How I've Prepared My House For Twenty Below.

[matchrestore]

When I woke up, the temperature outside was -27F. At this temperature boiling water will instantly freeze when tossed into the air. Frostbite comes way too quickly. Diesel fuel gels. Car batteries drain. Frost makes its way inside of homes.

Insulation

Insulation is taken very seriously around here. I recently gutted my house to add more insulation. Keeping drafts down is very important as well. We went with spray foam to seal everything up as tightly as possible and it's made a world of difference. The attic also got around 2' of blown in fiberglass insulation.

Windows

We also replaced the 100+ year old single pane wood windows with double pane vinyl windows that keep the cold out way better than our old windows. We also have faux wood blinds to add another layer of protection at night while letting the sun's solar energy in during the day.

Keeping pipes from freezing

We removed the existing hydrants from the outside of the house and replaced them with frost free hydrants. These shut the water off a foot or more back into the house so that water can drain out of the faucet before freezing.

Avoiding ice dams

We replaced the aging roof with new asphalt shingles. Because of the complicated roofline of our house we ended up covering the entire roof in ice and water shield, which creates a durable waterproof surface under the shingles to keep any water or ice that works it's way under the shingles from getting into the house. This combined with better insulation should keep ice dams away.

Snow load

We have a widows walk on our roof, as well as a lot of valleys that easily fill with snow. Before we added the insulation it would melt away more quickly, but now it tends to stick around. Before we filled the attic with insulation, we built a knee-wall down the center of the attic to help take some of this increased load.

Warming up on a cold day

We installed a double shower stall with a large enough water heater to take extended showers. The washer and dryer are also in the master bath so you can throw a towel in the dryer and have a nice warm towel when you get out.

(This photo is before the faucets and glass wall went in). We also installed a sauna in our basement using lumber milled from trees removed from my in-laws land with a frosted glass window to let the light in while maintaining privacy.

We also have a hot tub in our back yard, but you'll want the air temp to war up to at least 0F before you use that.

A comfortable home in the winter

We have one of the most energy efficient houses on the block now thanks to all of this. We're able to maintain comfortable temperatures, and have features to combat the winter cold. It's warm enough to not need clothes, while not costing too much to heat. That's how you beat northern plains winters.

#cold #home

[Quintessence]

Nice Take!
As someone who hails from northern Canada (where our winters regularly dip into the minus 40s and we've even hit as low as -56°C / -69°F), I can definitely empathize with the need to insulate, bundle, and heat the heck up.

That spray-foam insulation is one of the most important must-haves around here. I hope the kind you installed was the closed cell polyurethane type. That one has has a higher density than its open-cell counterpart, and is generally more effective (and efficient).

I shiver at the thought of single-pane windows. Even double-frame doesn't do it here. Triple-frame fiberglass is the way to go. Also, if you can, I'd replace those blinds with curtains--heavy fabric or multilayered curtains. Those work best in keeping the cold out.

I don't know why I haven't thought about throwing towels in the dryer and having a nice, warm towel ready for when I get out of the shower. That is, like, the epitome of simple genius right there. XD

PS. The tossed boiling water doesn't freeze. Technically, it evaporates. :P

[matchrestore]

It is closed cell foam. While our windows aren't triple pane, they do have a thicker gap between panes than normal for better protection from heat loss.

[Quintessence]

That's good!

[lazermazer]

Nice

[musicbrain5]

Preaching to the choir here... lol. We recently finished most of our attic space - turned it into another room since there were already windows up there. Installing extra insulation up there and heating the space has helped to keep the main living areas even warmer, without having to actually turn up the heat. It was a good investment in the house, so far.

The windows on our house are in excellent condition, but yeah they are also single pane, single glazed windows. We use storm windows during the fall and winter months - a cheaper alternative to replacing the windows with double pane glass, but just as effective in my opinion. Replacing all the windows would cost a fortune right now, mostly because of asbestos removal around the frames - everything would have to be removed just to get to it. There's actually asbestos in every corner of this house, from the floor tiles in the kitchen and under carpet/wood to the ceilings, except the attic (we had it removed).

It seems to be sufficiently winterized, though. At least by Canadian standards, which are quite high lol.

[matchrestore]

Luckily the only asbestos we had was on some electrical wiring and the furnace flue. We put a 97% efficient furnace in that didn't need the flue so we just sealed all of that up, and the wiring we did a self-removal permit for and brought it to the landfill ourselves. The asbestos on wires is generally not as dangerous at least.

[matchrestore]

Our windows were also in rough shape so that was part of why we replaced instead of doing storm windows. We did keep the leaded glass windows with a storm window on the outside and an acrylic storm window heald on by magnets on the inside.

[musicbrain5]

Yes, old houses are pretty much guaranteed to have a little bit of asbestos, at least. As long as it's not disturbed, it is safe. Having it removed professionally is expensive but the safest way to go, which is what we did with our attic. The rest is easy to cover or seal up. Most of the flooring in this house is vinyl asbestos tile, so it's easily turned into a subfloor and covered. The hallways, kitchen, washrooms, and the basement still have that floor exposed, but the tiles are durable and intact so we're going to leave it alone.

We have acrylic storm windows, mounted on the outside with small hinges on the top that click together, and then you just push the window in until it's flush with the surrounding frame. Easy peasy and you can hardly see them.

It sounds like it's a lot colder where you are than here, but it's pretty damn cold here with lots of snow, lol.

[matchrestore]

I'm sure we haven't found all of the asbestos yet. I think the linoleum in the kitchen (currently under a layer of late 90's vinyl flooring) and the half bathroom are both asbestos as well. That's our last project, though. The only reason I felt comfortable doing it myself with the wiring was that I could cut pieces out without disturbing the insulation. I still wore a suit and an approved respirator while we ran a HEPA filter designed for lead paint and aesbestos abatement exhausting air out a window. We also ran that filtration system while we removed plaster to keep silica dust down in the house as well. Luckily none of the plaster was painted, (all wallpaper) and the trim tested free of lead everywhere we tested.

[MlleCake]

Oh, that sauna is the best part. I have never lived where it is that cold. But my family is all in Minnesota where it gets that kind of cold sometimes. (So, at least I have BEEN in THAT kind of cold, unusual for us California natives.)

I like that you posted this take. Very informative. I think takes like this are great because they help give people a snapshot of what it's like to live somewhere different - good tips on adulting for all the young folks here.

Love the shower design too.

If I am in your neighborhood on a cold winter's day I'm def dropping by for a sauna. I'll bring some hot cocoa.

[matchrestore]

I've got Scandinavian blood, so a sauna was a must. Any of your relatives Finnish? I know lots of Finns with saunas in Minnesota.

[MlleCake]

No Finns with Saunas in my family.

Here in California we need the good insulation to keep excessive heat out and our expensive air conditioned air in.

It was really cold here on Christmas. I had to wear shoes, not sandals, and I had to put a jacket on at 4 pm. Freeeeeeeezing here. LOL.

[PhilosophicalBull]

In my area, you can request the electric utility come and measure how well-sealed your house is. They can tell you how drafty your house is with a short test, and where your problem areas are.

The city also offers low-interest loans to help with the needed improvements.
Anyone with a cold house should see if this is available in their area.

[matchrestore]

I used a low interest loan for my windows.

[matchrestore]

My utility will do the blower test for air leaks. I know where all of mine are (at least the major ones)- all in my basement. I'm going to insulate the basement walls, then do the test.

[PhilosophicalBull]

Just moved into a new house.
Probably do the same, come spring.

[MsMusic]

Usually it doesn't get that cold here, this is the second winter in about 6 years though that it is. I'm in the Detroit Michigan area. It's already been to nearly -20 windchill, and the winters just begun. It'll get worse, we'll get down to -20 in temp soon enough.

These are some good tips

[sovetskii13]

Awesome! The coldest I've ever experienced was -15F. But I live in an apartment complex. However, I did walk and take mass transit (bus and elevated train) to/from work. The bus was like frozen on the outside. Don't know how the engine was able to stay on. I had to wear two sets of mittens, a thick hat, two hoodies, one jacket, two pants, two pairs of thick socks, and boots. I loved it.
Great info.

[EvansJJ]

Sauna looks great! I also want to build my own at my house. But for first I decided to replace windows, for good energy efficiency of our home. I chose good brand (Ply Gem) and installers from
made all quickly and qualitatively. Now it is more warmer at home!

[matchrestore]

I went with Simonton windows for my house, and used a highly recommended local contractor to install them. Simonton is a subsidiary of Ply Gem that manufactures only vinyl windows.

[Redstang88]

House here are built properly for the cold, but problems can still come up. Woken up to all my doors frozen shut the last few days, time for new weatherstripping I guess

[matchrestore]

New houses are built for the cold a lot better than old ones here. This house was built in 1896 and the only insulation was 4" of loose pack cellulose insulation in the attic. Nothing in the walls at all. It did have stucco which helped, but not as well as closed cell foam.

[jacquesvol]

Going to Mar-A-Lago is another solution, of course.

[matchrestore]

I hear they're preparing for climate change there as well.

[jacquesvol]

And they tell the US they don't believe a climate change exists...

[codyccc]

Step 1 build your house out of 2 foot thick steel reinforced concrete into a hill put in heat and bullet proof windows and add a 97% effisent indoor heating system

[matchrestore]

I like living above ground, thanks.

[codyccc]

Only 2 side of the house are under ground

[Cosytoasty]

Nice take, you mentioned energy efficiency, is ground source heat common for homes in your area?

[matchrestore]

It's not that common, my brother has it, but he has to have natural gas to supplement when it's this cold.

[Cosytoasty]

Oh absolutely, it merely gives the traditional heating system a head start from the sub zero temps. I was curious because they double as an AC booster in summer and I think those northern US states have a fairly large temperature range throughout the year?

Some good solid work put into your own home there though 👍.

[WhereAmI]

What did you do for ventilation to prevent mold build up from moisture in the house since it's now tighter with the increased insulation?

[matchrestore]

There's a fresh air intake that opens a damper to the return plenum when bathroom fans or the kitchen fans are on. The fresh air from outside is mixed with return air and passes through the furnace filter before making its way into the house.

[Anonymous]

Good take! My brother's project as school was on energy efficiency and self sufficiency. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do in a flat. One thing we do notice is that, with the people below us being out all the time, we lose a lot of heat input compared to when an elderly gentleman lived there with his heating on all day.

[bellybuttonlint]

This is also good for hot climates too since anything that insulates against cold will also keep hot air out.

[castratedwhiteguy]

Interesting! I only wish that I could afford to make some much needed home repairs. Very expensive and time consuming for an over worked wage slave living paycheck to paycheck.

[utterlyconfusedlol]

down here in chicago we've had below 0 wind chills all week. last time we had 20 below was 2014 or 15 i think. fucking cold as shit. I'm definitely gonna talk to my dad about doing this if the weather goes down that low again

[Nomad6993]

Smart guy but it was -40 Celsius here today not farenheit try that out!

[musicbrain5]

-40 C is also -40 F 😊

[Nomad6993]

@musicbrain5 Mind boggling, it was a nuisance day too my truck wouldn't start then i got back from my parents visitng all Christmas weekend to my fridge and freezer broken and heat didn't start working till like 2 hours ago in my place damn son lol

[Nomad6993]

If a man wants to become a women just walk outside in -30 to-40 and their peni will fall off

[matchrestore]

-40C is equal to -40F actually. It's been as low as -44F here a few times, and hits -40F pretty much every winter.

[Nomad6993]

yeah its to cold i agree it sucks thought it was -17 C in the pic was thinking that's fuck all

[matchrestore]

-27F is -32C, by the way. Yeah it's not the worst cold this time, just a really long spell of cold this time. Not above 0F (which is -17C) for over a week.

[douride2]

Was that minus 40 with or with out the windchill factor?

[matchrestore]

@douride2 for me it was without the windchill factor.

[douride2]

Then F. or C. that is one cold morning.

[Nice222]

Some great ideas thanks for sharing. I like the sauna!!

[zagor]

We freak out if it gets below 40 F.

[Zendrya]

that's not even that cold...

[CheerGirl38139]

Lord have mercy