Cracks in Walls, Windows and Doors
Around 38% of heat loss in your home comes from cracks in your walls, windows and doors (often invisible to the naked eye). In fact, a ⅛ inch gap under a 36-inch wide door will let as much cold air into your home as a 2.4 inch hole through your wall.
The reasons your house is cold even with the heat on could be because of poor insulation, your furnace not working properly, rooms with high ceilings, or your heating system doesn't cover the whole house. Each of these issues can prevent your home from properly heating.
The average home will stay warm for 8-12 hours after the power goes out. After the first 8-12 hours, most homes will experience a gradual cooling over the course of the next couple of days.
What Temperature is Too Cold for a House? While everyone has a different tolerance to cold, ideal winter heat settings should generally be at or above 63 °F (17 °C). Excessive cold (anything below 62 °F or 16 °C) in your home can actually raise your blood pressure as your blood “thickens” in the chilly temperatures.
According to ENERGYSTAR.gov, the ideal home temperature should be between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. To maximize energy efficiency, turning your thermostat up or down by 8 degrees while you're away from your home can help reduce your heating and cooling costs.
Your thermostat will not be able to reach your desired temperature if you have something blocking the vents. Check the vents around your home and make sure you do not have any items such as furniture in the way of your vent's airflow. While you're at it, make sure all of your vents are open.
If your furnace is blowing hot but your home is still cold, it may be a problem with your ductwork. You may have leaky or damaged ducts that are letting hot air escape and cold air in. Sometimes a damper in the system can get miss-adjusted or come loose, thereby inadvertently blocking or reducing airflow.
First, the thermostat might be set too low. Second, the pilot light could be out. Lastly, there might be an issue with your furnace – if this is the case, then you should call a professional to take a look at it. A final reason why your heater might not be effective is that you have a drafty home.
The main areas where heat escapes are the loft, walls, windows, doors and floors. In fact, in older properties, original windows can be a dual offender with draughty timber frames and single glazing causing heat loss in your home.
Heat escapes (or transfers) from inside to outside (high temperature to low temperature) by three mechanisms (either individually or in combination) from a home: Conduction. Convection. Radiation.
Factors that affect heat loss
Conduction often occurs when an insulated or uninsulated component is in direct contact with another component. Convection occurs when your pipe, electric heater or other component has an air barrier around it. Radiation occurs when there is no contact and heat moves as waves.
The home is too dry and needs more humidity.
Higher humidity can make somewhere feel warmer, even if the number on the thermometer doesn't change. Adding extra humidity can also be a help to your health.
The House has a Draft
Drafts let cold air enter the house and travel through different rooms, making it feel colder than it should be. This is caused by different sources of air leakage in the house. Your house can get drafty if gaps and cracks are under the doors or around the windows.
If all else fails, you probably have an issue with your furnace or HVAC system. Poor air flow, bad sensors, or other broken components can also cause room temperatures to be different than your thermostat setting. The biggest clue that your furnace is the culprit is your heating bill.
Heater Problems
If the thermostat is stuck in an open position, no matter how high you turn up the heater, you won't get hot air flowing through the vents.
A malfunctioning thermostat can make your heater or air conditioner unable to turn on. In most cases, this indicates the wiring has failed. Normally, electrical wires transmit messages from the thermostat to the HVAC unit, such as telling it when to turn on and what temperature to make your house feel.
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
The lower the temperature is inside of the home, the slower the rate of thermal energy loss. To achieve optimal comfort, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside of the home.
Namely, it can be difficult for the heating system to keep up with constant temperature changes, and the varying energy use puts more strain on your system than it should. This increases your electric bill, and can even confuse your smart thermostat.
According to the World Health Organization, it is dangerous to live for a prolonged period of time in a home under 64 degrees.
Recommended Temperature When You Are Home
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home.