Extreme Cold Home Heating: Minus 100°F Survival Guide, Pt. 1
By paul@richsoil.com (paul wheaton)
TL;DR: Preparing your home for extreme cold involves strategic heating, insulation, and plumbing protection to maintain warmth and prevent damage.
- Prioritize keeping wood dry and accessible for efficient burning.
- Wood stove efficiency ratings can be misleading; focus on practical heat output.
- Prevent pipes from freezing with insulation and strategic water use.
- Consider passive solar gains through window placement and coverings.
- Address drafts and air leaks for significant heat retention.
- Develop a plan for sustained heating during prolonged cold snaps.
Why it matters: Understanding how to prepare your home for severe cold spells is crucial for comfort, safety, and avoiding costly damage to plumbing and structures. Proactive measures ensure resilience against extreme weather.
Do this next: Inspect your home for drafts around windows and doors, sealing them with weatherstripping or caulk.
Recommended for: Homeowners, renters, and self-sufficiency enthusiasts looking for actionable advice on cold weather home preparation and heating efficiency.
Paul is joined by Alexandra and Peter van den Berg to plan for keeping a house warm in extreme cold conditions, starting with the more obvious such as keeping wood indoors near the fire, lamentations on advertised efficiency ratings on wood stoves, and keeping indoor plumbing from bursting. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes […]