Какие будут последствия, если оставить дом без отопления и обогрева зимой

Многих людей, владеющих загородными домами или просто дачами, всерьёз мучает вопрос – что произойдёт с домом, его отделкой, а также всей установленной мебелью, если на протяжении всего холодного времени года не отапливать дом? Отсюда вытекает другой вопрос – что же лучше для дома: оставить его нетопленым на всю зиму или же время от времени приезжать туда и протапливать жилые помещения? С этим вопросом следует разобраться. Итак, что же произойдёт с вашей дачей, если оставить дом без отопления зимой.

Разные части дома и мебели могут совершенно по-разному отреагировать на подобное испытание. В первую очередь, потому, что различные материалы, используемые при отделке, ремонте, а также изготовлении мебели, по-разному реагируют на подобные испытания.

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Содержание материала

Что произойдёт с домом

Проходит осень, в нашей стране чаще всего сопровождаемая обильными дождями. И, наконец, наступает зима. Температура воздуха на улице и в неотапливаемом доме резко снижается. Как результат – его влажность также резко уменьшается. Но влага из воздуха вовсе не уходит бесследно – она осаждается на любых поверхностях – стенах, мебели, полах, потолках. Если холодает достаточно быстро, влага превращается в иней и остаётся в помещениях до первых весенних оттепелей. А значит, предметы остаются влажными довольно малый промежуток времени.

Что же происходит, если вы решаете несколько раз за зиму вернуться в свой загородный дом и протопить его? Иней быстро тает. Воздух в помещении нагревается, а вот стены и вся мебель по-прежнему остаются холодными. Для того чтобы они нагрелись, необходимо минимум несколько часов. Следовательно, при контакте тёплого воздуха (с повышенным содержанием влаги) с холодными предметами, на предметах будут появляться капли влаги – конденсат. Окончательно вещи и стены здания высохнут только после того, как их температура сравняется с температурой воздуха в помещении. Как уже было сказано выше, это произойдёт через несколько часов.

В таких условиях разные материалы ведут себя по-разному. Стекло, пластик, покрытое лаком или покрашенное дерево легко перенесут подобное испытание – они совершенно не впитывают влагу. Поэтому капли конденсата бесследно испарятся через несколько часов. А вот обычная древесина, мягкая мебель, гипсокартон и другие дышащие материалы быстро впитают влагу в себя. В результате обивка мебели может начать гнить, гипсокартон раздуется.

Чем больше таких циклов «заморозка-разморозка» произойдёт за зиму, тем быстрее будут испорчены ваши вещи, а самому загородному дому понадобится косметический ремонт. Именно поэтому опытные владельцы дач предпочитают не посещать их в холодное время года. Протопить промерзшее помещение до приемлемой температуры довольно сложно, а вот испортить мебель и отделку можно довольно легко.

Опытные дачники рекомендуют ставить дом на консервацию осенью – сливать воду из системы отопления, накрывать ценные вещи или просто вывозить их с дачи, и не посещать дачу до тех пор, пока весенние оттепели не прогонят холод и сырость с улицы и загородных домов.

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Как отреагирует на зимовку деревянная мебель и отделка

Ещё один вопрос, интересующий владельцев дач, решивших оставить свое загородное жильё без отопления на зиму, в том, какие последствия подобная зимовка может иметь для деревянной мебели и отделки. Вопрос весьма актуален, поэтому ответить на него стоит подробно.

Как уже сказано выше, древесина, покрытая лаком или краской, надёжно защищена от перепадов температуры и, соответственно, перепадов влажности. Не защищённой ничем древесина, независимо от породы, впитывает влагу при повышенной влажности воздуха и отдаёт её при снижении температуры окружающей среды. Одни породы дерева, древесина которых имеет большую плотность, менее подвержены этому, другие – больше. Но подобный процесс идёт с любой древесиной, из-за чего её и называют дышащим материалом.

При снижении температуры окружающей среды древесина начинает отдавать влагу. Конечно, чем ближе к поверхности, тем интенсивнее идёт этот процесс. А при ссыхании древесина имеет свойство сжиматься из-за того, что поверхность уже отдала влагу и, следовательно, уменьшилась в объёме, а вот сердцевина сохранила прежнюю влажность и размер, и имеет место разрыв волокон, то есть появление трещин.

Чем чаще имеют место перепады температуры и влажности, тем выше вероятность появления подобных дефектов на вашей деревянной мебели, лестницах, перилах и полах.

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Что станет со шпаклёвкой и обоями

Владельцы многих домов при ремонте используют шпаклёвку и обои. Шпаклёвка позволяет легко и быстро устранить любые неровности стен, а обои, при сравнительно небольших финансовых затратах, дают возможность изменить интерьер помещений.

Шпаклевки имеет низкую влажность, благодаря чему, после полного высыхания легко выдерживает заморозку и длительное нахождение в холодном, не отапливаемом помещении. Хуже шпаклёвка выдерживает повышенную влажность и, тем более, конденсат. Поэтому помещение нужно либо оставить холодным на всю зиму, либо постоянно поддерживать в нём высокую температуру. В противном случае, к весне вы получите дом с раздувшейся и местами обвалившейся шпаклёвкой. И тогда серьёзный ремонт неминуем.

С обоями всё обстоит сложнее. Здесь опасным является как высыхание при низкой температуре, так и частое намокание из-за периодического протапливания помещения. Из-за полного высыхания на морозе дешёвые бумажные обои могут порваться, а не слишком качественный клей – растрескаться. Периодическое протапливание приведёт к тому, что на обоях постоянно будут капли конденсата, которые со временем превратят обои в лохмотья.

Поэтому для дачи желательно выбирать если не самые дорогие, то и не самые дешёвые обои – прочные и способные противостоять повышенной влажности без вреда для себя. Обойному клею также уделите особое внимание – при покупке уточните, сможет ли он выполнять свои функции при низкой температуре. Клей на резиновой или силиконовой основе легко переносит многочисленные циклы перепадов температур и влажности и в то же время не растрескивается при замерзании.

Подводя итог, можно с уверенностью сказать, что по завершении дачного сезона дом лучше ставить на консервацию. Если вы не собираетесь жить в нём весь год, лучше даже не стараться поддерживать высокую температуру, время от времени навещая её и протапливая.

В видео подробно рассказано о консервации дачи на зиму

Важно! Даже если ваша дача подключена к теплоцентрали, лучше отключить отопление до тех пор, пока вы не вернётесь в свою загородную резиденцию весной. Воду из системы отопления нужно слить. И пусть дача постепенно остывает, готовясь к холодной зиме. В этом случае отключение отопления зимой из-за каких-то неполадок не доставит вам хлопот. В противном же случае, замерзшие радиаторы отопления просто разорвёт водой. К тому же, в холодное, не отапливаемое здание, зимой наверняка не залезут бродяги и бездомные. А вот отапливаемый дом вполне может привлечь их внимание.

Так что, поставив свой дом на консервацию, вы сможете избавиться от многих проблем.

Можно ли штукатурить зимой? | Уют Вашего Дома

     Если штукатурка стен  производится зимой, то температура окружающего воздуха должна быть не ниже чем +8 градусов Цельсия, а относительная влажность должна быть на уровне 70%. Такие условия следует обеспечить   постоянной  системой отопления и вентиляции или организацией временного отопления.

     Для устройства временного отопления используют  воздухонагреватели , которые предназначены  для нагревания помещений  50-2000 м кубических и не образуют угарного газа. Влажность  каменных или кирпичных стен, которые предстоит оштукатурить, должна быть не выше  8%. Работу с внутренними поверхностями, которые могут подвергаться быстрому охлаждению, (ниши, дверные и оконные откосы)следует осуществлять до наступления холодов. Данные поверхности  разрешается штукатурить  при отрицательной температуре наружного воздуха  только тогда, когда есть возможность предохранить  штукатурный намет  от преждевременного замерзания. Это можно сделать, утеплив конструкции или организуя  электропрогрев.

В такие морозы от штукатурки стен лучше воздержаться

     Температура наносимого раствора не должна быть ниже  +8 градусов Цельсия. Для этого необходимо правильно организовать  приготовление, хранение и транспортировку раствора. С этой целью утепляют растворный бункер с растворонасосом и раствороводом.  Подогретые растворы  после того, как их перемешают в растворосмесителе,  должны иметь температуру не более +50 градусов Цельсия. Заполнители и воду для растворов доводят до необходимой температуры   с помощью электронагревателей или с помощью пара.

     Осуществление работ по штукатурке стен при температуре воздуха  ниже + 5 градусов Цельсия (до -15 градусов Цельсия) возможно только при использовании   химических добавок, которые понижают температуру замерзания(хлористый натрий, хлористый кальций, поташ, хлорная известь и др.), а также растворов, которые содержат   молотую негашеную  известь. Добавки, которые    вводят в раствор, соразмеряют с Инструкцией по приготовлению и применению строительных растворов.  

     Штукатурка стен, выполненных из камня или кирпича, которые сложены способом замораживания, допускается только после оттаивания кладки с той стороны, где выполнен штукатурный намет. Оттаивание должно произойти на глубину более половины стены. Второй вариант — потепление до +8 градусов Цельсия  в течение  пяти суток подряд , когда будут созданы необходимые условия для прогрева помещений, которые предназначены для штукатурки. Запрещается использовать горячую воду  для удаления со стен наледи или  ускорения прогрева промороженных стен.

90000 Expert guide to plaster in old homes 90001 90002 Looking for advice on how to deal with plaster in old homes? If you’re the owner of a period property and are planning a renovation — whether of the whole house or a single room — you’ll likely have lots of questions. Well, we’re here to answer them. 90003 90002 Original plaster contributes immeasurably to the qualities of an old building. Unlike modern cement-based products and gypsum plasters, which are hard, inflexible and non-breathable, traditional lime and clay formulas have a soft, characterful appearance, offer a degree of flexibility and are breathable.90003 90002 The breathability of wall and ceiling finishes is a very important issue in period homes. Old brick, stone and ancient wattle and daub walls rely on moisture being able to evaporate through them. This helps to prevent damp and condensation. 90003 90002 Most problems with old plasterwork can be easily fixed, but sadly, the wrong techniques and inappropriate modern materials are all too frequently used for repairs. This can mean moisture is sealed in, resulting in damage and decay. 90003 90002 Find out more about renovating a house in our specialist guide.Do not miss our decorating hub page for tons more advice, too. 90003 90012 What type of plaster does my home have? 90013 90014 90015 90016 Lime plaster 90017 is the traditional finish for houses pre-1919 року, but may have been used up until the 1950s when plasterboard and gypsum took over. See our guide to lime plaster to find out more. 90018 90015 A 90016 pinkish colour 90017 is likely to indicate a 90016 plaster bound with gypsum 90017. 90018 90015 An 90016 off-white 90017 colour is typical of a lime plaster.90018 90015 An 90016 earthy colour 90017 suggests an earth binder. 90018 90015 If your old house has been replastered with modern materials, or if you have damp walls (find out more in our guide), it might be worth replacing with lime plaster. 90018 90035 90002 90003 90002 90039 A pigmented clay plaster by 90040 90039 Clayworks 90040 90039 gives a matt, mellow feel to walls. A range of 27 natural colours are available 90040 90003 90012 Look out for historic markings 90013 90002 Original plasterwork may contain fascinating evidence relating to the building’s history, such as traces of historic decorative schemes, as well as superstitious candle smoke marks and apotropaic symbols intended to ward off evil spirits.90003 90002 Look out for wall paintings in pre-Georgian houses. Early plaster layers may be finished with decorative wall paintings, now often hidden behind multiple layers of paint and later plaster. 90003 90002 If you find anything of note, do call in a specialist to investigate. 90003 90012 How traditional plaster is made 90013 90056 More from Period Living 90057 90002 90003 90002 (Image credit: Period Living) 90003 90002 90039 Period Living 90040 is the UK’s best-selling period homes magazine.Get inspiration, ideas and advice straight to your door every month with a subscription. 90003 90002 Old plasters are generally made with lime and sand, with animal hair added as a binder to provide extra strength and reduce shrinking and cracking. Sometimes in high-status work it is gauged with gypsum. Plaster may also be clay based, with animal dung and a lime binder. 90003 90002 Traditional plasters are applied directly to solid backings, such as masonry or cob (unfired earth), or flexible supports, including timber laths or reed.90003 90002 The aggregates found in old finishes vary according to the materials that were available locally. There might, therefore, be a high proportion of very coarse or very fine particles, the use of which would not comply with modern standards for sands and aggregates. 90003 90002 Most aggregates are ‘as raised’ (i.e. dug out of the ground on or near the site). They include silica sand, other mineral-based sands and crushed stone. 90003 90002 90003 90002 90039 Mixing animal hair into the mix helps bind it together and make it stronger 90040 90003 90012 When to replaster walls and ceilings 90013 90002 Plasterwork should last indefinitely, but when deterioration does occur it can take various forms: 90003 90014 90015 cracking 90018 90015 loose plaster or delaminating coats 90018 90015 staining 90018 90015 crumbling or flaking 90018 90015 mechanical damage and missing areas 90018 90035 90002 Deterioration often looks worse than it is and repair rather than replacement is often possible.90003 90002 Any replacement, where justified, should normally comprise the same material and number of coats. Adequate hair or other reinforcement is crucial on flexible backgrounds. 90003 90002 Always try to avoid the use of plasterboard. Unlike traditional plaster finishes it is flat and can look out of place in a period building. This is especially true with old ceilings. 90003 90002 Generally ceilings are relatively easy to replaster. Where necessary laths can be replaced — these are best fixed with screws to avoid vibrations.Lime plaster is then applied over them and matched in with the surrounding surface. 90003 90002 Our guide to how to repair plaster covers everything from cracks and bulges to loose plaster and damp in greater detail. 90003 90002 90003 90002 90039 ‘Scratching’ the surface of the base coat will help the next coat bond properly 90040 90003 90012 How much does plastering cost? 90013 90014 90015 Hiring a specialist plasterer with experience in dealing with traditional finishes on period homes is more expensive than standard plasterings.90018 90015 For a standard job using gypsum-based finishes, expect to pay between 90016 £ 450 £ 750 90017 for walls in an average room, and 90016 £ 200 £ 350 90017 for the ceiling. 90018 90015 The price can 90016 double 90017 for lime or specialist clay coatings. 90018 90035 90012 How to plaster an old home with lime 90013 90002 Employ an experienced lime plasterer. Lots of plasterers will say they can do it, but most of them can not. Request a reference from a recent job. Alternatively, ask an on-site trainer to work alongside a team of plasterers who are keen to learn.Your lime supplier should be able to recommend a local trainer. 90003 90002 Take advantage of technical advice from lime suppliers when you order your plaster. 90003 90014 90015 You will need to apply 90016 two to three coats 90017, depending on how flat you want the finished work. Finest quality uses three coats, but generally two coats will suffice. 90018 90015 If you’re 90016 on a strict budget 90017 use a reed mat instead of riven laths on the ceiling — that is, if you decide to lime plaster that too.This will save several thousands of pounds. Fix it to the bottom of the joists using laths and screws. 90018 90015 The 90016 mix for the first coat 90017, or ‘scratch coat’, should be one part lime putty to three parts sharp, well-graded sand, mixed with plenty of animal hair. This is called ‘haired coarse stuff’. 90018 90015 For a smooth finish, apply 90016 a setting coat 90017 of one part lime to two parts fine sand, called ‘fine stuff’. This can also be bought ready mixed. 90018 90015 Unless your plasterer advises you otherwise, buy your plaster 90016 ready mixed 90017 by the tonne and 90016 delivered to site 90017.90018 90015 90016 Do not leave bags of haired plaster sitting around 90017 for more than four weeks — the hair will start to rot due to the alkalinity of the lime. 90018 90035 90002 90039 Additional words by Douglas Kent and Marianne Suhr 90040 90003 90012 Looking for more advice to help you tackle old home renovations? 90013 .90000 50 Fun Things to Do When You’re Stuck Inside During Winter 90001 90002 90003 Wise Bread Picks 90004 It’s all too familiar during the winter. You are stuck inside, yet again, due to the latest snowstorm, bitterly cold polar vortex, or gloomy rain.But it does not need to be an all-day drag when there are many fun activities at hand. Try any of these entertaining ideas, and note that catching up on extra work and doing chores are not on the fun list! (See also: Fun Winter Staycation Ideas) 90005 90006 1. Plan Your Summer Vacation 90007 90004 What better time to get excited for your summer vacation than on a cold winter’s day? Check out warm weather websites and magazines, and plan a future getaway with friends and family while you have the downtime.90005 90006 2. Make an Awesome Breakfast 90007 90004 Time to step it up from the on-the-run breakfast you usually have and make some French toast, bacon, or eggs to enjoy. Or try something different, but easy, like skillet apple pancakes. 90005 90006 3. Nap 90007 90004 When was the last time you had a daytime nap? Relive your childhood and take an uninhibited, no alarm clock, midday nap in a cozy place. 90005 90006 4. Make Candy 90007 90004 Have fun experimenting with some fun and easy candy recipes that you or the whole family can take part in.You can also make your candy into little gifts to give out later. (See also: Delicious Gifts You Can Bake) 90005 90006 5. Take an Online Class or Tutorial 90007 90004 Take advantage of the time to learn something new for a few hours by taking an easy online class or tutorial. Search online for free options ranging from intro language classes to DIY tutorials to crafts. 90005 90006 6. Happy Hour 90007 90004 Assuming it’s noon somewhere, use this lazy day to whip up an exotic cocktail, favorite glass of wine, or a delicious hot cocktail to enjoy.Add some small appetizers to the mix to make for your own little happy hour. (See also: Two-Ingredient Cocktail Recipes) 90005 90004 90031 90005 90006 7. Redecorate 90007 90004 Moving things around in your home can be fun and refreshing if you are into decorating. Try hanging your pictures in different places, rearranging your furniture, or dreaming up new ideas online. 90005 90006 8. Fireside Camp Out 90007 90004 If you have a fireplace, a wintery day is a great time to light it up.Have a little camp-out next to it with comfy pillows, snacks, and games or a good book. This is also a great option if you are without power. (See also: Power Outage Staples) 90005 90006 9. Pajama Day in Bed 90007 90004 Turn your day inside into the ultimate time to do nothing but relax. Get on your most comfortable pajamas, gather some cozy blankets, and round up reading materials or watch TV, all while you do some serious lounging in bed. 90005 90006 10. Take a Luxurious Bath 90007 90004 Get your bubble bath going and make it extra luxurious with nice music, candles, and perhaps a nice book or beverage.And, if you have kids, an extra fun daytime bath with plenty of toys and bubbles can be a fun change from the usual nightly routine. 90005 90006 11. Shop Your Closet 90007 90004 Put the extra time you have today to playing grown-up dress-up. Try out some new combos, and put together outfits for upcoming events. This can help you organize your things, prune unused items, and discover cool outfits you never knew you had. (See also: No-Sew Ways to Update Your Wardrobe) 90005 90004 90054 90005 90006 12.Indoor Fort 90007 90004 This is a great one if you have kids or just feel adventurous. Transform your living room into a fun fort using chairs and blankets to make a cozy hideout for the day. 90005 90006 13. Check Out Some Good Blogs 90007 90004 There are some great blogs (in addition to Wise Bread, of course) that can help you better your life or learn some great tips. Check out some of my favorites, like Zen Habits, The Daily Green, or The Art of Manliness, to get started. 90005 90006 14.Afternoon Tea 90007 90004 Have your own tea party right at home. You can get fancy and use nice china and put out little sandwiches and treats. This is also a fun activity you can do with the kids, substituting hot chocolate for tea if you want. 90005 90006 15. Catch Up With Family and Friends 90007 90004 Getting in touch with the grandparents or a long-lost friend over the phone or Skype makes for a great indoor activity and can be a lot of fun for all. 90005 90006 16. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup 90007 90004 The ultimate rainy day lunch is great on any day, let alone a cold one.Indulge in an awesome grilled cheese using any type of cheese you love and put on a pot of some delicious tomato soup. (See also: 3 Snow-Day Recipes) 90005 90006 17. Video Game Marathon 90007 90004 Anyone into gaming probably does not need a snow day excuse to play, but a day stuck inside provides a wonderful opportunity for a video game marathon. Or, involve the kids and do Wii competitions or learning games on your tablet or computer. 90005 90006 18. Popcorn and Movie Day 90007 90004 Sort of a given on any winter day, but pop up some popcorn and get comfy on the couch with your favorite movie (s).90005 90006 19. Scrapbooking 90007 90004 Even if you’ve never scrapbooked before, now is a great time to make a book of the kids ‘art or your accomplishments, or a gift for a friend’s special occasion. (See also: 10 Gifts You Can Make With Paper) 90005 90004 90089 90005 90006 20. Bake Something 90007 90004 Making good old chocolate chip cookies is an entertaining winter’s day activity, as is making other delicious recipes like warm pies and fresh-baked bread. Or, try some easy winter treat recipes that the kids can help with, too.90005 90006 21. Indoor Obstacle Course 90007 90004 Make an indoor obstacle course for the kids (or grownups) using pillows, toys, or other objects to burn off some energy and have fun. 90005 90006 22. Pretend Summer Day 90007 90004 If you desperately need to escape the harsh winter, bring summer to you. Look up tropical sites, make a fruit juice, and put on some Bob Marley. You can also get everyone in bathing suits and flip flops and fill the tub to «go swimming.» 90005 90006 23. Catch Up on Your Shows 90007 90004 Another given for a cold day stuck inside, but catching up on your favorite shows that you missed during busy weeks is a fun way to pass the time.Or, indulge in some mindless daytime TV without the guilt. 90005 90004 90108 90005 90006 24. Make Soup 90007 90004 Making a nice pot of homemade hot soup is not only easy, but it’s also very satisfying on a winter’s day. Try a good chicken noodle recipe, a roasted cauliflower, or my favorite, butternut squash and carrot soup. 90005 90006 25. Magazine Roundup 90007 90004 Spend the day catching up on all those magazines you’ve always wanted to read. Or, if you can plan ahead, buy some fun magazines just as you would for a long plane flight, and sit back and enjoy during your day indoors.90005 90006 26. Music Library 90007 90004 Enjoy all that music you have been collecting and listen to some of the tunes in your music library. You can also take the time to make new mixes and organize your collection once and for all. 90005 90006 27. Ice Cream Sundae Bar 90007 90004 Take some time to indulge by setting up an ice cream sundae station. Round up your ice cream and toppings you may have around, like whipped cream, nuts, chocolate chips, and fruits. Kids and adults alike will love it.(See also: 23 Microwaveable Desserts) 90005 90006 28. Feng Shui Your Home 90007 90004 The art of Feng Shui, which is the study of how the energy of our environment affects us, such as the placement and positioning of objects in your home, is both easy to embrace and beneficial. Use the time to learn some Feng Shui tips that you can easily apply to your own home. 90005 90006 29. Make Something 90007 90004 Get creative and make something with your hands. Crafts can be super simple, like paper crafting, to more skilled things like knitting, sewing, and jewelry making.Check out Joann’s and Michaels for some great craft projects you can do at home based on skill level. (See also: 18 Upcycled Craft Projects) 90005 90006 30. Make a Fancy Dinner 90007 90004 Since there is time to actually enjoy cooking and eating a quality meal, why not make yourself or the family a delicious dinner? You can set the table with fancy dinnerware and make it like a restaurant for a change from the usual. 90005 90004 90139 90005 90006 31. Workout 90007 90004 If working out is your thing, do not despair if you can not get to the gym or go outside.Do your own mini at-home workout using weights, a program online, or a workout DVD to get that much-needed exercise. (See also: Frugal Winter Exercising) 90005 90006 32. Brain Teasers 90007 90004 Games like Sudoku, crosswords, and word finds are great ways to relax and enjoy your time. Get cozy with a warm blanket and do some games from the newspaper, online, or any collections you may have. 90005 90006 33. Homemade Hot Chocolate 90007 90004 Make a delicious hot cocoa recipe, or vary it up by adding things like cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, or a dollop of vanilla ice cream.For diehard chocolate lovers, try a hot chocolate recipe using real chocolate pieces as well. 90005 90006 34. Mail a Letter 90007 90004 Spend some time writing a letter to someone special, which you can mail later on. Everyone loves to get a handwritten note, and it will be a nice surprise. (See also: Reasons to Write a Letter) 90005 90006 35. Window Shop Online 90007 90004 Take the time to browse around to get ideas or prices for any items you may be shopping for in the future. Just be sure you have the willpower not to aimlessly buy if you see things that catch your eye.90005 90006 36. A Good Read 90007 90004 Curl up with a good book on the couch or by the fire while the winter weather keeps you inside. 90005 90004 90166 90005 90006 37. Beauty Treatments 90007 90004 Give yourself a mini spa day with a variety of DIY beauty treatments. Whether it’s a nice manicure / pedicure, a relaxing scrub, or an avocado mask, it’s a good day to beautify and relax. (See also: Spa Treatments You Can Do at Home) 90005 90006 38. Arrange Your Photos 90007 90004 A whole day indoors gives you plenty of time to go through all those photos you have taken.You can make an album online or just enjoy looking through old shots. 90005 90006 39. Paint Something 90007 90004 Spreading out some paper and paints for the kids on a winter day indoors makes a great activity. Join in the fun and paint your own creations too, or find some extra jars, boxes, or other items to dress up with some paint for some new decor. 90005 90006 40. Yoga Hour 90007 90004 Give your body and mind a relaxing day by doing some yoga. If you’re new to the practice, there are some great beginner yoga sites and apps that can help you get started.Follow your session with some meditation and feel good for the day. 90005 90006 41. Plan Your Next Get-Together 90007 90004 Take the time to plan some upcoming fun events for you and your friends by thinking up a great dinner party menu, wine tasting, theme party, or a fun pub crawl. You can have fun planning the menus, looking up details, and coming up with the guest list. 90005 90006 42. Board Games 90007 90004 Break out the Monopoly or other great board games you may have on hand for a game day marathon with your family or roommates.(See also: 5 Great Card and Board Games) 90005 90006 43. Dress-Up Day 90007 90004 This is a great event for the kids where you get out old Halloween costumes, dress-up gear, or sports equipment for some pretend play. 90005 90004 90197 90005 90006 44. Self-Help Time 90007 90004 If you’ve been putting off reading your self-help book of choice or looking online for materials, now is the perfect time to take care of you. 90005 90006 45. Organize Something 90007 90004 You may need to skip this if you view organizing as a chore, but for many who get pure satisfaction after it’s done, it’s a rewarding task when you’re not rushed.Pick a spot you have always wanted to organize, like the junk drawer, your jewelry drawer, or the laundry room closet, and go to town. 90005 90006 46. Enjoy a Hobby 90007 90004 Break out your knitting needles, woodworking gear, or model trains, and enjoy some time working on your favorite hobby. Check out some suggestions for new indoor hobbies if you are in need of finding something entertaining. (See also: 10 Money-Making Hobbies) 90005 90006 47. Home Improvement 90007 90004 A day off due to the weather can give you the opportunity to try that home improvement project you have been wanting to do, but could never find the time to get done.Just be sure you have all your materials and can safely do the task. (See also: One-Day DIY Home Projects) 90005 90006 48. Story Time 90007 90004 Another great activity for the kids is to round up some good books, get comfy together with some snacks and blankets, and do an old-fashioned story time by reading aloud to them. 90005 90006 49. Plan Your Garden 90007 90004 A cold winter’s day indoors is a great time to plan your garden for the spring. Look online for ideas at garden retailers and sketch out your plans in a notebook.Or, if you are short on space, look into container gardening. 90005 90006 50. Turn Your Videos Into Movies 90007 90004 If you have lots of video clips, try spending the time organizing your collection on your computer and burning them to DVDs. Your loved ones will enjoy seeing clips of the kids, and your friends will be so surprised to have video memories of that last vacation you all took together. 90005 90004 90228 What are some of your fun ways to pass the time on a winter’s day stuck inside? 90229 90005 90006 Like this article? Pin it! 90007 90004 90005 90004 90236 90005 90004 90005 .90000 How warm should my house be? 90001 90002 90003 Some people like to heat their homes to Sahara-like temperatures, while others prefer a more arctic feel, however the majority of us sit somewhere in between. The whole ‘how hot should my house be’ topic is a bit of a contentious issue, so I will take you through some of the key points and try to give you a better idea of ​​the temperature that might be right for your home. 90004 90005 What does the government say about temperature? 90006 90003 A recent government study found that in the UK, the average temperature of a home is 17.7 ° C, whilst the recommended level is 21 ° C (70 ° F). This discrepancy in temperatures has been used to show how fuel poverty was preventing people from heating their homes to a comfortable temperature — it is estimated that 2.5m people are currently living in fuel poverty. 90004 90003 This is really oversimplified though, because some people will need higher temperatures — like the elderly or ill — whilst the average person can get away with having the temperature much lower. It is a little odd for the government to recommend this relatively high temperature when it is trying to reduce energy consumption.90004 90003 To be honest, the majority of people can live very comfortably at a temperature well below 21 ° C, so do not just set the thermostat at this temperature out of habit! 90004 90013 90005 Using a thermostat to set temperature 90006 90003 90004 Many people use a thermostat to set their temperature, but you need to make sure it is set up correctly. A thermostat works by recording the ambient air temperature around it. If the temperature of the air is lower than the thermostat, it will send a message to the boiler to fire up, while if the temperature of the air is higher, it will tell the heating system to switch off.90003 Therefore, a thermostat positioned right by your draughty front door is going to kick in at a lower temperature than one in your living room. In this case, even though you are setting your thermostat to 21 ° C by the door, the temperature in the living room might be getting up to 24 ° C. 90004 90003 As a result, it is really important to know your house and how warm you need it, rather than just setting it at a certain level and forgetting about it. You can negate this by using a wireless thermostat that you can place where you like.90004 90022 >>> The Most Efficient Way to Use Central Heating <<< 90023 90005 Insulation is just as important as your thermostat 90006 90003 It's no good setting your thermostat to save energy if you are inefficient to begin with. You can set your thermostat down at 16 ° C or 17 ° C to save money, but if you have no insulation and an old inefficient boiler, you are still going to be spending a fortune, since whatever heat you pump into the home to warm it up, will quickly escape through the walls.If you set the thermostat to 25 ° C in a poorly insulated house, it might not even get that warm, because the rate of heat loss will be just too high. So increasing the amount of insulation in the loft, on the walls and under the floor is key to being able to heat your home effectively. Do not forget your windows either; even if double glazing seems too expensive, secondary glazing like Ecoease could be the perfect way to reduce heat loss. 90004 90005 Every degree costs you money 90006 90003 Every house will vary, but the generally accepted rule is that for every degree you increase your thermostat, you will be paying an extra £ 60 a year.This is because your boiler needs to work harder to get the temperature up - if you have electric heating the savings could be even higher. 90004 90003 For larger or more inefficient homes, this can be much higher. So bear that in mind when you go to turn up your heating. If you need to be warmer, put on a jumper, or you could try supplementary heating like an infrared heating panel. This boosts the temperature in a room with instant heat, without having to turn up your thermostat for the whole house.90004 90005 You should not be wearing shorts in the winter 90006 90003 It is a bit obvious, but you can keep your thermostat down if you wear warmer clothes. A recent study found that some people set their thermostat to 30 ° C, whilst many were setting it above 25 ° C. In a poorly insulated home, this would mean that the heating would just stay on all day, because that temperature will probably never be reached. These people would save hundreds of pounds a year by setting their thermostat to 21 ° C or below and wearing some thicker clothes.90004 90005 Different rooms need different temperatures 90006 90003 Using only a thermostat means that you could be overheating other rooms in your home. Heating controls are really important. If you have them, use them. If you do not have them, get them. 90004 90003 Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) let you control the temperature of each room individually. For example, a bedroom can be comfortable at 16 ° C (as you'll be under the covers), whereas a living room might need to be warmer. Traditional TRV's are simple, usually using a dial between 1-5 to set the rate, and you can pick them up for as little as £ 12.50, but there are also more high spec options. If you want full control of your heating system then smartphone enabled systems will give you the ability to zone out your house and only use the energy you need. This starter pack from tado provides everything you need to get set up with. 90004 90005 Do not heat your home when you're not there 90006 90003 It seems simple, but lots of people set their thermostat to 21 ° C and leave it there, even when they are out at work. Make sure you use your programmer as well, and if you want to control each room while you are out, you can get yourself a remotely controllable tool like a Nest.These gadgets let you control each room's temperature remotely, even when you are out of the house. 90004 90005 Temperatures have been increasing for years 90006 90003 The average temperature of homes has increased over the decades. Ever since the advent of central heating, people feel like they should be able to walk around their home in a T-shirt in winter, whereas years ago people would wrap up even in their living room. Whilst there are certain situations where the heating needs to be up high (for instance when there is an elderly or unwell person in a room), you can usually wear a jumper and turn the thermostat down.Do we really need to have the heating up 4 degrees warmer than our parents had it a few decades back? 90004 90005 Can there ever be a perfect temperature that you should heat your home to? 90006 90003 The best answer as far as we are concerned is - the lowest comfortable temperature. Some people will happily turn down their heating in the bedroom but do not want to wrap up in their living room, while others will put on jumpers and use an extra high tog duvet. At the end of the day, it's your money - so decide for yourself what you are comfortable with, but do not set the thermostat to 21 ° C simply out of habit! 90004 90005 Installing a new heating system 90006 90003 Are you thinking about installing a new heating system in your home? We have scoured the country for the best tradespeople, so that we can make sure we only recommend those we really trust.90004 90003 If you would like us to find you a local installer, just fill in the form below and we will be in touch shortly! 90004 .90000 Where am I losing heat in my home? 90001 90002 90003 Where am I losing heat in my home? 90004 90005 We must get asked this question about 100 times a day! 90006 90005 It is obviously fundamental to everything we do here at TheGreenAge; if we can show our customers how to slow down the rate at which heat leaves their homes then we can help save them money. 90006 90005 In this blog, we are going to take a look at some of the basic principles behind this - what should you do to stop the heat loss in the home? And in what order? What provides the best cost benefit? 90006 90005 All is revealed below, but we have not gone in to too much detail.Click on the hyperlinks to take you to different parts of the website, where you can learn much more about the particular item / s you have an interest in. Enjoy - and as always let us know what you think in the comments below! 90006 90003 The Thermal Envelope 90004 90005 Give or take, about 25% of the heat produced by your boiler will escape through the roof of your home. 90006 90005 About 35% of the heat will escape through the walls and through gaps, in and around windows and doors, and about 10% of heat will disappear through the floor.Collectively the roof, walls (+ windows and doors) and the floor are known as the thermal envelope. 90006 90005 If you can slow this movement of heat from inside the house, through the thermal envelope, to the external environment, you can dramatically reduce your energy bills. In modern houses, building regulations stipulate that homes have to be built to do just that - but how exactly do you go about retrofitting these solutions into older homes? 90006 90003 Stop heat leaving through the roof 90004 90005 90006 90025 Install loft insulation 90026 in the roof space.This is the no.1 best thing to do for energy efficiency in the home - it is really cheap, easy to do and the payback can be just two years or less. 90005 You will need to decide if you want a warm loft or a cool loft, and what exactly you want to do with the loft space (for example do you want to store boxes up there or be able to walk around?) 90006 90005 In addition you need to decide the insulating product you want to use - mineral wool, sheep wool, rigid insulating board or even newspaper.There are lots of options for you to consider, but we love these recycled rolls from EarthWool. 90006 90003 Stop heat leaving through the walls 90004 90005 Walls tend to come in two forms - 90025 solid walls 90026 and 90025 cavity walls 90026. 90006 90005 As a rule of thumb, properties built prior to 1 930 will have solid walls and anything built after will have cavity walls. 90006 90005 90042 90006 90005 Cavity walls are incredibly easy to insulate; the walls are simply injected with insulating material, which slows the movement of heat across it.This is cheap and well worth doing, again with a relatively quick payback - however a professional will need to install this for you. 90006 90005 If you have solid walls, things are more complicated - there is no cavity that can be filled, so the walls need to be insulated either externally or internally. This is costly to do, and 90025 externally it involves cladding 90026 (so you will lose the feel of the brick). Meanwhile if you opt for insulation internally, you will lose some floor space.There is a grant available to help cover some of the costs of getting solid walls insulated - it is called 90025 ECO 90026. 90006 90005 Insulating your walls is well worth doing since it accounts for the biggest source of heat loss - click on the hyperlinks within the sections above to learn more about the processes involved. 90006 90003 Windows - important, but not as influential as you may think! 90004 90005 90057 We get lots of calls about windows, people want to 90025 replace them with double glazing 90026 to help stop heat loss and keep the home warmer.90006 90005 There are two issues to consider here - firstly think of the area of ​​glazing in your home compared to the area of ​​actual wall. Normally there is substantially more wall area than glazing, so always target the walls first. Secondly, double glazing is expensive - to replace a wooden sash window with a wooden double glazed unit may cost you £ 1200 PER WINDOW! 90006 90005 So what is the energy saving from changing one single glazed window to double-glazed? 90006 90005 Perhaps £ 5 - £ 10 per year 90006 90005 That is not to say it is not worth doing, double-glazing will improve the comfort of the home by stopping heat loss, cold draughts and improve soundproofing.However, from a cost perspective you may want to consider other measures first. 90025 Secondary glazing 90026 is a simple and easy alternative; companies like Ecoease make bespoke secondary glazing at a fraction of the price of traditional double glazing - you can find them 90025 here 90026. 90006 90003 Draught proofing - cheap, cheerful and quick payback 90004 90005 90076 Draught proofing is often overlooked, but think about an open chimney in your home. Cold air will rush in and the expensive warm air that your radiators have created can simply rise up and out of the chimney.If you draught proof the home effectively this can be prevented. 90006 90005 Draught proofing can be installed around 90025 doors 90026, 90025 windows 90026, 90025 loft hatches 90026, 90025 floorboards 90026 - in fact in all sorts of places, so click on the links to find out more about your specific problem areas in your home. 90006 90003 How to stop heat leaving through the floor 90004 90005 Standing on a cold, draughty floor is miserable, but you can do something about it! 90025 Insulating floors 90026 will stop heat escaping but if you are looking something a little bit more, you can 90025 install underfloor heating 90026 in conjunction with a 90025 traditional boiler 90026, or better still a 90025 heat pump 90026.This will allow you to heat the home and do away with radiators forever! Insulating floors is a relatively simple process and like walls, there are two main types - solid floors and suspended timber. Find out how to insulate them by clicking 90025 here 90026! 90006 90003 Quick mention of U-values ​​90004 90005 When exploring energy efficiency in the home - you may encounter the 90025 term U-value 90026. It is not one to be scared off, it actually simply refers to heat loss. 90006 90005 90109 90006 90005 The lower the U-value the better, so an unfilled cavity wall might have a U-value of 2.0 W / m 90112 2 90113 k, while filling the cavity might take the u-value down to 0.2 W / m 90112 2 90113 k. 90006 90003 You've done all that - what next? 90004 90005 So now you have insulated the home, less heat is going to escape - or at least the rate at which it escapes into the external environment will have slowed. 90006 90005 Now it is time to consider the heating system. The more efficient the heating system, the less it will cost to run your house. 90006 90003 When to upgrade your heating system 90004 90005 90126 Most people in the UK have a mains gas boiler - but just how efficient is it? A new 90025 energy efficient condensing boiler 90026 should be 90% + efficient.This means it will convert 1 unit of gas into 0.9 units of useful heat. A boiler 10 years old or more might be just 65% efficient - so depending on your energy usage 90025 it may be worth installing a new one 90026. 90006 90005 Other more efficient heating solutions include 90025 air 90026 and 90025 ground source heat pumps 90026, and with these you will soon be able to benefit from the generous 90025 Renewable Heat Incentive scheme 90026 (RHI), which will provide you with a payment for every unit of hot water you produce.90006 90005 You might like to consider 90025 Biomass boilers 90026, these run on sustainable biomass pellets, so are 'carbon neutral'. Installing a biomass boiler will also allow you to take advantage of the RHI. 90006 90005 90145 90025 Infrared heating panels 90026 are another great way to heat your home. These panels emit infrared (like the sun - do not confuse with harmful UV!) To heat spaces. 90006 90005 These are more efficient that traditional convection heating systems (90025 radiators 90026) since they do not use air as the medium for heat transfer.Instead the infrared will travel until it hits a solid body and then warm that directly. The panels warm up quicker and as soon as they are up to temperature you feel the warmth, compare that to a radiator and how un-reactive that is! 90006 90005 If you only have access to electricity (no mains gas), these infrared panels are definitely worth considering. 90006 90003 The importance of heating controls 90004 90005 90006 The 90025 importance of heating controls 90026 should not be underestimated.Typically there are three technologies that make up heating controls in the home, thermostatic valves on radiators (normally known as TRVs), thermostats and programmers. If you do not have heating controls, but you do everything else we have listed above you are going to have a very hot home and not really save much money. 90005 The reason for this is that you will use the same amount of gas - but the heat will not be able to escape. Ideally the heating system turns off 90025 automatically 90026 when the temperature reaches a certain point - normally about 20 90112 0 90113 c.This means that the boiler (or whatever heating system you have in place) will turn off and you will not be continue burning gas unnecessarily. 90006 90003 Finally - producing your own energy 90004 90005 90170 Everyone likes the idea of ​​being energy self-sufficient. Having 90025 solar panels 90026, 90025 wind turbines 90026 or 90025 hydro electric 90026 that provide you with all your electricity means you can wave goodbye to the energy companies. In practise this is very hard due to the limitations of energy storage.However these technologies will help you reduce your reliance on the grid. Electricity is expensive; it has 90025 gone up 10% each year for the last 8 years 90026. Any way of lessening your demand on grid electricity can only be beneficial to insulate yourself from future price increases. 90006 90180 90005 So there you have it - our whistle-stop tour of how to limit the amount of heat leaving your home, become more energy efficient, save money on bills and do your bit for the environment.Seems a bit of a no-brainer to us! 90006 90180 90005 90006 .