest days otherwise there are problems with mildew.

But I’ve always been curious to how effective the plastic is, in an instance where there are already two panes. I guess it can’t hurt …

]]> By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-45826 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-45826 Here's the post about the <a href="http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/the-wood-burning-cook-stove-in-my-kitchen/" rel="nofollow">wood burning cook stove in our kitchen</a>... a description of the stove and a photo! Here’s the post about the wood burning cook stove in our kitchen… a description of the stove and a photo!

]]> By: Grace http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2911 Grace http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/trying-to-keep-heating-costs-down-this-winter/#comment-2911 Awesome advice on the stove.....a picture plz??? Awesome advice on the stove…..a picture plz???

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