Preparing for a hard winter (oil & gas hikes, etc.)

[Dover]

Just a little reminder or nudge.
Let me know if I've overlooked something useful for these purposes!

There's nothing new here, and northerners know the routine, but this winter might be a bit harder than usual, so I'm bringing this up just to highlight the issue.

It's quite possible that oil and gas price hikes will be affecting a number of people this winter, not to mention potential for shortages, and other unforeseen problems. So if you've been contemplating that potential as well, NOW is the time to begin doing whatever preparations you anticipate might be needed. Also check with neighbors/family to discuss and work on some emergency plan. And don't forget about elderly neighbors who might need a little help preparing their homes as well.

Warm bedding and blankets, of course.

Perhaps something as simple as doing some serious winterizing, adding insulation, doing an energy audit to see where you might be losing heat around doors, windows, light switches. Window coverings to hold in heat, etc.

Consider a backup system or full replacement of your current oil/gas system.
There are radiant heaters (wood burning and other), pellet stoves, fireplace inserts, and heat-return fireplaces.
Geothermal systems and solar heaters are a couple of pricier, whole system replacement options.

If you can't afford to do this throughout the house, perhaps prepare one room.

Or think like a northern European and build yourself an outdoor sauna to heat yourself to the bone.
It can warm you for hours!

Cordwood Sauna:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1999-12-01/The-Cordwood-Sauna.aspx

Sauna kits (just a couple of examples)
http://www.greatsaunas.com/plans/build_sauna.cfm
http://www.thesaunadepot.com/home-made-saunas.htm

[NMDemDist2]

1. good thread started in DIY on winterizing your home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=287x6865

[old mark]

2. Not really DIY, but we are getting new windows

and will be looking at wood stoves next week. We have our electric bill down to less than $100/month, and are planning to get the gas (heat) bill down as low as possible this winter.

mark

[kestrel91316]

5. New windows will help a LOT. My sis and BIL put a new window in the

guest room in their 1920s house in WI and now when I sleep there at Christmas it's nice and toasty warm rather than an icebox. And their kitchen/breakfast room addition from 12 yrs ago has performed splendidly - very well insulated and of course triple-glazed vinyl windows they love.

I keep telling them to insulate their walls - blown in is doable in an older home. The exterior walls in the old part of the house are like ice in the winter.

[eilen]

3. We just had new vinyl windows put in.

It was expensive but we even did the basement windows. We discovered that the basement windows were actually just storms that were in. We also had a basement drainage system put in place which has improved the indoor environment. We previously would get water in there which would cause mold. There is a dehumidifier/air cleaner too but that uses electricity. It does not run as constantly as our old dehumidifier though. Our sump was replaced as well with a battery backup in case of power failure.

The water is rerouted out by the garden which provides irrigation in the summer.

Our soil here is clay, very poor for drainage and our basement was built cheaply in the 1970's-- cement block rather than a poured foundation.

I still need to order wood for the fireplace. We have an old blower on it that we have had to repair a few times but it is hard to find quality repair parts as it was purchased in the 70's and they no longer make that model. (It's a Buck's)

We have solar collector panels on the side of the house that uses the sun to warm air inside it and then blows it up to the first floor of the house. The only kink in that is we get many overcast grey days here in central NY during winter and the hours of daylight are limited in winter. It only works while the sun is shining. (as compared to solar panels which store energy in batteries).

I am trying to figure out how to make a nice warm window quilt for my sliding glass doors (those were not replaced) that will not block all the light in the room. I am considering taping plastic bubble wrap up--the large bubble kind they use for packing. Has anyone done this?

[NMDemDist2]

4. the bubble wrapped windows thing

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x2242

[conscious evolution]

6. Saunas rock

Not only do they heat up your bones during winter they also make summer much more bearable.Seriously. 95 degree days are nothing after spending time in a 180 degree sauna.

Here is my current crazy project I am working on-A Compost pile water heater.
I placed a hundred feet of pvc tubing in a compost pile and started pumping water through itIt has been running for only a few weeks and it is already heating the water to 70 degrees.If I can get the water temp up to 100 or so I plan to start installing tubing for radiant heat under the house.

Free heat and in the spring I will have a pile of really good soil for the gardens.